Country Facts - Sri Lanka
Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is an island nation in Asia, near south east India. Sri Lanka shares its maritime borders with India to the northwest and the Maldives to the Southwest.
Nicknamed as ‘The Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ this paradise island is well known as a top tourist destination in the world. It is one of the few countries in the world with a documented history of over 3000 years with evidence spanning to pre-historic human settlements. Its significant geographic location and natural harbours has made it a strategic point from the time of the ancient Silk Road to the Second World War.
A diverse and multicultural country, Sri Lanka is home to many religions, ethnic groups, and languages. In addition to the majority Sinhalese, it is home to large groups of Sri Lankan and Indian Tamils, Moors, Burghers, Malays, Kaffirs and the aboriginal Veddas. Sri Lanka has a rich Buddhist heritage, and well known Buddhist writings such as, the ‘Tipitaka’, dates back to the Fourth Buddhist council in 29 BC. The country's recent history was marred by a thirty-year terrorist war which decisively ended when Sri Lankan military defeated Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009. The legislative capital, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, is a suburb of the commercial capital and the largest city, Colombo.
Sri Lanka has a long history of international engagement, as a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the G77, and a prominent member of the Non-Aligned Movement. Among the South Asian countries, it is rated "high" on the Human Development Index.
History |
Sri Lanka is a country with a unique and a proud historical record of a great civilization, a culture of achievements, spanning over a period of several centuries before and after the birth of Christ, which by comparison cannot be second to any contemporary civilization that existed in the world. |
Geography and Climate |
Sri Lanka lies on the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal. Sri Lanka is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait. The island consists mostly of flat to rolling coastal plains, with mountains rising only in the south-central part. The highest point is Pidurutalagala or Mount Pedro, reaching 2,524 metres (8,281 ft) above sea level. |
Lifestyle |
This small 65610 sq km island is no short of diversity when it comes to culture and lifestyles. |
Politics |
Sri Lanka is a democratic republic and a unitary state which is governed by a semi-presidential system, with a mixture of a presidential system and a parliamentary system. Most provisions of the constitution can be amended by a two-thirds majority in parliament. However, the amendment of certain basic features such as the clauses on language, religion, and reference to Sri Lanka as a unitary state require both a two-thirds majority and approval in a nationwide referendum. |
Ceylon Tea |
“The tea fields of Ceylon are as true a monument to courage as is the lion at Waterloo" – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Ceylon Tea is the world’s finest. Once, when the world’s first man in space Yuri Gagarin was felicitated, he was asked to name his favourite drink. Without hesitation he replied, ‘Ceylon Tea’. The magic of land, sun and rain presents the ideal climatic conditions for cultivation of tea. Ceylon Tea brings a fresh dimension by producing variations in taste, quality, character and appearance. Ceylon tea with its distinct taste and character has now become every consumer’s elite choice. Tea was introduced by planter James Taylor in 1867 during the British rule when he began his first estate in Loolecondera and in 1873, the first shipment of Ceylon tea, a consignment of some 23 lb (10 kg), arrived in London. Thomas Lipton, a millionaire in United Kingdom visited British Ceylon in the 1890s, during his journey to Australia, and met Taylor. They discussed the business of exporting tea from British Ceylon. Lipton's company became interested and started buying Ceylon tea. In 1980 Sri Lanka was the official supplier of tea at the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympic Games, in 1982 at the 12th Commonwealth Games in Brisbane and again in 1987 at Expo 88 in Australia. Today, Sri Lanka exports tea to more than 140 countries. Its highest buyers are former Soviet Bloc members, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, UK and Japan. In 2013, Tea production was recorded at 340 million kgs. World’s only Tea Museum is located in Hantane, Kandy.
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Hospitality |
Sri Lankan people are known for their beautiful smiles and warm welcomes. This multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural society is a reflection of the island’s encounters with successive foreign immigrants. The people of Sri Lanka possess a warm and friendly nature reflected in persistent smiling faces and eagerness to help those unfamiliar with aspects of local life. They are very hospitable and take pride in inviting people to their homes, however modest they may be. |
Economy |
According to the International Monetary Fund, Sri Lanka's GDP in terms of purchasing power parity is second only to the Maldives in the South Asian region in terms of per capita income. |
Travel |
Already among the top tourist destinations in 2016, Sri Lanka is filled with cultural and natural treasures. Indians, Portuguese, Dutch and British have all influenced this heaven, making it a dazzling mix of ancient sites, monuments and grand colonial architecture. Palm-fringed beaches are never far away and lush mountainous greenery beckons further inland. It’s understood why Marco Polo claimed Sri Lanka as one of the best islands in the world. |
Famous Sri Lankans |
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