The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island nation in South Asia. It is located in the Indian Ocean, about 31 kilometres off the southern coast of India. The current name of Sri Lanka is an ancient name of the island derived from the Sanskrit for 'resplendent island'. The original name of the island, given to it by its indigenous people the Hela (now known as 'Sinhela', 'Sinhala' or 'Sinhelese') was Heladiva (meaning 'Island of the Hela').

Although not traditionally hugely popular with tourists, this is now changing with areas such as Yala National Park helping increase its popularity, along with the draw of the natural beauty of the island's tropical forests, beaches and landscape.