One of the things that I love about Sri Lanka is simply that it is Sri Lanka.  It has an identity and a low-key charm quite different to any of the other Asian places that I have visited.  Lose this, and it will lose important differentiation.  Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, another side to this island is that planning regulations are weakly enforced and money talks, especially when you have the right connections.

It was therefore with horror, but not surprise, that when walking down a narrow lane lined with trees and a hot-potch of low level dwellings that have evolved over many years, we were confronted with the enormous monstrosity shown above; a corrugated-panel lined construction site containing quite the ugliest building we have seen in a long time. 

Currently under construction, The Araliya Beach Resort & Spa is apparently aimed at package holidays for Chinese and Russian new money. Whatever the motivation for building it, I haven\’t found a single person in favour of its existence, only much sadness and despair.  Looking more like a cheaply constructed apartment block or industrial premises than anything else, as you can see below courtesy of Google Maps it totally dominates its surroundings. 

Sole access is currently down the mentioned narrow lane – thousands of truck trips and all – and a great tract of land is about to be razed to the ground to build a road fit for all of those coachloads of tourists that currently aren\’t going to be coming.

Such a shame.

Steve