Sri Lanka is a fabulous place, safe, friendly, and remarkably hassle-free.  Taking the train is a great way to get around and a real cultural experience.  The most scenic routes will be highlights of your visit, particularly the wonderful journey from Colombo to Kandy and up into Tea Country and the coastal train from Colombo to Dutch colonial Galle.  British visitors will find the stations, signal boxes, and old red semaphore signals very familiar!  This page is a beginner's guide to train travel in Sri Lanka.