Sri Lanka enthralls with superb roads, friendly people and gorgeous food

Not far from Hikkaduwa is the fort city of Galle, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and later taken over by the Dutch

Days after I returned from my trip to Sri Lanka last month, Lonely Planet named the country its top destination for 2019. I wasn’t surprised. Whether your idea of a holiday is to be a beach bum or a culture freak or to have your fill of nature, wildlife and adventure sport, this island country has it all. Add to that superb roads, tourist-friendly people and gorgeous food, and you really want to check in and never leave.

After spending a night in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s leafy capital, we headed out for the Central Province where the old cultural heart of