Why Sri Lanka is a perennially irresistible destination for the visitor

Rahul Jacob visits Sri Lanka once more. Why he can't get enough of the warmly welcoming country

In The Art of Travel, Alain de Botton observes that while where to travel to is discussed seemingly incessantly in travel supplements, why we travel is often overlooked altogether. This year, in part because of a mid-year move of residence from Hong Kong to Bengaluru, my fourth move in 10 years, for me the greatest luxury has been staying home in both of these cities. When circumstances have somehow inoculated you against the travel bug, planning a holiday becomes complicated, a contradiction in terms. 

By mid-year, this loss of wanderlust seemed akin to a lack of curiosity. I had been nowhere