91-33-40200838
Content for A Travel Website - Sri Lanka
Are you planning a trip to Sri Lanka? Know all about Sri Lanka and you can also consult our Sri Lanka travel guide. Our site brings you all that you need to know before traveling to this country. We provide Sri Lanka travel reference, information about Sri Lankan people and their history.
It is an island country that is surrounded by the Indian Ocean. This Asian country has rich history spanning for about 3,000 years. It has witnessed the rise and fall of different kingdoms and was also under the colonial rule of English, Dutch and Portuguese powers.
Sri Lanka saw the rise of Buddhism and it is a country of multi ethnicity. Besides the prominent religion of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam religions are also prevalent. The major part of the population comprises Sinhalese. Other ethnic groups of Sri Lanka are Tamils, Moors and Burghers. The major spoken language of this country is Sinhalese and it is also the official language of the country.
The weather in Sri Lanka remains hot and humid round the year. If one is moving to Sri Lanka for purpose of tourism then it is better to avoid the monsoon season. Sri Lanka is a popular holiday destination for tourists. UNESCO has recognized seven World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka. The sea beaches, coral lagoons, national parks, historical sites, religious spots of Sri Lanka invite tourists from all over the world. The ancient cities of Sri Lanka bear testimony to historical facts.
About Sri Lanka
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was previously known as Ceylon. It is an island country of Southern Asia, surrounded by the Indian Ocean. Geographical location of Sri Lanka is 7-degree North Latitude and 81-degree East Longitude. Approximate total area of this country is 65,610 sq km.
The capital city of Sri Lanka is Colombo. The administrative power is divided among 8 provinces. Ethnic groups of Sri Lanka comprise mainly of Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Moors, Sri Lankan Tamil and Indian Tamil. Official language is Sinhala while both Tamil and Sinhala are spoken. English is also used in governmental matters and proficiently spoken by a minority of the population. Currency of Sri Lanka is the Rupee (Rs), which is divided to 100 cents.
Sri Lanka experiences tropical monsoon type of climate. From December to March North-East monsoon prevails whereas from June to October Sri Lanka experiences South-West monsoon. Occasional tornadoes and cyclones are common in this island country. The terrain of this island country is mainly flat to rolling plain. Most of the land part is low region and mountainous region is found in the southern and central parts. Sri Lanka has natural resources of graphite, limestone, phosphates, mineral sands, gems etc. Hydro power is also generated here. The arable lands are suitable for farming and cultivation of crops.
History of Sri Lanka
History of Sri Lanka can be traced back to 5th Century B.C when Indo-Aryan groups immigrated to this island from North India to form the Sinhalese group. A civilization developed around Anuradhapura kingdom in and around 4th Century B.C. By the middle of the 3rd Century Buddhism was introduced here. Emperor Ashoka’s son Mahindra and daughter Sanghamitra came to Sri Lanka to spread the teachings of Lord Buddha and King Devanapiya of Anuradhapura was converted to a Buddhist. The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa later emerged as the Sinhalese capital and remained in power for about two centuries. After the fall of the Polonnaruwa kingdom, Tamil kingdom came to power in Jaffna.
Sri Lankan history witnessed settlement by different foreign powers. Muslim settlement developed here as many Arab traders settled in this country. In 1505 Portuguese came here and some settled here forming a small group that came to be known as European Burghers. The Dutch traders came here in 1602 who soon gained monopoly over the spice trade in Sri Lanka. They were replaced by the British power in 1796 and from 1802 Sri Lanka came under the British colonial rule.
In 1948 Sri Lanka became an independent member of the British Commonwealth. The United National Party (UNP) under the leadership of DS Senanayake formed the first independent government in Sri Lanka.
Tourism in Sri Lanka
December to March is the best time to travel to the west and south coast of Sri Lanka while April to September remains suitable to be in the east coast of this island country. The major tourist attractions of Sri Lanka are the sea beaches of the eastern and southern parts. Some of the famous ones are Beruwala Beach, Trincomalee Beach, Hambantota Beach, Kosgoda Beach etc. Sri Lanka’s bird sanctuaries and national parks are major attraction for tourists and nature lovers. Gal Oya National Park, Uda Walawe National Park, Yala National Park, Wilpattu National Park and Bundala National Park are some of the famous national parks of Sri Lanka. Eco-tourism has also gained popularity in Sri Lanka. The rain forests, wet lands, lagoons and coral reef regions of Sri Lanka offer splendid experience of nature tourism.
The archeological sites in this country also draw a huge number of tourists. The ancient kingdoms of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya are worth visiting. Tourist places like Yapahuwa and Galle are famous for ancient fortresses. Dambulla, Maligawila and Kandy are also some of the archeological sites in Sri Lanka that are known for the relics of ancient monastery and temples. Adam’s Peak is another major tourist attraction, which is also a pilgrimage site in Sri Lanka.
Hotels in Sri Lanka
Tourists visiting Sri Lanka can stay in any of the Sri Lankan hotels. There are different varieties of hotels in Sri Lanka that offer accommodation for tourists in this country. Some of the colonial buildings of Sri Lanka have been transformed to hotels and there are numerous modern hotels that offer excellent accommodation facilities and numerous amenities to guests.
Sri Lankan hotels can be mainly categorized to 5 star hotels, 4 star hotels and 3 star hotels. Ceylon Continental Hotel Colombo, Hilton Residence Apartment Colombo, Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo are some of the important 5 star hotels in Sri Lanka. Some of the 4 star hotels are Club Hotel Dolphin Negombo, Ramada Hotel Colombo, Taj Airport Garden Negombo. Popular 3 star hotels in Sri Lanka are Paradise Beach Hotel Negombo, Hotel Sunset Beach Negombo, Serendib Hotel Bentota, Lihiniya Surf Hotel Bentota.
For highly personalized services tourists can book rooms in boutique hotels and villas in Sri Lanka. Galle Fort Hotel, Aditya Hotel, Amanwella, Elephant Corridor Hotel are some of the popular boutique hotels in Sri Lanka. There are some best value hotels in Sri Lanka like Club Villa Bentota, Taj Airport Garden Negombo and Golden Star Beach Hotel.
Sri Lanka Culture
The Tamil and the Sinhalese are the two main traditional cultures in Sri Lanka. The Tamils are mainly based in Jaffna city while the Sinhalese are based centering on the ancient kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Kandy. In the past the culture of Sri Lanka came under the influence of Portuguese, Dutch and British colonialism. From the ancient times rituals and different customs are observed in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka comprises multi ethnic groups. The main groups are the Sinhalese and Tamils. The Tamil people are again divided into Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. Two other ethnic groups of Sri Lanka are the Moors and the Burghers. People of different religion have settled in Sri Lanka. Buddhism is considered to be the major creed of the Sinhalese people. It has influenced the art, literature, architecture and cultural of Sri Lanka. Among other religions of Sri Lanka, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are prevalent.
The main languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhala and the Tamil language. Both of these languages originated from different sources but they have influenced each other in their linguistic evolution. Most part of the literature of Sri Lanka is composed in Sinhala. English is also spoken in Sri Lanka though by a minority of people in comparison to Sinhala and Tamil.
Population Sri Lanka
The total population of Sri Lanka is about 21, 324, 791. About 15% of the total population consist the urban population of the country. Population of Sri Lanka is mainly comprised of the Sinhalese. It is believed that the Indo-Aryan people from Northern India migrated here who formed this ethnic group. The Tamils and other ethnic groups also comprise the rest of the population. The Tamils residing in Sri Lanka can be divided to Indian Tamils and Sri Lankan Tamils. Apart from the two major ethnic groups, the population of Sri Lanka also comprises the Moors who owe their origin to the Arabs who settled here. The Moors can be divided into Indian Moors, Malays and Sri Lankan Moors. The Burghers is another noted ethnic group in Sri Lanka who are considered to be descendants of European settlers in this country.
The major religion of the Sri Lankan people is Buddhism. Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are some of the other noted religions of the people. The language of the Tamil inhabitants of Sri Lanka is the Tamil language. Sinhalese is the major spoken language of this country. Both Tamil and Sinhala are the national languages whereas Sinhala is considered to be also its official language of Sri Lankan people. Here English is also spoken by a part of the population.
Industrial / trade in Sri Lanka
The economy of the country is no longer limited to domestic agricultural activities but it has shifted to become a part of the international market. A major part of the Sri Lankan population is engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing whereas another part of the population is engaged in factory production. A certain part of the population also comprises the unskilled labor whereas many seek their career in accounting, sales, medicine, law, services etc.
The major industries in Sri Lanka comprise both agricultural activities as well as manufacturing. The main agricultural products are rice, grain and coconut. Tea and rubber plantation are major source of economy of Sri Lanka. The manufacturing industry comprises the textile manufacturing, tobacco, beverage and food processing. The heavy industry of Sri Lanka is involved with cement, tire, steel manufacturing and also with mining, oil refining etc.
In Sri Lanka industrial activities also comprise energy production, construction and transportation. Tourism is one of the major industries of Sri Lanka. The several sea beaches, archeological sites, wildlife sanctuaries and different places of interest attract tourists from different parts of the world.
Sri Lanka is a noted global exporter of rubber, tea, coconut products and gems. Sri Lanka mainly imports metals, food stuff, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery equipments etc from other countries.
|