We recently returned to Qatar from my 30th birthday celebration in Sri Lanka. Around 45,000 people employed in Qatar are from Sri Lanka. The Gulf country is known for its precious pearls, while Sri Lanka is often referred to as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean.”

Sri Lanka is an island nation 19 miles off the southern coast of India, roughly the size of West Virginia. Of the more than 20 million people, about 1.3 million live in and around Colombo, the nation’s capital city. Outside Colombo’s busy business districts is a country packed with tropical rain forest, wildlife and national heritage. Sri Lanka’s beaches are popular venues for surfing. In the ocean, boats take tourists to see migrating blue whales. The enormous sea creatures reach lengths around 110 feet and weights of 200 tons. Continue reading →