Sri Lanka 2026 – 1. Westbury Gardens Revisited

We returned to Sri Lanka in February 2026 for a six weeks stay.

We were glad to leave the cold and damp in Harrogate behind and fly to Colombo from Manchester with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul.

It was not the same as flying with Emirates. The seats were smaller with less leg-room. No spirits were served and the wine was undrinkable. The meals however were tasty and the cabin staff were friendly and helpful. Despite prior requests, no Gluten free food items were available during the flight. In Istanbul, there was an incredibly long walk from arrivals to the connecting flight.

Prices in Sri Lanka had skyrocketed. The transfer cost from the airport to Westbury was two and a half times more than what it was two years ago.

Westbury Gardens however looked smashing and number 393 D has had an amazing facelift.

Many bird species including Spotted Doves, Magpie Robins, Red-vented Bulbuls, Yellow-billed Babblers, Kingfishers, White-throated Munias, Mynahs, Sparrows, Parrots and garden lizards and the endangered Purple Face Leaf Monkeys visited the garden.

In addition to delicious Sri Lankan dishes cooked at home there were street venders’ ‘take away’ places nearby selling Hoppers made from fermented rice and coconut batter cooked to a spongey bowl-shaped pancake, String Hoppers, Dosa, Wadei, Spring Rolls, Lamprais wrapped in banana leaves, Samosas etc.