Last Updated: 16 January 2007
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Sri Lanka has intrigued travelers for centuries. Marco Polo described it as the finest island in the world. It is an awesome destination, one with more Unesco World Heritage Sites than one could visit in a single holiday. It has gorgeous beaches, delicious food, resilient and, generally, helpful people—but it is a country in perpetual struggle.

The former Ceylon's diverse communities (Buddhist, Hindi, Christians and Muslims) are at the heart of this island's decades-old civil war. Though most are able to live well with each other as neighbors, the political community seems to be in turmoil. Perhaps this will be resolved before too long. But for now, those who wish to visit the country will at least have the benefit of seeing Sri Lanka without the crush of tourists.

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