New Guinness World Record from Sri Lanka - World's Largest Cup of Tea

A Sri Lankan tea estate set a new Guinness World Record.

A giant red mug was filled with 1,000 gallons (4,546l) of water, 141lb (64kg) of tea, 1,929lb (875kg) of malted milk powder and 353lb (160kg) of sugar. The record beat out the previous year’s record by 33%. The tea was then driven around the capital, Colombo, and served to locals in small plastic cups. The tea came from Sri Lanka’s famed estates and was brewed in 44-gallon urns for hours with sugar and malted milk powder, a popular South Asian method. The mixture was then carefully pumped into the mug, which holds a capacity of about 32,000 normal cups, until it was full. s certified the feat.

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Visitors’ Guide to Sri Lanka

Danushi Kumaravithana writes that Sri Lanka is becoming more and more popular as a vacation destination— I was over there in July and it was clear why. Whether it’s beaches, temples, architecture, history or animals you are after, Sri Lanka has got it all. Here is my guide to experiencing it all based on my own travels plus advice from locals and other travelers.
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Sri Lanka is among the best-value destinations for a package holiday

Britain's long-haul travellers will find that their pound will stretch furthest in Sri Lanka, Mexico and the Far East this winter, according to new research into holiday costs.

Sri Lanka has witnessed a sharp rise in visitors following the end to hostilities between government forces and Tamil separatists in the north and east of the island. Nearly 400,000 foreign tourists visited in the first eight months of 2010, an increase of 47 per cent on the previous year.
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Character and beauty of Sri Lanka - Travel Photographs by Matt

Matt Considine is a professional travel photographer. He writes "Sri Lanka has so much to offer the traveler, from ancient ruined cities, lush forests, luminescent tea plantations, golden beaches, friendly people and a rich and varied history. Now that there is peace I hope that many more travelers will serendipitously find their way to the island once named "Serendip"."

http://mattconsidine.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sri-Lanka/G0000G5Zc85vfkfY/

You can see his images on Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is equipped with 14,000 rooms in 250 hotels to cater to half a million tourists

The present capacity of the leisure sector will be sufficient to meet the current requirement but these hotels need to be refurbished. Considering the target of 2.5 million tourists by 2015, the present capacity of accommodation will not be sufficient, a senior tourism official said.
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Ideas for your next trip to Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, you can discover the splendid cultural heritage sites and the ancient temples, witness the dramatic landscapes and the spectacular countryside of the tea highlands, experience wildlife at the largest national park and have a memorable experience at relaxing beach resorts. 

Ancient Glory - Cultural Sites: 

The remains of the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa feature enormous dagobas (dome-shaped structures) and statues of the Buddha. Dambulla has an awesome stairway, while Sigiriya is a rock with the remains of a palace on the summit and sensual frescoes. These four World Heritage Sites are situated within a compact area called the Cultural Triangle. Visit Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Kandy 

Capital: 

Colombo 

Eco-tourism - Wild-life Parks: 

There are 14 National Parks in Sri Lanka which offer the chance to see some of the 91 mammals (16 endemic) - elephant, leopard, sloth bear, sambhur, spotted deer, hog, mouse- and barking-deer, wild boar, porcupine, ant-eater, civet cat, loris, giant squirrel, and monkeys such as the macaque, purple-faced leaf monkey and grey langur.. The largest of the parks is Yala, where jeep safaris provide close encounters with leopards and also abundant bird-life. The best park to see elephants is Uda Walawe

Yala (Ruhuna) National Park 

Uda Walawe National Park

Wasgamuwa National Park 

Horton Plains National Park 

Gal Oya National Park

Sinharaja World Heritage Forest

Sea, Sand and Sun - Beaches

Beaches totalling 1,340km fringe the island, from the long-established tourist destinations of the southern coast, to the vast beaches of the deep south, and the less-visited expanses of the north and east. No matter what time of the year, you can find a beach that is in season and just waiting to welcome you to its warm sands.

Ambalangoda | Arugam Bay | Batticaloa | Bentota | Beruwala | Hikkaduwa | Kalkudah | Mt. Lavinia | Negombo | Nilaveli | Trincomalee | Unawatuna | Weligama

Natural Wonders - World Heritage Sites

Sri Lanka.s cultural depth is recognized by UNESCO, which has declared six archaeological World Heritage Sites. 

Sacred City of Kandy

Sacred City of Anuradhapura 

Ancient City of Polonnaruwa 

Ancient City of Sigriya 

Golden Temple of Dambulla: 

Old Town of Galle and its Fortification

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Places you should not miss to visit: 

Cultural Triangle - Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Sigiriya 

The hill country - Royal capital of Kandy, home to the Dalada Maligawa

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

Jaffna

Pinnewela Elephant Orphanage

Aquatic Sports

wind-surfing, water-skiing,  

jet-skiing,  

surfing, sailing, scuba-diving (including wreck-diving), snorkelling, speed-boating and banana-boating. 

In addition, there are plentiful freshwater opportunities in rivers and .tanks. (reservoirs), such as kayaking and canoeing, and most adrenaline-pumping of all, white-water rafting. 

Trip to Sinharaja Rain Forest

Trail Map of Sinharaja    
Travel Information

Singharaja Forest Reserve is the most famous rainforest of the country. This tropical rain forest is a living heritage. Bio diversity of the forest is very high and a large proportion of the flora in this forest is endemic to the country and some endemic to the Singharaja Forest itself. This is a very good place to see many endemic birds such as Ceylon Lorikeet, Layard's parakeet, Jungle and Spur Fowl, Ceylon Wood Pigeon, Grey Hombill, Spotted wing Thrush, Rufous and Brown- capped Babbler, Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush, Ceylon Blue Magpie, White Headed Starling, Ceylon Hill Mynha, Legge's Flowerpecker. The clear cut roads in to the jungle provide easy access to the forest. This important forest is a Man and Biosphere Forest reserve and it is considered as a World Heritage Site.