Sri Lanka is a truly astounding place to visit! You said your friend sent you these pictures, which look stunning by the way. Were you ever there yourself?
In 2010, my parents and I went to a small village in the south of Sri Lanka, and I must say that it was a life-changing experience! Here are some of our pictures from the trip...
The mountains you speak of are otherworldly! I climbed up one of them - Lion Rock was the name - and the views really impressed me.