ndo-Aryan emigration from India in the 5th century B.C. came to form the largest ethnic group on Sri Lanka today, the Sinhalese. Tamils, the second-largest ethnic group on the island, were originally from the Tamil region of India and emigrated between the 3rd century B.C. and A.D. 1200. Until colonial powers controlled Ceylon (the country's name until 1972), Sinhalese and Tamil rulers fought for dominance over the island. The Tamils, primarily Hindus, claimed the northern section of the island and the Sinhalese, who are predominantly Buddhist, controlled the south. In 1505 the Portuguese took possession of Ceylon until the Dutch India Company usurped control (1658–1796). The British took over in 1796, and Ceylon became an English Crown colony in 1802. The British developed coffee, tea, and rubber plantations. On Feb. 4, 1948, after pressure from Ceylonese nationalist leaders (which briefly unified the Tamil and Sinhalese), Ceylon became a self-governing dominion of the Commonwealth of Nations.
S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike became prime minister in 1956 and championed Sinhalese nationalism, making Sinhala the country's only official language and including state support of Buddhism, further marginalizing the Tamil minority. He was assassinated in 1959 by a Buddhist monk. His widow, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, became the world's first female prime minister in 1960. The name Ceylon was changed to Sri Lanka (“resplendent island”) on May 22, 1972.
The Tamil minority's mounting resentment toward the Sinhalese majority's monopoly on political and economic power, exacerbated by cultural and religious differences, erupted in bloody violence in 1983. Tamil rebel groups, the strongest of which were the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or Tamil Tigers, began a civil war to fight for separate nation.
President Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated at a May Day political rally in 1993, when a Tamil rebel detonated explosives strapped to himself. Tamil extremists have frequently resorted to terrorist attacks against civilians. The next president, Chandrika Kumaratunga, vowed to restore peace to the country. In Dec. 1999, she was herself wounded in a terrorist attack. By early 2000, 18 years of war had claimed the lives of more than 64,000, mostly civilians.

Location and Physical Description

 

Official Name: The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Geographical Location: Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean lying off the southeastern tip of the Indian subcontinent. It lies between latitudes 5° 55' and 9° 55' north of the equator and between the eastern longitudes 79° 42' and 81° 52'. The Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar separate Sri Lanka from India. The Arabian Sea lies to the west, the Bay of Bengal to the northeast, and the Indian Ocean to the south.

The Land: The total land area of Sri Lanka is 65,610 sq. km. and is astonishingly varied. A length of 435 km (270 miles) North to South and breadth of 240 km (150 miles) East to West encompass beautiful tropical beaches, verdant vegetation, ancient monuments and a thousand delights to please all tastes. The land of Sri Lanka can be divided into three geographic zones that correspond to elevation: the central highlands, the lowland plains, and the coastal belt. The central mountainous mass somewhat south of the centre, include numerous mountains, plateaus, and valleys, surrounded by broad plains. Pidurutalagala, the highest point in Sri Lanka, rises 2,524 m (8,281 ft) in the central highlands. In contrast, the elevation of the surrounding plains ranges from 90 m (300 ft) to sea level. The plains are broadest in the north and north central areas. A number of rivers starting from the Central Highlands flow to the sea in a Radial Pattern. The Mahaveli is the longest river (331 kms). Bambarakanda (240 mtrs) is the highest water fall; one of the scenic beauties of Sri Lanka. The coastal belt rises about 30 m (about 100 ft) above sea level. Palm fringed beaches surround the island and the coastline extends a length of about 1,300 km (about 830 mi). The sea temperature rarely falls below 27°C. Lagoons, sand beaches, sand dunes, and marshes predominate along the coast, although steep rocky cliffs are found in the northeast and southwest.

Climate and Seasons

 

In the lowlands the climate is typically tropical with an average temperature of 27°C in Colombo. In the higher elevations it can be quite cool with temperatures going down to 16°C 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	30°C	22°C	30°C	24°C	29°C	22°C
Kandy	31°C	17°C	29°C	21°C	28°C	18°C
Nuwara Eliya	21°C	14°C	18°C	16°C	18°C	15°C
Trincomalee	32°C	24°C	33°C	25°C	33°C	23°C

Public & Bank Holidays 2005

 

Date	Day	Description
14 January	Friday	Tamil Thai Pongal Day
21 January	Friday	Id-Ul-Alha (Hadju Festival Day)
24 January	Monday	Duruthu Foll Moon Poya Day
04 February	Friday	National Day
23 February	Wednesday	Navam Full Moon Poya Day
08 March	Tuesday	Maha Sivarathri Day
25 March	Friday	Medin Full Moon Poya Day / Good Friday
13 April	Wednesday	Day prior to Sinhala & Tamil New Year
14 April	Thursday	Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
22 April	Friday	Milad-Un-Nabi (Holy Prophet's Birthday
23 April	Saturday	Bak Full Moon Poya day
01 May	Sunday	May Day
23 May	Monday	Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
24 May	Tuesday	Day following Vesak Poya Day
21 June	Tuesday	Poson Full Moon Poya Day
21 July	Thursday	Esala Full Moon Poya Day
19 August	Friday	Nikini Full Moon Poya Day
17 September	Saturday	Binara Full Moon Poya Day
17 October	Monday	Vap Full Moon Poya Day
01 November	Tuesday	Deepavali Festival Day
04 November	Friday	Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramazan Festival Day)
15 November	Tuesday	Il Full Moon Poya Day
15 December	Thursday	Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day
25 December	Sunday	Chrstmas Day

 
Demography

 

Population: Sri Lanka has a population of 19-20 million (2001 National census of population & housing) of whom the majority are Sinhalese (74%). Other ethnic groups are made up of Sri Lankan Tamils (12.6%), Tamils of Recent Indian Origin (5.5%), Moors, Malays, Burghers (of Portuguese & Dutch descent) and others (7.9%). Only 21.5% of the population lives in the urban areas while 72.2% is in rural areas. 6.3% is living in the estates. Population growth is 1.5% (mid year 2002), which is well below that of most countries in the South Asia region. The reasons for the low population growth rates are the demographic transition, successful family planning, high literacy rates and improvements in other socio-economic conditions.
 
Population Density: 304 persons per sq. km. (2002)

Language and Religion

 

Sinhala and Tamil are official languages in Sri Lanka. Sinhala is the language of the majority of Singhalese people, Tamil is mainly spoken by the Tamil minority. English is the main link language of Sri Lanka with the rest of the world. Place names and sign-boards on buses and trains are usually in all three languages.

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 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.

Literacy: Sri Lanka's literacy rate (overall) is estimated as 90.1%; one of the highest in Asia.

Life Expectancy: Life expectancy is 70.7 years for males and 75.4 years for females (Average: 73 years).

UN Human Development Index: According to the 2001 UN Human Development Report, Sri Lanka’s Human Development Index is 0.73 and the rank is 99.

Government

 

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a free, independent and sovereign nation. It has a democratic political system, with a directly elected president by universal franchise as head of state as well as a Parliament directly elected by universal franchise on a proportional representation basis. Legislative power is exercised by Parliament headed by the Prime Minister and a Cabinet of Ministers, while executive power of the people, including defence, is exercised by the President. A system of administration through provincial councils and divisional councils (Pradeshiya Sabha) was introduced in 1988.

Economy: Agriculture is the largest sector of the economy in terms of employment, but manufacturing, especially in the garment industry, generates the majority of export earnings.

Currency Unit: Sri Lankan Rupee (A Rupee is divided into One hundred Cents)

Working Hours: Sri Lanka adopts a five-day week, Monday to Friday. Hours of business are normally:
 

Government Departments:	9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. (Monday-Friday)
Mercantile Offices:	8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. (Monday – Friday) 8.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.(Saturday)
Shops:	10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. (on Saturdays) Closed on Sundays andMercantile Holidays.
Banks:	9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. (Monday – Friday) Some Banks are openon Saturdays.
Post Offices:	8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. (Monday – Friday)8.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.(Saturday)

National Symbols and Heraldic

 

National Day (Independence Day): February 04th.

National Anthem: Sri Lanka Matha - Apa Sri Lanka

After gaining independence, on the recommendation of the Sri Lanka Gandharva Sabha a competition to select a national anthem was conducted in January 1948.
At this competition Mr. Ananda Samarakoon's composition "Namo Namo Matha" was chosen as the National Anthem on 22nd November 1951.The main theme of the Anthem is designed to install honor and respect to the Motherland and create national development through unity.

During the early 1950s there was a controversy about the national anthem. A defect was found in the lyrics and the opening words were changed as "Sri Lanka Matha - Apa Sri Lanka". The first rendering of the National Anthem was made on Independence Day February 04th, 1952 by a group of 500 students from Musaeus College, Colombo and it was broadcast over the radio. The National Anthem is incorporated in Section 7 third schedule of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

National Anthem Sri Lanka Matha, apa Sri Lanka, Namo Namo Namo Namo Matha. Sundara siri barini, Surndi athi Sobamana Lanka Dhanya dhanaya neka mal pala thuru piri, jaya bhoomiya ramya. Apa hata spa siri setha sadana, jee vanaye Matha! Piliganu mana apa bhakti pooja, Namo Namo Matha. Apa Sri Lanka, Namo Namo Namo Namo Matha, apa Sri Lanka, Namo Namo Namo Namo Matha. Obave apa vidya obamaya apa sathya obave apa shakti apa hada thula bhakti oba apa aloke apage anuprane oba apa jeevana ve apa muktiya obave Nava jeevana demine nithina apa Pubudu karan matha Gnana veerya vadavamina ragena yanu mana jaya bhoomi kara Eka mavekuge daru kala bavina yamu yamu wee nopama Prema vadamu sama bheda durara da Namo Namo Matha

English Translation Mother Lanka we worship Thee! Plenteous in prosperity, Thou, Beauteous in grace and love, Laden with corn and luscious fruit And fragrant flowers of radiant hue, Giver of life and all good things, Our land of joy and victory, Receive our grateful praise sublime, Lanka! we worship Thee. Thou gavest us Knowledge and Truth, Thou art our strength and inward faith, Our light divine and sentient being, Breath of life and liberation. Grant us, bondage free, inspiration. Inspire us for ever. In wisdom and strength renewed, Ill-will, hatred, strife all ended, In love enfolded, a mighty nation Marching onward, all as one, Lead us, Mother, to fullest freedom.

Listen to the Sri Lanka National Anthem!

National Flag: The necessity of a National Flag was discussed even before Sri Lanka gained independence on February 4th, 1948. Mr. A. Sinnalebbe, MP for Batticaloa tabled a motion in the State Council on January 16th, 1948 suggesting that the Lion Flag of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe which was taken to Britain in 1815 should be made the National Flag. This was debated and later Prime Minister Rt. Hon. D.S. Senanayake named an Advisory Committee for the formulation of a National Flag. The Members of the Committee were Mr. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike (Chairmen), Sir John Kotalawela, Mr. J.R. Jayewardene, Mr. T.B. Jayah, Dr. L.A. Rajapakse, Mr. G.G. Ponnambalam and Senator S. Nadesan, and Dr. Senarath Paranavithana (Secretary).

Although a Committee for the formulation of a national flag was appointed no finality had been reached when the first Independence Day was celebrated on February 4th, 1948. However the Lion Flag fluttered on that day. The Lion Flag and the British Union Jack fluttered on the occasion of the opening of the first Parliament of independent Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) on February 11th, 1948. Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake unfurled the Lion Flag at the Octagon (Pattirippuwa) during the Independence celebrations held in Kandy on February 12th, 1948.

The National Flag recommended by the special committee was presented to Parliament by Mr. D.S. Senanayake on March 2nd, 1951 and adopted. It had two strips, one green and the other yellow. Each of these strips had to be equal to one seventh the size of the flag.

When Sri Lanka was first made a Republic in 1972 the stylized Bo Leaves depicted in the National Flag were changed to resemble natural Bo leaves. The amended flag was first unfurled at the Republic Day celebrations held on May 22nd, 1972. The National Flag is incorporated in Section 6 Second Schedule of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka of September 09th, 1978.Except for the new Bo leaves the present flag is the same flag recommended by the National Flag Formulation Committee on March 2nd, 1951.

State Emblem: Sri Lanka used the British emblem when it was a British Crown Colony and even after gaining independence in 1948. Only years later a select committee appointed devised a state emblem more suitable for Sri Lanka (Ceylon). It had a Lion with Sword in its right fore paw encircled with a Palapethi open petal design top. Below there was a strip carrying the country's name in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

A new republican emblem was chosen after the country was declared a Republic on May 22, 1972. In addition to the lion with a sword and thePalapethi open petal design it portrays the Punkalasa, dhammachakka, sun, moon and two sheaves of paddy.

National Tree: NA (iron wood tree) or (Mesua nagassarium)

This rain forest tree is socially and culturally associated with Sri Lankans for centuries. It grows to about 30 m high and indigenous to the lower wet Zone of Sri Lanka. Remarkable Features of NA is beautiful bright Red Leaves and finally matured in to a deep green. Timber has a very hardness and durability and used to make bridges in the early times. But now not allowed for timber due to it’s religious value. It's believed that the first visit of Buddha was to grove of a NA Tree at Mahiyanganaya and also the next Buddha (mithriya) will attain enlightenment under a NA tree. The flower of NA is also used in herbal medicine and preparation of perfumes, cosmetics and soaps. This was named as the National Tree on 26 February 1986.

National Flower: The “Nil Mahanel” flower or blue water lily, botanically known as “Nympheae stellata” was declared the National Flower of Sri Lanka on 26th February 1986. It is found in all parts of Sri Lanka and grows in the shallow waters. Petals arranged like a star and the flat round waterproof leaves are bright green. It’s a symbol of purity, truth and descipline. It has a sweet fragrance and used for offering at Buddhist Temples and rituals for god Vishnu. This flower is mentioned in many Sinhala, Pali and Sanskrit literary works. The flower which is also referred to as ‘Kuvalaya’, ‘Indheewara’, ‘Niluppala’, ‘Nilothpala’ and ‘Nilupul’ occupies a pre-eminent position in Buddhist literature too. It is believed that damsels painted in Sigiriya frescoes holds these flowers in their hands. In traditional poetry called ‘Sandesa Kavya’ in Sri Lanka, women’s eyes are likened to this flower. Seeds and the tubes of this is used as a vegetable by villagers and also leaves, stem and flowers used in herbal medicine and dried flowers used to make pillows and believes that it produces happy dreams…

National Bird: ’Wali kukula’ or Ceylon Jungle fowl or Gallus lafayettiis the National Bird of Sri Lanka. It is common in the National Parks and forests in all parts of Sri Lanka.

History

 

Sri Lanka was ruled by Kings from ancient times as far back as the 3rd century B.C spanning over 2.500 years as recorded history depicts. Recent excavations show that even during the Neolithic Age in Sri Lanka, there were food-gatherers and rice cultivators.

Very little is known of this period and documented history began with the arrival of the settlers from North India. In the 1500s Europeans started establishing colonial rule in the island. First the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally the British were attracted to the island mainly due to its precious cinnamon. Coastal belt of the island was occupied by Portuguese from 1517 until Dutch replaced them in 1658. Dutch were overpowered by the British in 1796.

Any of these mighty Europeans were unable to occupy the whole country and the King ruled the central highlands and parts of the lowland until 1815. On 15th March 1815 the whole island became a British colony. The British colony, called Ceylon, gained independence in 1948. The newly independent nation retained the name Ceylon until the 1972 constitution renamed it Sri Lanka. Since independence Sri Lanka has maintained a democratic, multi-party system of government.

A civil war erupted in 1983 between the government forces and Tamil separatists movements in the North-East. In February 2002, after nearly two decades, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), the major Tamil separatist movement who, after signing the agreement, renounced the claim for a separate state and agreed to settle for a federal solution. The peace process is under way, though a permanent agreement is yet to be reached.

More information on Sri Lankan history is accessible on the History Page. You may also refer to the links page for more detailed information on any topic concerning Sri Lanka.

   

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