I have listed some recipes below and you can find more on following links..

asianonlinerecipes.com

srilankanrecipe.com

paradisaya.tripod.com

lanka.info

asiarecipe.com

lankalinksystems.com

allsrilanka.com

wuzzle.org

infolanka.com

Spicy Barbecued Fish Recipe

Ingredients : Serves 4

Method :

• Clean and scale fish, leaving the head on.
• Wipe inside fish with kitchen paper dipped in coarse salt, leaving body cavities clean.
• Snip out gills with kitchen scissors and trim any long spines or fins neatly.
• Wash fish well, cut diagonal slashes in flesh with sharp knife, about 2.5 cm (1 inch) apart, and rub fish with
  a little lemon juice, salt, turmeric and pepper.
• Put remaining ingredients into container of electric blender and blend to a smooth paste (or use a mortar and pestle).
• Apply to fish, rubbing well into slashes and body cavity.
• Spoon remaining mixture over fish.
• Wrap in leaves or heavy-duty foil and make a neat parcel.
• Put over glowing coals or under a heated griller for 10 minutes on each side.
• Open parcel for last few minutes to allow excess moisture to evaporate.
• Serve with steamed rice.

Spicy Seafood Recipe

Ingredients :

Method :

• Peel and de-vein the shrimps.
• Cut the squid hoods into 6 cm squares and score a crisscross pattern lightly into the flesh with a small sharp knife.
• Scrub the mussels and remove the beards.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy-based pan or wok, add the onion, garlic and ginger, and cook over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until the onion is soft.
• Add the turmeric, chili powder and paprika, and cook for 2 minutes or until the oil begins to separate from the spices.
• Add the seafood to the pan and cook over high heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until the shrimps are pink.
• Stir in the tomato puree and sugar and stir-fry for 3 minutes or until the sauce is heated through.
• Serve with rice or noodles.

Sri Lankan Fish Curry Recipe

(Malu Curry)

Ingredients : Serves 4-6

Method :

• Wash fish steaks, dry on kitchen paper and rub each steak well with a mixture of pepper, salt and turmeric.
• Heat about 1/2 inch (1.75 cm) oil in a large frying pan and fry fish quickly to a golden color.
• Drain on paper while preparing the gravy.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan and gently fry onions, fenugreek, garlic and ginger until onions are soft and golden.
• Add cinnamon, pandan, curry leaves and curry powder and fry for 2 minutes, stirring.
• Add tamarind liquid and coconut milk and simmer, uncovered, until gravy is thickened and slightly reduced.
• Put in the fish steaks.
• If they are very large, divide into serving pieces.
• Spoon gravy over the fish and simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Serve hot with boiled rice and vegetable curries.

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There are 8 distinct sea turtle species that have been identified in the world.

• Green Sea Turtle

The Green Sea Turtle is a fairly large species with a length of about five and a half feet and weighing up to 400 pounds.

Green Sea Turtle Facts

Description

The Green Sea Turtle is a fairly large species with a length of about 5 ½ feet and weighing up to 400 pounds. It has a hard shell on the outside that can be quite colorful on the top with shades of red and orange. It is believed that the colors of it will change throughout the course of each turtle’s life.

Distribution

You will find the Green Sea Turtle out there in the tropical and subtropical regions. Hawaii has one of the largest populations of them in the world. Other locations where they have been identified include Australia, Mexico, India, and Asia.

Behavior

They love to crawl up on the shore of the beach and spend time soaking up the sunlight. . They are deep divers too but have to come up every four or five minutes for air. Some wonder how it is that Green Sea Turtles down then? Generally it has to do with stress because at that point their natural mechanism to hold on to oxygen in the body doesn’t function properly.

Diet /Feeding

It is common for a Green Sea Turtle to migrate thousands of miles in search of food and nesting grounds. The eating habits of this turtle are quite interesting. As new hatchlings entering the water they are meat eaters. When they are about 3 years of age though they change to being vegetarians so they won’t be eating any type of meat in the water. They consume algae and sea grass which isn’t very filling so they consume large amounts of it every day.

Reproduction

Males will return to the location where they were born annually for the mating process. Even if this means they have to travel long distances. The females may have several breeding grounds that the go to so they don’t always end up in the same place every year. It is believed that the female Green Sea Turtle only mates every 2 to 4 years instead of annually.

The females dig nests in the sand to deposit their eggs in. She can lay from 100 to 200 very small eggs. She won’t remain with them until they hatch a couple of months later. Instead they fight their way out of the eggs and then go directly towards the water.

Conservation

It is estimated that an adult Green Sea Turtle can live to be up to 80 years old if the conditions are right. However, they happen to be on the Endangered Species list at this time. Efforts are in place to protect them and their eggs from being destroyed. Protecting their natural habitat is also something that is being worked on. Some locations that once killed the Green Sea Turtle now have thousands of them that they protect and that tourists come to see.

Human interaction

Humans are a huge threat to the Green Sea Turtle. First, it is normal in many regions to consume their meat. Large numbers of adults are killed annually for this purpose. Second, their eggs are considered to be a great source of food as well. Therefore it isn’t uncommon for these nesting areas to be deleted of hundreds of eggs for human consumption.

Many Green Sea Turtles in live in areas where fishing takes place on a large scale. Those that get caught in the fishing nets drown most of the time before they are discovered. Also, their natural habitat continues to be threatened due to humans moving into those beach areas. This is where the turtles would like to lay their eggs but it is hard to do so with humans around the area.

• Leatherback Sea Turtle

The Leatherback Turtle is the largest of all species that live in the water.

Leatherback Sea Turtle Facts

Description

The Leatherback Turtle is the largest of all species that live in the water. It also ranks as the fourth largest reptile in the world. It is only beat out by three species of crocodiles. The biggest difference of it from other turtles is that it doesn’t feature a hard shell. It does have layers of oily skin there instead.

You will also notice that the Leatherback Turtle doesn’t have any teeth. You will also notice that the Leatherback Turtle has longer flippers than other turtles. Fully grown, these turtles can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds and grow to 8 feet long.

Distribution

Leatherback Turtles are found all over the world where there are oceans. They are able to dive very far so they tend to enjoy the deeper waters. Some of the most common locations including Florida, Puerto Rico, and St. Croix. They tend to live in both waters that are cold and those that are warm so they are quite adaptable. Since they have to be able to dig nests with their flippers, they only live in the waters along sandy beaches.

Diet /Feeding

They are relentless when it comes to searching for food. It isn’t uncommon for them to travel hundreds of miles if they must to find enough to live on. Their main source of food comes from jellyfish. However, their bodies have a hard time digesting them so many of them die due to an intestinal blockage. They also consume other items in the water that resemble jellyfish including plastic bags.

Reproduction

The mating of Leatherback turtles actually takes place in the water. They time of year that they will mate depends on where they reside. Mating occurs between the ages of 6 and 10 years of age. The females seem to mature years earlier than the males. There is still plenty that isn’t known about the mating process for Leatherbacks such as how they select their mates.

Young Leatherback Turtles are hatched from eggs that are often buried in the sand on land to protect them from predators. A female can lay up to 100 eggs at a time. She will nest several times in one breeding season. The deposit of the eggs will likely be about 12 days apart. It takes between 50 and 75 days for the eggs to hatch.

Those that survive will hatch, and then instinctively move to the water. Many of them never reach the water though due to birds feeding on them. Those that do reach the water instinctively already know how to swim. They don’t have any interaction with their mother as she leaves the nest as soon as she lays her eggs.
Conservation

The Leatherback Turtle doesn’t have to worry too much about predators in the water. However, they need protection due to drastically low numbers. Many of them are never able to hatch due to humans and other predators getting to the eggs. Various types of pollution in the water can also cause them to become ill and die. As a result of all of this, the Leatherback Turtle is classified as an Endangered Species. It is estimated that there are approximately 115,000 of them remaining in the world.

Human Interaction

Humans continue to collect the eggs from Leatherback Turtles. In many parts of the world they are considered to be a delicacy. This has lead to a huge decline in the number of them left in the world. It is estimated that at least 1,500 of them get caught in the nets of fishermen annually as well. Those that aren’t injured or killed are tossed back into the water.

• Loggerhead Sea Turtle

The Loggerhead Sea Turtle has a head that is much bigger than any others out there. The overall body is shaped very similar to a heart.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Facts

Description

The Loggerhead Sea Turtle has a head that is much bigger than any others out there. The overall body is shaped very similar to a heart. They have a shell that is red and brown on top, then yellow and brown on the bottom of it. They can be up to 250 pounds when they are full grown and close to four feet in length.

Distribution

You will find Loggerhead Sea Turtles in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They prefer to be in areas that offer beaches full of grainy sand. This is why you will find so many of them along the coast of Mexico and the Bahamas. However, they also make their homes in various lagoons and bays.

Diet /Feeding

You will notice that this sea turtle features very powerful jaws. They are in place to allow them to consume prey that may have a hard shell protecting it. They feed on a variety of foods including fish, crab, jellyfish, shrimp, mollusks, and crustaceans. They will generally dive deep to get these items from the bottom of the ocean. However, they are also known to feed in very shallow waters need the coast.

Reproduction

It may sound unbelievable, but the Loggerhead Sea Turtle isn’t ready for reproduction until they are approximately 35 years old. The courting process takes place as the males and females are migrating to their breeding grounds. The females decide who they will mate with.

The females can reproduce several times in a single mating season. They will deposit several nests of eggs that take up to two months to hatch. The young are completely on their own to survive when they hatch, and it is fascinating to see hundreds of them scrambling toward the water.

Human interaction

Since these sea turtles don’t reproduce for many decades after they are born, there are concerns about their future. Many of the adults have been killed due to fishing nets and many of the young are destroyed due to their eggs being collected. In the past they have also been hunted for their meat and their shells. The fat from their bodies used to be used for making cosmetics and various types of medications.

Conservation

The Loggerhead Sea Turtle currently has a status as a Threatened Species. It is closely being watched and efforts are in place to help the population increase. Hopefully with such early intervention they won’t move any higher in the ranks towards being endangered. Many of the conservation efforts are on the older Loggerhead Sea Turtles as they are the ones able to reproduce at this time.

Conservation efforts continue so that the natural habitat of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle can be protected. Limits on where fishing equipment can be placed has been helpful. The amount of pollution in the water is another issue that has to be addressed to protect these sea turtles. On many beaches you will see blocked off areas with signs that say it is the Loggerhead Sea Turtle nesting area. This area will be closely monitored to ensure no one enters it. If you observe closely though you may be able to see the females depositing their eggs.

What has also been noticed is that many of the young have a hard time getting out of their eggs. This is where experts come in and give them a hand. Since these young Loggerhead Sea Turtles would die without their intervention, this helps to promote more of them having a chance of survival. They are released into the water which means they won’t be prey for birds either as they make their way from the beach to the water.

• Hawksbill Sea Turtle

You will first notice that the Hawkbill Sea Turtle features a heart shaped shell on its body.

Hawksbill Sea Turtle Facts

Description

You will first notice that the Hawkbill Sea Turtle features a heart shaped shell on its body. As the turtle gets older that heart shape will change and the shell will get longer. The head is small and tapered with a mouth that resembles the beak of a bird. They have two pairs of scales along the front of their bodies.

You will notice small claws on their front flippers. This is a smaller type of sea turtle with an overall size of less than three feet and weighing no more than 300 pounds. They are slow moving turtles on land.

Distribution

The majority of Hawksbill Sea Turtles live in the tropical areas of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Yet there are also large numbers of them in colder areas including around Massachusetts and New Jersey in the United States. They love to be in rocky areas and mainly stay in the shallow waters. It is unusual to find them more than 65 feet below the surface.

Generally, anywhere you find corral reef areas you will find an abundance of Hawksbill Sea Turtles. They spend most of their time in the water but they are good climbers on land in order to get to the sandy areas to deposit their eggs.

Diet /Feeding

The main source of food for the Hawkbill Sea Turtle is sponges. They are very particular about the types of them that the consume too. They also consume jellyfish, fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and worms to satisfy their need for food.

Reproduction

Females are ready to mate when they are about three years of age and for males it is about four years of age. Mating only takes place every two or three years for the females. The process occurs in the shallow waters near the beaches. The female decides who she will mate with. There are some theories that the males and females mate with the same turtle each time but there isn’t enough evidence at this time to confirm that.

The females will go to the beach to make a nest where she will deposit the eggs. In a single mating season she will do this about three times. Each set of eggs will be deposited about 15 days apart. She will lay from 100 to 150 eggs at a time. It will take approximately 60 days for the eggs to hatch.

The offspring are very susceptible to predators while they are young. This is due to them not being able to dive yet. Therefore they have to live at the surface of the water near the coastline. Many of them are consumed by predators though before they even make it to the water.

Human interaction

For centuries humans have consumed the Hawksbill Sea Turtle for the meat. They have also taken the eggs for their own consumption which prevents the population from growing. Another problem was the selling of the shells from the Hawksbill Sea Turtle. This was mainly a market in Japan that has been banned since 1993.

Conservation
It is estimated that a Hawkbill Sea Turtle can live up to 50 years in the wild. Even adult Hawksbill Sea Turtles though has many predators that they have to watch out for. They include raccoons, sharks, crocodiles, and large fish. The exact number of them that remain has proven to be difficult to accurately estimate.

Even so, it is now illegal to hunt or to kill the Hawksbill Sea Turtle in many areas of the world. It is believed that there are low enough numbers for them to be placed on the Endangered Species list. In order to find out how well conservation efforts have been though a good count on the number of them needs to be compiled.

• Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle

The Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle is one of the smallest out there in the world. They weigh only about 100 pounds and they are from 2 and a half feet long to 3 feet long.

Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Facts

Description

The Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle is one of the smallest out there in the world. They weigh only about 100 pounds and they are from 2 ½ feet long to 3 feet long. They are gray and green in color with some yellow underneath their shell. They feature five pairs of costal as well as flippers that have claws on them. They are often mistaken for the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle. The main difference is the coloring underneath of them.

They have a much darker shade of head, which is interesting as it does tend to stick out when you compare it to the lighter coloring of the rest of their bodies. They also feature spots on their heads.

Distribution

The Gulf of Mexico is the most common region for them to reside. They are also plentiful around Florida. There are also many found along the Mediterranean Sea. They tend to favor regions where there is plenty of algae. They use them to easily float around in the water.

Diet /Feeding

The Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle primarily will be noticed in the water where it is muddy or sandy. This is where they find most of the prey that the usually feed upon. Their diet includes jellyfish, mollusks, and a variety of small fish. They are able to hunt for food in areas of very cold water. This is due to a mechanism that allows them to reduce their metabolism. This also allows them to remain under water for hours at a time.

Due to the way their can control their bodies metabolism, the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle can be without food for a period of up to three months when necessary.

Reproduction

Reproduction takes place in the water. The age of maturity is from 10 to 15 years for these sea turtles. They can live to be up to 50 years of age and they will annually have a deposit of eggs from the time they reach maturity.

You may find it interesting to learn that the males never come out of the water after they first find it as a new hatchling. The females only come to shore when it is time for them to deposit their eggs. You may also find it interesting that the females will only lay their eggs during the sunlight hours. They nest in the same beach area year after year. They may travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to reach that destination.

The females engage in a synchronized deposit of their eggs on land into a nesting area that they dig. This is very unique behavior and one that the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles also take part in. One of these huge nesting grounds is in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico. Many tourists come to this location to observe the behaviors of the female Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles.

Nesting takes place from May through July depending on the location. Each female will lay approximately 100 eggs that will hatch about 60 days later.

Conservation

Based on some slow increases in their numbers, it is believed that conservation efforts for the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle have been helpful. However, they continue to lose their natural habitat as more of the beaches are used for people and other developments. They also face problems in the water due to pollution and predators. At this point in time though they are considered to be the most endangered type of sea turtle in the world.

Human interaction

It is believed approximately 60% of all the eggs nested by the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles are taken by local villagers as a source of food.

• Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

Featuring a gray and green coloring as well as a heart shaped shell, the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle is one many people are familiar with.

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Facts

Description

Featuring a gray and green coloring as well as a heart shaped shell, the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle is one many people are familiar with. The young ones are mainly gray in color and as they get older they will become completely green. They are very small compared to other sea turtles as full grown they rarely weigh more than 100 pounds. They are also less than three feet in length as adults. In fact, they are categorized as the smallest species of sea turtle.

They have from six to nine pairs of costals and two pairs of front scales. Each of their front flippers has a set of claws that they use for digging when they reach land. The males and the females look very similar in color and size. The way you can tell them apart is that the males have a tail that sticks out and the females don’t.

Distribution

The vast majority of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles can be found in the Pacific Ocean. More specifically, towards the beach areas of Mexico. They are known to be distributed in locations all over the world though. Many of them reside along the coastal regions of South America and West Africa. Other prime locations for seeing them include Southern California and Northern Chile.

They are often seen in other locations between such points. This is because they migrate hundreds of miles in search of food and to reach their breeding grounds each year.

Diet /Feeding

These sea turtles feed on shrimp, crab, lobster, and jellyfish. When these items are hard to find they will turn to consuming various types of algae that are available.

Reproduction

Maturity is approximately 15 years of age for the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle. The females will reproduce at least once a year and most of them do so at least twice. They will lay up to 100 eggs at a time. It takes approximately 50 to 60 days for them to hatch. Then they will make their journey to the water.

The nesting habits of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle are very unique when compared to other types of sea turtles out there. Instead of each female creating their own nest, they work together to create a very large one for all of them to deposit their eggs in. However, there are still some of this species that nest on their own and don’t join the larger group effort.

Conservation

There aren’t many conservation efforts in place right now for the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle. Approximately 800,000 of them are found in the world so one might assume that they don’t need our help. However, they are classified as an Endangered Species due to the fact that their natural habitat continues to be destroyed at an alarming rate.

The fact that the number of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles has dropped more than 50% in the last 45 years is something to be concerned about. If that trend continues then they may be extinct over the next 50 years. With the right conditions for the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, one can easily live to be at least 50 years old.

Human Interaction

In spite of conservation efforts to protect their natural habitat, they continue to be killed for their meat. They are also killed for their skin as it has many uses. The eggs of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle often get taken by people to consume as well. In many locations they end up in fishing nets that are meant to capture other types of aquatic life. Yet many of them suffer injuries or they die while in those nets.

Ref: www.seaturtle-world.com www.euroturtle.org

You must visit the turtle farm in hikkaduwa, if you want to know more.. they will explain alot of things about turtles. Click here to see their Official Web Site.

Here are some videos that you might find interesting if you are into turtles ….

Hikkaduwa National Park

Hikkaduwa National Park is one of the two marine national parks in Sri Lanka. The national park contains a fringing coral reef of high degree of biodiversity. The area was declared a wildlife sanctuary on May 18, 1979, and then on August 14, 1988, upgraded to a nature reserve with extended land area. The growth of the number of visitors in the next 25 years increased the degradation of the coral reef. To reduce the effects to the ecosystem, the reef was declared a national park on September 19, 2002.

Coral reef

Hikkaduwa coral reef is a typical shallow fringing reef with an average depth of around 5 metres (16 ft). The coral reef reduces the coastal erosion and forms a natural breakwater. The coast of the national park extends four km. Generally the coast is narrow, ranging from 5-50 m according to the climatic conditions of the year. Scuba diving is a popular recreation here.

Physical features

The national park situated in the wet zone and receives a 2,000 millimetres (79 in) of annual rainfall. The rain is received in both southewestern and northeastern monsoon seasons, in April-June and September-November respectively. Inter-monsoon season is a dry period which is considered the best season to visit the park. The temperature of the water ranges from28.0°-30.0°C while the mean annual temperature is 27°C of the atmosphere.

Flora and fauna

Foliaceous Montipora species dominate the coral reef. Encrusting and branching species are also present. Faviidae and Poritidae corals are contained in the inshore areas of the reef in massive colonies. Staghorn, elkhorn, cabbage, brain, table and star corals are all present in the reef. Corals of 60 species belonging to 31 genera are recorded from the reef. The reef also recorded over 170 species of reef fish belonging to 76 genera.

Seagrass and marine algae belonging to genera Halimeda and Caulerpa are common in the seabed depth ranging from 5-10 m. Seagrasses provide habitat to Dugong and sea turtles. Some species of prawns feed on the seagrass. Eight species of ornamental fishes also inhabit the reef, along with many vertebrates and invertebrates including crabs, prawns, shrimps, oysters and sea worms. Porites desilveri is an endemic coral species of Sri Lanka. Chlorurus rhakoura and Pomacentrus proteus are two reef fish species confined to Sri Lanka. Blacktip reef shark are found along the outer slope of the reef. Three sea turtles which have been categorized threatened visit the coral reef: the hawksbill turtle, green turtle, and Olive Ridley.

Threats

The reef has suffered high degradation due to both natural and human activities. The live coral cover was decreased from 47 percent to 13 percent in a coral bleaching event in 1998, induced by the 1998 El Niño.It has been suggested that at least 30-40 percent of coral reef should be restored in order for it to be capable of sustaining itself. Despite being designated as a protected area, the coral reef has been subject to constant exploitation including removal of breeding ornamental fish for the commercial market.

Boxing day tsunami

The two marine national parks of Sri Lanka, Hikkaduwa and Pigeon Island, received little direct impact from the Boxing day tsunami. However they suffered from secondary impacts, particularly from terrestrial debris being deposited on the reefs. A collaboration work of conservation groups and volunteers was carried out to clean up the beach and the reef debris, including two large fishing nets stuck on the outer edge of the reef.

The place is on the way from Colombo to Galle on the famous Galle road. It is primarily a tourist destination, and serves as a great beach with options to surf, snorkel and enjoy the sun.

The town is arranged around the one main road which runs from Galle to Colombo. This road is extremely well trafficked and pedestrians and tourists are advised to exercise caution when crossing.

The town has a plethora of tailors who will custom make shirts, pants, and shorts.

The area also has a reputation for offering a vibrant nightlife. Hikkaduwa is also very popular with board-surfers. It’s a well-known international destination for board-surfing.

Hikkaduwa appears to have been an early tourist destination in Ceylon, for J. W. Bennett reported in 1843 that it “is most pleasantly situated, and a great resort of picnic parties from Galle”. Traditionally associated with the cultivation of coconuts, rice and cinnamon, plumbago mining, and the manufacture of lace and drum frames, Hikkaduwa has emerged as a modern destination for sun-seekers and wave-worshippers.

There is only one town by the sea that can boast of some of the best surfing waves in Sri Lanka, a long stretch of beach packed with restaurants serving deliciously fresh seafood, an equally long stretch of souvenir shops for the serious shopper, and guesthouses and hotels galore, from the cheap and cheerful to star-class. The name of the place is Hikkaduwa, and there is no other resort on the island like it.

Lying 98km south of Colombo on the west coast, Hikkaduwa comprises a number of different areas stretching from north to south. The main town of Hikkaduwa is the most ‘Sri Lankan’ of all areas and features the bus stand, train station and police station at one end, and the dive stations and big hotels at the other end, further south. Next is the Wewala area packed full of guesthouses and small restaurants, internet cafés and bars. Finally, a little further to the south is Narigama, which is a little quieter but has numerous guesthouses, plus the closest thing to a night club – Top Secret. What makes Hikkaduwa stand out from other resorts is the range of accommodation and shopping and dining options, unlike Bentota and Beruwala, which feature only big star-class hotels.

The foreign influx began here in the late sixties and before long the town began to bustle with fun-seeking visitors. New tourist-orientated establishments sprang up, such as Cool Spot, which is the oldest restaurant in town, having opened its doors in 1972. The Germans were the biggest influence for a long time, and although today many signboards and menus are still in German, the clientele is now much more international. In particular, the number of Australians is rising as the fame of Hikkaduwa as a surfer’s destination grows.

For those interested in the sea, it is at its best for diving and snorkelling from November to March when the visibility is generally good. Hikkaduwa’s Coral Sanctuary, established in 1988, ensures the underwater world is accessible to all whether they can dive or not.

Should you want to see more of the Sri Lankan marine life than is in the sanctuary you will need to be a PADI qualified diver, or be willing to take your PADI course there and then. Although there are a number of dive stations, I would recommend Dive Sites Lanka because of their excellent new equipment, the and their responsible attitude to diving. With a number of sunken wrecks and reef gardens further out to sea, it is well worth discovering some of what underwater Sri Lanka has to offer.

Finally, there are of course those attracted to Hikkaduwa by the surfing, which is thought to be second only to that at Arugam Bay on the east coast.

Every November for the past five years the National Championship of the Japanese Pro Surfers’ Association has been held in Hikkaduwa and this year over 100 Japanese surfers participated. The waves are good and the atmosphere relaxed, so head down to Wewala with your board.

Once you have washed the sand out of your hair it is time to do some shopping. Follow the Galle Road as it cuts through the town. Hikkaduwa comes into its own as the premier shopping destination for the backpacker. Clothes are tailored here to western tastes and in western sizes. Jewellery is not of the gaudy golden type, but the more understated silver type with beautiful semi-precious stones. There are dozens of souvenir shops with items from masks and puppets, to shells and corals, and from musical instruments to batiks and paintings. Do, however, be prepared to bargain – especially in the high season.

Hikkaduwa by night means food, drink and dance. There is a wide choice of restaurants, offering excellent fresh seafood, lots of other travellers to meet and talk to, and menus that go far beyond rice and curry. If seafood is not your thing, then the excellent Restaurant Refresh has an amazing array of food and a stylish interior. Much less pricey is the wonderfully aromatic Rotty Restaurant. It is hard not to resist the freshly cooked “short eats” (snacks) if you feel like Sri Lankan tastes, or cheese, onion and tomato rotties for those missing western food. I dare you to leave without sampling the banana and chocolate rotties!

The dance floor at Top Secret is actually not much of a secret at all and attracts most of the night-time action with people from all walks of life strutting their stuff on the beach to pumping music that includes Bob Marley classics in the time-honoured beach tradition. Leave your inhibitions at home and enjoy the friendly atmosphere and cold beers!

In conclusion, Hikkaduwa is the kind of laid-back place that tourists tend to fall in love with. It has all the amenities, no serious hassles, and can offer the perfect beach experience for those who just want to laze, swim, surf and shop through their holiday.

ref: www.lanka.com