Sri Lanka is an island paradise known for its palm fringed beaches and warm tropical waters of the Indian Ocean. If you are looking for a getaway that is off the beaten path while holidaying in Sri Lanka, villas along the southern coast offer something a little different. Escape the busy activity of the city and explore some of the country’s more scenic regions. A small group looking for a personalised experience from food to service can opt for a property like Saffron & Blue by Jetwing, which consists of four luxury suites.
The seas surrounding Sri Lanka are rich with marine life. There are many turtle species found in Sri Lanka. The most common of which is the Olive Ridley Turtle. It is the smallest type of marine turtle that can be identified by its round, plain olive coloured shell with a serrated edge. The Olive Ridley is known to visit Sri Lankan beaches in large numbers during its nesting period, between September and November. While this comparatively small creature grows to a length of eighty centimetres and reaches an adult weight of about fifty kilograms, the Leatherback turtle is the largest sea turtle. The biggest Leatherback on record measured in at three metres long and weighed nine hundred and sixteen kilos. These creatures consume jellyfish as the main portion of their diet. Often mistaking floating plastic bags for jellyfish, many Leatherback turtles become the casualties of pollution.
Green turtles nest on Sri Lankan shores all year round with their main preferences being the beaches of Kosgoda and Rekawa. They have a distinct oval carapace with mottled green and black markings. Young Green turtles are carnivorous but as adults they switch to eating only sea grass and algae. The Hawksbill turtle with its strikingly patterned shell markings is critically endangered, while the less common Loggerhead turtle gets its name from its notably large head and muscular jaws.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
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