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- Location
& Physical Features
- Climate
& Seasons
- Temperature
Chart
- History
- Economy
- Demography
- Language
& Religion
- Government
- 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 heights exceeding 2,500 metres,
surrounded by broad plains. Palm fringed beaches surround the island and
the sea temperature rarely falls below 27OC.
Climate & 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 metres. 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.
Temperature Chart
|
Jan-April |
May-August |
Sept-Dec |
|
Max. |
Min. |
Max. |
Min. |
Max. |
Min. |
Colombo |
30OC |
22OC |
30OC |
24OC |
29OC |
22OC |
Kandy |
31OC |
17OC |
29OC |
21OC |
28OC |
18OC |
Nuwara Eliya |
21OC |
14OC |
18OC |
16OC |
18OC |
15OC |
Trincomalee |
32OC |
24OC |
33OC |
25OC |
33OC |
23OC | History
(a summary) 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 civilisation flourished Sri Lanka became rich and prosperous.
In the mid 2nd century B.C. a large part of north Sri Lanka Sigiriya
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 Polonnaurwa
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, (Click here to access "The majesty and splendour of 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 Organisation.
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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 Sinhalese (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 & 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.
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.
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