Isle of smiles
It’s been several degrees hotter and many millilitres wetter here in Sri Lanka but no amount of scorching sun or thunderous rain can dampen our joy as islanders… because we have always had a reason to turn a frown upside down.
This edition of Living is all about celebrating the joys of local beauty – both inside and out. Read about banker, professional model and beauty queen Melloney Dassanayake, who stunned the world and made Sri Lanka proud when she lit up the Mexican runway at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant last year.
The beauty of Sri Lanka is also seen in our heartwarming smiles when we are with those who matter the most. And March to May is when people spend good times with their loved ones.
Why else would we have Ramadan (30 or 31 March), the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year (13 and 14 April), Easter (20 April) and Vesak (12 and 13 May) all crammed up in a three month period?
Add to that, May Day (1 May) and three full moon poya holidays, and there’s no stopping us grinning from ear to ear!
Spending these holidays in Colombo can be a plateful – literally! We will have Ramadan goodies such as falooda, biryani and watalappam, oily and decadent local sweetmeats that Aluth Avurudu brings, and chocolatey treats at Easter.
Sri Lanka’s commercial capital also offers a certain je ne sais quoi when the city is off-duty. The less than usual traffic, bustling malls filled with shoppers, never-ending family gatherings and brunch meet ups with friends create a vibe that only Colombo can provide.
And no matter how many hours you’ll have to spend on the treadmill to burn off those happy calories, you can’t put a price on that feeling!
If you’re planning to run off to the mountains or go seaside for the holidays, why not try something new?
Crank up the caffeine and get to know the dark side of the island’s beauty.
No, we don’t mean anything dangerous or devilish; rather, experience the awe of nature after the sun sets. Read about ‘noctourism’ (nighttime tourism) in the pages that follow – it is the hottest trend in travel these days.
You never know… you may discover the best spot from which to gaze at the Milky Way or find a gem of a night kadé in a beachfront town down south.
So soak up the sun and consume the joys of tropical storms – because there’s always something to smile about in Sri Lanka!