I’ve just spent a few peaceful days in Weligama, a beginner surfing Mecca and very relaxed place. Sri Lanka generally is seeing both the benefits and negatives of tourism, but so far seems to have avoided the worst excesses.
A few images, from the last few days and days before, of this complex country.
There’s still very much a subsistence living, with people excusing through fishing, farming and on no money at all. The amounts we’ve been spending on meals, while cheap for us, would keep a Sri Lankan family for weeks.
Weligama still had an air of peace and relative innocence; no drugs visible, little hassle from touts , backpackers playing beach volleyball in the evening. How much of the serenity is due to the impact of the war, I don’t know.
Last but not least, a turtle hospital and hatchery. While I could wish the turtles were in bigger tanks, and their water was changed more than once a week, the place is still rescuing injured turtles, treating them and releasing them ( motorboat injuries, fishing nets and plastic bags the main culprits), and gathering eggs to protect them and releasing the baby turtles.
Again, so encouraging to see these initiatives and they can have my money.
My Longest Journey 