Asia - Adventure Tours to Sri Lanka Sri Lanka never fails to captivate with its tropical beaches, diverse culture and ancient cities. Take a walk along a palm-fringed beach or jump in a canoe for something a little more active. Experience the romance, colour and spice of Sri Lanka, a truly remarkable destination that you'll never forget! Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon was a British colony for more than a century, it gained independence in 1948 and is now a Republic with a linguistically and religiously diverse population. This tear-drop shaped island consists mostly of flat coastal plains, with mountains rising in the centre, the climate is tropical with a monsoon season. In the northeast monsoon lasts from December to March and in the southwest June to October.