Sri Lanka country information
Location &
Physical Features
Sri Lanka, an island in the Indian Ocean is located to the south of the
Indian subcontinent. It lies between 5O 55' and 9O 55' north of the equator
and between the eastern longitudes 79O 42' and 81O 52'. The total land area
is 65,610 sq. km. and is astonishingly varied. A length of 445 km. and
breadth of 225 km. encompasse beautiful tropical beaches, verdant
vegetation, ancient monuments and a thousand delights to please all tastes.
The relief features of the island consist of a mountainous mass somewhat
south of the centre, with height exceeding 2,500 meters, surrounded by broad
plains. Palm fringed beaches surround the island and the sea temperature
rarely falls below 27OC.
Climate and Seasons
In the lowlands the climate is typically tropical with an average
temperature of 27OC in Colombo. In the higher elevations it can be quite
cool with temperatures going down to 16OC at an altitude of nearly 2,000
meters. Bright, sunny warm days are the rule and are common even during the
height of the monsoon - climatically Sri Lanka has no off
season. The south west monsoon brings
rain mainly from May to July to the western, southern and central regions of
the island, while the north-east monsoon rains occur in the northern and
eastern regions in December and January.
History
Recent excavations show that even during the Neolithic Age, there were food
gatherers and rice cultivators in Sri Lanka. Very little is known of this
period; documented history began with the arrival of the Aryans from North
India. The Aryans introduced the use of iron and an advanced form of
agriculture and irrigation. They also introduced the art of government. Of
the Aryan settlements, Anuradhapura grew into a powerful kingdom under the
rule of king Pandukabhaya. According to traditional history he is accepted
as the founder of Anuradhapura.
During the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa, a descendent of Pandukabhaya,
Buddhism was introduced in 247 B.C. by Arahat Mahinda, the son of Emperor
Asoka of India. This is the most important event in Sri Lankan history as it
set the country on the road to cultural greatness. As a new civilization
flourished Sri Lanka became rich and prosperous.
In the mid 2nd century B.C. a large part of north Sri Lanka came under the
rule of an invader from South India. From the beginning of the Christian era
and up to the end of the 4th century A.D. Sri Lanka was governed by an
unbroken dynasty called Lambakarna, which paid great attention to the
development of irrigation. A great king of this dynasty, Mahasen (3rd
century A.D.) started the construction of large `tanks' or irrigation
reservoirs. Another great `tank' builder was Dhatusena, who was put to death
by his son Kasyapa who made Sigiriya a royal city with his fortress capital
on the summit of the rock.
As a result of invasions from South India the kingdom of Anuradhapura fell
by the end of the 10th century A.D. Vijayabahu 1 repulsed the invaders and
established his capital at Polonnaruwa in the 11th century A.D. Other great
kings of Polonnaruwa were Parakrama Bahu the Great and Nissanka Malla both
of whom adorned the city with numerous buildings of architectural beauty.
Invasion was intermittent and the capital was moved constantly until the
Portuguese arrived in 1505, when the chief city was established at Kotte, in
the western lowlands. The Portuguese came to trade in spices but stayed to
rule until 1656 in the coastal regions, as did the Dutch thereafter. Dutch
rule lasted from 1656 to 1796, in which year they were displaced by the
British. During this period the highland Kingdom, with its capital in Kandy,
retained its independence despite repeated assaults by foreign powers who
ruled the rest of the country. In 1815 the kingdom of Kandy was ceded to the
British and thus they established their rule over the whole island. Modern
communications, western medical services, education in English, as well as
the plantation industry (first coffee then tea, rubber and coconut)
developed during British rule. By a process of peaceful, constitutional
evolution, Sri Lanka won back her independence in 1948 and is now a
sovereign republic, with membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and the
United Nations Organization.
Economy
Sri Lanka is mainly an agricultural country. The chief crop is rice with
which the country is almost self sufficient. Tea, rubber and coconut are
also important agricultural crops, with tea being a major foreign exchange
earner. In addition, other crops of importance are cocoa and spices such as
cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, pepper and cloves. Fruit and vegetables, native
to both tropical and temperate regions, grow well in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is
also a major exporter of precious and semi-precious stones. Within the last
few years remittances from Sri Lankans employed abroad have contributed a
large share towards foreign exchange.
The last three decades have seen tourism emerge as an important industry.
There has also been a rapid growth in manufacturing industries which offer a
wide range of export goods such as petroleum products, leather goods, ready
made garments and electronic equipment.
Demography
Sri Lanka has a population of 18.5 million of whom the majority are Sinhala
(74%). Other ethnic groups are made up of Sri Lankan Tamils (12.6%), Indian
Tamils (5.5%), Moors, Malays, Burghers (of Portuguese & Dutch descent) and
others (7.9%).
Although Sri Lanka is a multi-religious country, Buddhists constitute the
majority with 69.3%. Other religious groups are Hindus 15.5%, Muslims 7.6%
and Christians 7.5%. Sri Lanka's literacy rate of 88.6% is one of the
highest in Asia.
Language and Religion
Sinhala and Tamil are official languages in Sri Lanka. Sinhala, a language
of Indo-Aryan origin is the language of the majority. English is widely
spoken and understood. Place names and sign-boards on buses and trains are
usually in all three languages. Sri Lanka is a land of religious freedom and
tolerance. Wherever you travel you will come across a Buddhist Temple or
Dagaba, a Hindu Kovil, a Christian Church or a Mosque, each with its own
distinctive architecture. When visiting holy places please conform to the
requirements as regards dress in order not to show disrespect.
Buddhism is the main religion of Sri Lanka where it was officially
introduced in the third century B.C. during the reign of King Devanam
Piyatissa by Venerable Mahinda who was son of Emperor Asoka of India. No
sooner than it was introduced here the new teaching caught up with the
inhabitants of the country so rapidly that within a few months' time the
entire country became Buddhist. In Sri Lanka it has found its most congenial
permanent home.
Buddhism is the practical system of psychological and philosophical ethics
taught to humanity by the Indian prince Siddhartha Gauthama in the 6th
century B.C. He was born on the full - moon day of May in the year 623 B.C.
as the son of Suddhodana, a provincial ruler of the kingdom of Kapilavastu
in Central India. His teaching has today become a world religion providing
inspiration and guidance to nearly one fourth of the world's population.
He lived the house - hold life for twenty-nine years, the last thirteen
years of which constituted his married life with princes Yasodhara. As a
royal prince born with the silver spoon in the month he led a luxurious
life. However, he had been a very contemplative person from his young days
and this nature of his did not make him happy amidst his royal luxury. To
him such enjoyment did not make any appeal because he saw that it was
fleeting and temporary and as such, in the ultimate analysis, life is
painful. All so-called pleasures are delusive. Amidst comfort and prosperity
he realized the university of sorrow inherent in human existence.
Despite all the efforts of man to achieve happiness in this world, human
suffering stares in the face of all living beings. Search after worldly
pleasures available to him and donning the simple garb of an ascetic, alone
and penniless, he wandered forth from home to homelessness in search of
Truth and Peace, which to him appeared as an attainable objective.
Initially, he went to all the distinguished teachers at the time all of whom
failed to meet his demands. He was determined to find it for himself. This
was followed by six years of painful austerities which too proved futile.
However, by directing the searchlight inward, followed by a severe mental
and an emotional struggle, he ultimately achieved his cherished goal on the
full moon day of May 588 B.C. under the Bodhi Tree at Buddhagaya in India.
Government
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a free, independent and
sovereign nation. A system of administration through provincial councils was
introduced in 1988. Legislative power is exercised by Parliament, elected by
universal franchise on a proportional representation basis. Executive power
of the people, including defence, is exercised by the President, who is also
elected by the people.