Why the Sri Lanka bombings shouldn’t put you off a visit to paradise

Hiriketiya in Dikwella is among the stunning surf beaches of Sri Lanka – iStock 

By Sarla Fernando

travel.nine.com.au: I am a New Zealand born, Sri Lankan Australian.

Being Australian comes without effort or thought. When I greet a friend my first question is always: G'daymate-'owyagoin? (Usually uttered rapid-fire out of the corner of my mouth). I feel as much at home strangling the English language as I do living in Australia's vast spaces and beneath its enormous skies.

Being Kiwi-born also sits easily. The only real difference between Australians and New Zealanders is that the Kiwis know how to throttle more vowels. But it's a nationality I'm always happy to claim when it suits. Wear clothes in Australia's nauseating national colours – green and gold? Please! I'll take the elegant All Blacks attire any time.

But Sri Lanka? Now it gets complicated. The colour of my skin makes it clear that my roots are far from the land Down Under. When asked my background I always answer: "Sri Lankan". My parents were proud Sri Lankans and my Sri Lankan friends and family are the most wonderful people I know. Oh, and the tea is great. And that World Cup cricket victory in 1996.

But the connection never felt very personal — until three years ago when my life changed dramatically and I began visiting Sri Lanka regularly.

I started to understand the country, its people, its beauty and its overwhelming serenity. And I started to – finally – feel at home. Sri Lankans, I discovered, are among the most hospitable people I have met on my travels. Generous in spirit, warm and loving, they embrace the opportunity to laugh as much as the chance to welcome a stranger.

Perhaps it's their surroundings that makes them so amiable. Sri Lanka is a beautiful and ancient country, an embarrassment of perfect sunsets and postcard-worthy backdrops. It boasts rich, fertile soils and the densest biodiversity in Asia. Beaches like Bentota, Mawella, Nilaveli and Hikkaduwa are sublime, with their soft sand and clear, warm water.

It's little wonder Lonely Planet recently dubbed it the top travel destination in the world for 2019.

But that was before the bombs.

The Easter Sunday attacks killed more than 250 people, but it also decimated Sri Lanka's $4billion tourism industry. Visitor arrivals dropped 80 per cent in the wake of the bombings. Hotel occupancy rates slumped, and resorts and restaurants in once popular locations lay eerily empty.

But hear me out; now is the time to come to Sri Lanka!

Why? Not only will you see the best of this island, but you will see its people at their best. They have been in this turbulent place before. This is a nation steeped in history and hardship. It has been invaded, wracked by civil war, beset by natural disaster – and through it all, emerged intact and resolute.

I was in Colombo during the Easter attacks and could not believe how quickly the island began to rebound. The security response kicked in almost immediately – there was truly not a moment when I felt unsafe. Like the devastating 2004 tsunami, those who thought Sri Lanka could never recover were startled to witness how quickly normal life resumed.

It is why you need to visit. Now, not later. The indomitable spirit of the Sri Lankan people is a tourist attraction in itself. They are a patient people, overwhelmingly Buddhist and proud of their rich heritage. In one city block you will find magisterial British colonial buildings sitting alongside traditional dome-shaped memorials called dagobas or stupas. From Colombo to Kandy and Galle, the 'Cultural Triangle', visitors will find six out of eight of Sri Lanka's UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites.

You can soak up the gritty vibe and culture on the streets or head out on safari to see the world's largest populations of leopard at Yala National Park. Along the way, there's tremendous food on offer everywhere. I've never been able to fully appreciate strong spices or hot chilli but the traditional Sri Lankan meal of rice and curry is delicious – and tolerable, even for a wimp like me. Island food, like its architecture, is a reminder of its past. The Sri Lankans are famous for adopting foreign delicacies but giving them a distinctly local twist.

So, come to Sri Lanka for the sights, the smells and the flavours. But most of all, come for the people. Staying away or boycotting Sri Lanka from your travel list means those 20 minutes of terror inflicted on Easter Sunday will have given the terrorists what they wanted.

The country is worth much more than that. Take it from someone who has finally discovered what it means to be a New Zealand-born Australian with a Sri Lankan heart.

Where to stay

Be sure to check into a reputable establishment. For an authentic experience, I personally recommend luxury boutique collection Taru Villas, comprising 12 individually-designed luxury properties ideally located outside of the major commercial hubs, in more tranquil, residential areas. Many even boast direct beach access. 

(Source: https://travel.nine.com.au/destinations/opinion-why-the-sri-lanka-terror-attacks-shouldnt-deter-you-from-a-visit-to-paradise/e27281fa-159f-4855-b8c9-2e5f741cac03

The country is spoiled for amazing wildlife, and you can get up close on a safari – iStock

The stylish Taru Villas are ideally located outside of the busy hubs, many with direct beach access – Taru Villas

A military officer patrols outside the bombed St. Anthony's Church, currently under reconstruction in Colombo – The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images

Traditional fishermen work as the sun sets near Galle