Sri Lanka's east coast was hardest hit of all by the Boxing Day tsunami. That, along with the country's long running civil war in the north and east has meant that much of the east coast has been off limits to many travellers.
The war and the tsunami has certainly left it's scars, but recovery once more, is slowly underway. Those eager to support the region will be rewarded by scenes of great natural beauty - Sri Lanka's equivalent of the Maldives, with never-ending white beaches, mangrove lagoons, coral islands and a shimmering blue sea.
The conservative mindset of many holidaymakers will mean that only a handful of intrepid travellers will consider the east coast for the foreseeable future.
The east coast is best visited between from March to October. A decision to travel east should be taken with a keen knowledge of the political and humanitarian situation.