It has an international conference centre without conferences, an international airport where no planes land, a port without ships and an international stadium without games. It is the Sri Lankan town called Hambantota. Some call it the Miracle of Asia!

We returned to Tissa after the morning game drive at Yala. The jeep driver who was excellent and pointed out many birds we would not have seen without him was rewarded with a handsome tip. We had a cup of tea, collected our bags from the Lakeside Hotel and drove to Hambantota.

Hambantota used to be a sleepy little town known only for buffalo curd, a Sri Lankan sweetmeat called Kaludodol and ancient salt pans. Birders like the salt pans as they attract waders and shore birds and it is easy to spot greater flamingos, spot-billed pelicans, plovers and sandpipers. If you are not a birder, there is no earthly…