Information on Sri Lanka

HISTORY

Inhabited originally by the ancestors of the Vedda, an aboriginal people, Sri Lanka was invaded in the 5th or 6th century B.C. by an Indo-Aryan people from the Ganges Valley in Northern India (ancestors of the Sinhalese). They founded their capital at Anuradhapura, where a great civilization developed. Buddhism was introduced by Arahat Mahinda Thera, son of the Indian Mauryan emperor Ashoka, in the 3rd century B.C.

The island's proximity to South India resulted in many Tamil invasions and in the early 11th century the Chola conquered Anuradhapura and made Polonnaruwa their capital. The Sinhalese soon regained power, but in the 12th century a Tamil kingdom arose in the north, and the Sinhalese were driven to the southwest. Arab traders, drawn by the island's spices, arrived in the 12th century. The Portuguese arrived in Colombo in 1505 and conquered the coastal areas. In 1658 the Dutch India Company took over the Portuguese possessions and the rich spice trade. During both Portuguese and Dutch rule the interior hilly region of the island remained independent, with Kandy as its capital. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was united under British rule by 1815. Then known as Ceylon, the country achieved full independence on 4th February 1948 and in 1972 adopted the Singhalese name of Sri Lanka.

GEOGRAPHY

The pear-shaped island covers an area of approximately 65,500 km2 (225 km from East to West and 435 km from North to South) and consists mostly of flat to rolling coastal plains; mountains in the south central interior include Adam's Peak (2,243m) and Pidurutalagala (2,524m) the highest point on the island. The longest river is the Mahaweli (335 km) and the highest waterfall is Bambarakanda (241 m).

Administratively, the country is divided into nine provinces: Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva and Western. Colombo is the largest city and commercial capital. The administrative capital is Sri Jayewardanapura (Kotte). Other major cities include Jaffna, Galle, and Kandy.

PEOPLE

Sri Lanka has a population of approximately 20 million. About 74% belong to the Sinhalese majority, which is predominantly Buddhist, 18% are Tamil and predominantly Hindu, 7% are Muslim and the remaining 1% are Burghers, of mixed European descent, and Vedda, the few remaining descendants of earlier cultures.

Languages: Sinhala (official and national language), Tamil (national language), English is commonly used in government and is widely spoken in tourist resorts.

Sri Lanka has an enormous range of Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim festivals. The Kandy Esala Perahera (July/August) is the country's most important and spectacular pageant, with 10 days of torch-bearers, whip-crackers, dancers and drummers. It climaxes in a great procession honouring the Sacred Tooth Relic. Second in importance is the Duruthu Perahera held in Colombo in January, which celebrates a visit by Buddha to Sri Lanka. For exact dates of holidays in 2007, see our holidays and festivals page.

CLIMATE

The country has a typical tropical monsoon climate with high humidity and year-round temperatures averaging 27ºC to 28ºC (80ºF to 83ºF). Two monsoon seasons occur each year - the Southwest monsoon and the Northeast monsoon.

Swimming in the sea may not be possible in some areas during the Monsoon Season, as the Indian Ocean can become rough.

The moderate climate in the Hill Country provides the perfect weather for the surrounding tea plantations. The cooler weather can be a pleasant change after the heat of the low-lying coastal regions.

The driest and best seasons are from December to March on the West and South coasts and in the Hill Country, and from May to September on the East coast. December to March is also the time when most visitors come, the majority of them escaping the European winter.