Sri Lanka

Geography

Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia. It sits in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal. The island is close to India, separated by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. The capital city is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, but Colombo is the largest city and an important center for business and culture.

History

People have lived in Sri Lanka for over 3,000 years, with signs of life dating back even further. The island has had many names, including Ceylon, used before it became independent in 1948. For centuries, Sri Lanka was a key spot for trade and was visited by explorers from many places.

Toponymy

Main article: Names of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has had many names throughout history. Ancient travelers called the island Tambapaṇṇĩ, meaning "copper-red hands" or "copper-red earth," because of the red soil where they first landed. In Hindu stories, the island is called Lankā, meaning "Island," though it is not certain if this refers to Sri Lanka. The Tamil people called the island Eelam.

Different cultures gave the island new names. Ancient Greek writers used the name Taprobanā. Arabs and Persians called it Sarandīb, which later inspired the word "serendipity." When the Portuguese arrived in 1505, they named it Ceilão, which became Ceylon in English. The island was known as Ceylon when it was a British colony and became independent as the Dominion of Ceylon in 1948. Today, the country is called Śrī Laṅkā in Sinhala and Ilaṅkai in Tamil. The official name was changed to the "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka" in 1978.

History

Main article: History of Sri Lanka

The history of Sri Lanka goes back over 125,000 years. Early humans lived on the island during the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and early Iron Ages. Important ancient places include Pahiyangala, Batadombalena, and Belilena, where signs of early farming and caring for animals were found.

Sri Lanka’s first known people were likely the ancestors of the Vedda people, an indigenous group still living there today. Between 1000 and 500 BCE, Sri Lanka had strong ties with southern India in burial ways, pottery, and farming.

One of the first writings about Sri Lanka is in the Indian story Ramayana, which talks of a kingdom named Lanka. In 543 BCE, Prince Vijaya came from Bengal and started the Kingdom of Tambapanni, beginning Sinhalese history. The Anuradhapura period (377 BCE – 1017 CE) lasted over 1,400 years. During this time, the city of Anuradhapura grew with many buildings, tanks, and palaces. Buddhism arrived in 250 BCE with a man named Mahinda. Later, Sanghamitta brought the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree, thought to be the oldest human-planted tree in the world.

Sri Lanka faced some attacks from South Indian kingdoms but kept supporting Buddhist traditions and sharing them with Southeast Asia. Important leaders included Devi Tissa, who welcomed Buddhism, and Dhatusena, known for building projects. The island also made Buddhist books that were kept and shared around the world.

In more recent times, Sri Lanka became free from British rule in 1948. The country had some political problems, especially between Sinhalese and Tamil groups. A civil war started in the 1980s and ended in 2009. Even with these difficulties, Sri Lanka has kept growing, with new leaders and economic changes for its future.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island in South Asia. It is in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal. It is separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait. The island has flat coastal areas and mountains in the south-central part. The highest point is Pidurutalagala, which is 2,524 metres (8,281 ft) above sea level.

Sri Lanka has many rivers. The longest is the Mahaweli River. The island also has waterfalls, coral reefs, and mangroves. The climate is tropical, with temperatures between 17°C and 33°C. Some areas get up to 2,500 millimetres of rain each year. Sri Lanka has rich wildlife and plants, with many species found only there. Protected areas cover about 26.5% of the land, helping to keep its natural beauty safe.

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Sri Lanka and Politics of Sri Lanka

See also: Constitution of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a democratic republic and a unitary state governed by a semi-presidential system. The government has three main parts: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial.

The executive is led by the President of Sri Lanka. The President is elected for five years and serves as head of state and leader of the government. The President appoints ministers from elected members of parliament and leads the cabinet. The legislative branch is the Parliament of Sri Lanka, a single house with 225 members elected for five years. The judicial branch includes a Supreme Court as the highest court, along with other courts. Judges are appointed by the President.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Sri Lanka

See also: Agriculture in Sri Lanka, Tea production in Sri Lanka, Tourism in Sri Lanka, Transport in Sri Lanka, and Nationalisation in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a strong economy, especially compared to other countries in South Asia. In the past, it was known for growing valuable crops like cinnamon, rubber, and tea. Today, the economy includes farming, making things, services, and tourism.

The biggest parts of the economy are tourism, selling tea, making clothes, growing rice, and other farm products. Many people from Sri Lanka work in other countries, mostly in the Middle East, which helps bring money back home. The service industry, like banks and shops, is the largest part of the economy, followed by making things and farming.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has many roads for travel, with over 100,000 km of paved roads, making it easy to get around. There are special big roads called highways and many smaller roads for local use. The country also has a railway system that covers much of the island. Sri Lanka has important ports at Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee, and a new one being built at Hambantota.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s tourism is growing again. In the first half of 2024, the country earned over $1.5 billion from tourists. More people are visiting, with over 1 million tourists arriving in just six months. The government is helping by advertising Sri Lanka worldwide and making it easier for visitors to get visas, letting people from some countries stay for up to 30 days without a visa. This is helping the tourism industry get stronger.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a beautiful island country with about 22 million people. The largest group of people are the Sinhalese, who make up most of the population. There are also many Sri Lankan Tamils, Moors, and smaller groups like the Burghers, Malays, and Vedda people.

Main article: Languages of Sri Lanka

The main languages spoken in Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil. English is used in schools and business. Some people also speak special mixes of Portuguese Creole and Creole Malay.

Main article: Religion in Sri Lanka

Most people in Sri Lanka practice Buddhism, which is very important to the country. Many others follow Hinduism, Islam, or Christianity. Each group celebrates its own special holidays.

Main article: Education in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a good system of free schools for everyone. Children go to school for nine years, and many continue after that. The country has many government schools and a few private ones.

Main article: Health in Sri Lanka

People in Sri Lanka live about 75 years on average, which is longer than in many other countries. The country has good healthcare for all, and has worked hard to keep diseases like rubella and measles away.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Sri Lanka

The culture of Sri Lanka is shaped by its history and the influence of Buddhism and Hinduism. Two main traditional groups are the Sinhalese and the Tamil people, who have lived together for a long time. Sri Lanka is known for its skills in old building methods and designs. The country also feels the impact of British history.

Sri Lanka has a rich tradition in movies, music, dancing, and writing. The country's films often tell stories about families and changes in society. Music in Sri Lanka started in old theater shows and uses special instruments like drums and flutes. Dancing includes the Kandyan style, which is very fancy. Writing in Sri Lanka goes back thousands of years, with important books and stories that tell about the country's past.

People in Sri Lanka enjoy many sports. The most popular is cricket, and the country's team has won big tournaments. Other sports that people like include rugby, football, and tennis. Sri Lanka also has its own martial arts and enjoys activities like swimming and diving.