Sri Lanka is encouraging visitors to its beautiful shores again since peace talks resulted in a formal ceasefire between the Tamil Tigers and the government in February.

However, there is still a military presence, particularly at the airport and in the streets of the capital city, Colombo. Expect to see some roadblocks set up at night and checkpoints as you enter the city.

If you go shopping at some of the extremely cheap Western-style department stores listed in the guide books, expect your bags to be searched at the shop entrance and in some cases, security guards will ask you to leave your bags with them while you go bargain hunting inside.