Young and old flock to Negombo beach to fly their kiting kreations!

July to September is the Sri Lanka kite-flying season, when people of all ages and from all walks of life can have fun and dot the skies with their vibrant creations.

Negombo beach, with its wide expanse of open air and stunning views of the Indian Ocean, is the perfect kiting location.

Kite flying is not just confined to Negombo, but takes place in villages and in any space of the island with wind in the air and your hair!

Most years there is a big kite festival held on the beach fronting Heritance Negombo hotel, which adjoins Negombo Beach Park, just off the main strip.

The best time for flying a kite is after mid-day when the harshness of the sun slowly gives way for a glorious sunset.

An evening walk along the beach will enable you to watch dozens of kites flying, filling the skies with a myriad of different shapes, sizes and colours.

Many people like to make their own kites, all it takes is some stalks of the coconut leaf or bamboo sticks, coloured oiled paper, gum and thread, and a 300 metres ball of string.

The five traditional kites are: vowla (bat, the oldest style), naya (snake, with a long tail), monara (peacock, multiple streamers), maluwa (fish) and gemba (frog).