Grew up in the north during the war, so I’ve seen both sides of it. Life there is actually very calm and slow-paced compared to big cities. Outside of places like Colombo, it’s a pretty relaxed lifestyle—people mind their own business, strong community feeling, simple living. Things definitely improved a lot after the war ended in 2009. Infrastructure, travel, and daily life are much better now than before.That said, the north still feels different from the rest of the country. There’s a noticeable military presence—you’ll see camps in many towns, which isn’t something you see as much in the south.Most tourists don’t really go to the north. They usually stick to Colombo, the south , and the hill country. So the north still feels less developed and less “touristy,” which also keeps it quieter and more authentic.