From colonial days to contemporary times, Sri Lanka has a proud heritage. Eoin Lyons looks at a book celebrating its style and spirit of diversity

Sri Lanka, like many of the countries devasted by the recent tsunami, is making valiant efforts to return to normal. Living In Sri Lanka, by Turtle Bunbury and Irish photographer James Fennell, a handsome interiors book that pays tribute to the country's diverse influences, could well promote the tourism that is vital to its recovery.

Fennell specialises in interiors, fashion and portraiture, working for various Condé Nast publications; Bunbury has written a number of other books including The Landed Gentry & Aristocracy of Co Wicklow (2005) and this year won a Long-haul Travel Journalist of the Year award. This new book, published by Thames & Hudson, is the result of extensive travels in what the ancients called the Island of Serendipity and has received attention for its positive portrayal of the country post-tsunami.

While predominantly dealing with the country's architecture and interiors - from colonial to contemporary design - it also captures the Sri Lankan people, their lifestyles and the landscape. Over the centuries, Muslim traders and the Portuguese, followed by the Dutch, then the British, were drawn to rule the tropical island (which is about the size of Ireland) just off the southeast coast of the Indian subcontinent. Through Fennell's superb photography we see that Sri Lanka is the location of buildings of simple elegance, many of which survived the tsunami.

A Dutch colonial villa, a tree house over a riverbank, a renovated manor, a 21st century eco-village, a 1930s Art Deco chalet . . . all sorts of buildings are here. The interiors captured depict both faded grandeur and modern vision, but what's striking about them all is that they have been constructed with great respect for the spectacular environment in which they are situated.

Defining Sri Lankan style, writes Bunbury, is complex. The country's history, location and multi-ethnic population has left it open to influences from across the world.

Yet in terms of architecture and interiors, Sri Lanka possesses a unique character.

Verandas and colonnades are highly practical attributes for tropical houses, giving shade from the sun, fresh circulating air and a sense of internal security.

A house called Doornberg in the region of Galle (one of the areas hard hit by the tsunami) is a Dutch Colonial homestead built in 1712. It is, according to Bunbury, one of the oldest and most elegant.

The original architect had an understanding of sunlight and as the sun sets over the central courtyard, the light of evening gives the house a golden hue.

The courtyard features squares of grass, pebble and stone, where guests take their meals.

A bedroom with a jakwood four-poster bed, has simple wicker furniture and a rattan rug. A traditional Rajasthani painting on cotton of an exotic elephant recalls the Hindu deity Ganesh, lord of beginnings.

A satinwood tree house stands 12m above ground in the bough of a pau tree.

Places like this are new additions to Sri Lanka's burgeoning eco-tourism industry.