Sri Lanka or not?

Q: As our grandather spent most of his life in the Ceylon, we would love to visit Sri Lanka. Can you advise us whether it is safe to visit now? Also, which airline would we use to get there and can you recommend good hotels in Colombo and Galle? Thank you. - Edith Brackenridge

A: There have been sporadic problems around Colombo, but the south of the country, where Galle is located, is peaceful and you should have no problems there. As long as you take reasonable precautions in Colombo and stay in the tourist zones, the danger should not be too great. I would not hesitate to visit this lovely country, but it is up to you to decide whether it is worth the risk, however small that may be. The best route airline to use is Emirates, via Dubai. However, you could also fly via south-east Asia, using Thai Airways, Malaysia Airline or Singapore Airlines, all of whom have connections to Colombo. If you prefer to use SAA, you would fly to Mumbai or Hong Kong and connect with other carriers. Two hotels I recommend in Colombo are the Hilton or the Galle Face Hotel (the new wing). Both have great locations and offer good accommodation and service. In Galle, the you can't go wrong with the Galle Fort Hotel or the lovely old-fashioned Amangalla Resort, part of Asia's renowned Aman group. The best budget choice is the Closenberg Hotel. My personal favourite is the new Fotress Hotel, which is outside of the Galle Fort on Koggala beach. Be aware that although Galle is only 120kms from Colombo, the drive can take 4-5 hours.