Conflicts and forces of nature have taken a heavy toll in the region of Sri Lanka. This region that was not accessible to most visitors is now open for business and offers the most innocent of experiences without much commercialization corrupting its favors.

They’ve been saying for decades in Sri Lanka, “the East Coast is going to be a wonderful place to visit next year.” Yet events kept preventing a full discovery of what are the island’s most incredible beaches. Years ago it was simply difficult to reach. Then war meant all but the most intrepid of travelers considered it out of bounds. Following a ceasefire, it really did look as if things were opening up in 2004, but the tsunami wiped away whole communities and flattened the few areas that were geared up for tourism. Since mid-2009, the region which was mostly effect by the conflict is now complete open for business, and is certainly a wonderful place to visit. The local people are happy and go about their day-to-day work, tourism is thriving in a very simple unspoilt manner, and development in the region is being carried out in an alarming pace.

The East Coast of Sri Lanka remains an incredibly rewarding place to visit. And those who have made the effort rave about stunning coastal vistas, great surf and incredibly friendly people – whatever community they happen to be part of. Backpackers from all over the world have headed for the east-coast beaches, mainly Nilaveli, Passikuda and Arugam Bay. The Australians discovered the latter resort and arrived in masses with their surfboards, thus raising the profile of this beautiful bay. Hoteliers and guesthouse owners were quick to rebuild after the tsunami in both Arugam and further north.