Sri Lanka has the same population as Australia in an area smaller than the state of Tasmania.
Q&A: Planning a visit? Pick your season with care
When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka? Managing the seasons is quite difficult because the rainy season hits different parts of the country at different times of the year. December to March is driest for the west coast, south coast and hills, while April through to September is the best time for the ancient cities and the east coast.
What are the visa requirements? Most nationalities receive a tourist visa on entry to the country, which can be extended in three-month periods at various costs, depending on your nationality.
Which airlines fly to Colombo? Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia and flydubai all provide services there.
What are the business hours in Sri Lanka? Office hours are usually from 8.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Muslim businesses might take an extended lunch on Fridays.
So visitors should expect a huge amount of hustle and bustle when they land on the island, which is steeped in history, intrigue and beauty.
The end of the country's civil war, which lasted more than 25 years, opened the floodgates to tourism in 2009 and the Sri Lankan people are now benefiting from a thriving trade.
The population is a melting pot of Sinhalese Buddhists, Tamils, Christians and Muslims, who are now all working towards peace and a more prosperous economy.
In the World Bank's Doing Business report for this year, the country ranked 102 out of 183 countries for ease of doing business, having improved its environment for startups and small enterprise.
For the business traveller, the best thing about Sri Lanka is its diversity of religion, landscape and activities. Once the meetings are over, the country offers numerous entertainment options, including its idyllic beaches.
These offer the chance to cool off from the stresses of work.
Although Colombo is the capital and hub of commerce, Kandy, situated in the hill region, is deemed the cultural heart of the country. For the more active traveller, Adam's Peak, a 2,243-metre mountain, might provide a suitable challenge to get the muscles working. As might the opportunity to learn to surf on the south coast or kitesurf in the west.
If you're a budding Indiana Jones then you can spend days exploring the country's ancient cities and caves of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla.
Top 5: Beaches in Sri Lanka.
1 Kalkudah Bay Beach.
2 Mirissa.
3 Arugam Bay.
4 Nilaveli.
5 Induruwa.
Source: Lonely Planet
Sigiriya is the highlight for the culture vulture, a now-ruined fortress and monastery built atop a giant volcanic rock 370 metres above sea level.
Wildlife to be found in national parks throughout the island, include leopards, elephants and plenty of birds.
The Quote: "I still believe in paradise. But now at least I know it's not some place you can look for." Richard, a character in The Beach, by Alex Garland.
