Sri Lanka photos

Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) is a paradise island shaped like a tear drop in the Indian Ocean. It is a stunning island with a laidback atmosphere and beautiful diverse landscapes: palm-fringed golden beaches, wild life sanctuaries, hills, plateaus, tea plantations, ancient cities and historical monuments.The island has been scarred by a long civil war arising out of ethnic tensions between the majority Sinhalese and the Tamil minority in the northeast. After more than 25 years of violence, in May 2009 the conflict ended (at least militarily), when government forces seized the last area controlled by Tamil Tiger rebels. The 26 December 2004 tsunami devastated Sri Lanka. Over 35,000 people were killed and approximately 418,000 were displaced. Around 65 per cent of the country's fishing fleet of 29,700 boats was either damaged or destroyed. Sri Lankan's people have shown a remarkable resilience and amazing determination to rebuild their lives.