As well as having a rich cultural heritage and palm-fringed coast, the stunning island nation also offers an array of local handcrafted items, luxury products and high street fashion. The Sri Lankan economy relies on the garment trade, so there are a quite a few shops which stock export-quality clothes at discounted prices. Imagine finding your favourite brands right at the source of manufacture without the inflated UK price tags attached to them!

Although it may be difficult to tear yourself away from your luxury villa in Sri Lanka, it will be worth the effort and is sure to provide a very enjoyable experience. The closest place to the southern beaches with great shopping is the port town of Galle. It is Sri Lanka’s fourth largest city and has a beautifully preserved Dutch colonial quarter. The city has been regenerated over the last decade due to an influx of expats and members of Colombo’s elite investing in the area’s historic properties. It’s now Sri Lanka’s most cosmopolitan district and is bursting with delightful cafes and elegant designer boutiques. Locals prefer to go to the Manjari department store, which is stocked with every item imaginable, including a huge variety of quality fabrics that can be bought and taken to a tailor.

Sri Lanka is famed for its sapphires and jewellery. Jewellery stores can be found all over the island, from luxury hotels to gem emporiums, but most moonstones come from the mine in Ambalangoda, where you can buy uncut or faceted gemstones at the on-site store. Ambalangoda is also the centre of Sri Lanka’s mask-making tradition. The gruesome masks are used in ritual Kolam dances and other ceremonies. The island has a rich tradition of artisan crafts that come in different forms, including wood, stone, lace and batik, thus making shopping for gifts and souvenirs a unique and inspiring activity. In the capital, Colombo, there are plenty of superior craft shops, many of which offer a contemporary approach to traditional crafts.

It is possible to find designer wear at bargain prices in stores like Cotton Collection and Abstract. These designer clothes are surplus products or rejected shipments from local garment factories but have the labels cut out because it’s illegal to sell these items under the names of their original brands. However, the brands are legitimate, just offered at a significantly reduced price. Clothing stores that are completely dependent on garment factory products have popped up all over Sri Lanka, some of them becoming chains, such as the consistently popular Odel.

Surprisingly, winter fashions are also easy to come by as long as you visit the Highlands. The street market at Nuwara Eliya contains padded jackets, waterproofs and fleeces from popular western brands like Columbia and North Face. After a good days shopping in Sri Lanka, you’ll be happy to head back to your luxury villa and relax in comfort and style, ready to try on your purchases!