a When someone comes to Sri Lanka, they may often hear the word Ayubowan.This word means ‘May you have the gift of long life’. It is with this traditional
greeting that everyone is welcomed to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has many nicknames:
Serendip, Ceylon, Teardrop of India, Pearl of the Indian Ocean, etc. These names
reveal the richness and beauty of this island nation. Many travellers, from ancient
mariners and merchants to modern astronauts, have been attracted by the beauty
of this island.
b Sri Lanka is located in the Indian
Ocean, just off the south-eastern
coast of India. Shaped like a
teardrop, the island of Sri Lanka
measures about 415 kilometres
from north to south, and about 220
kilometres from east to west, with a
total land area of about 65,600
square kilometres. It has more than
1340 kilometres of coastline.
c Despite its modest size Sri Lanka has a
population of about 20 million. Sri Lanka is a
multi-religious, multi-racial and multi-lingual
country. The four major ethnic groups are
Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamils, Indian Tamils
and Sri Lankan Moors or Muslims. A fifth
group, the Veddhas are the original
inhabitants of the island. The ancient history
of Sri Lanka is depicted in the Hindu epic the
Ramayana. But the most important work on
Lankan origin is related in Mahavamsa or
‘The Great Chronicle’.
d Sri Lanka's economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. The emphasis is
on exporting crops such as tea, rubber, and coconuts. In fact, Sri Lanka is the
largest tea exporter of the world. The country is also a major producer and
supplier of a variety of spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, cloves, and
nutmeg. Cinnamon first originated in Sri Lanka and was introduced later to the
world by the Arab merchants.
e Sri Lanka's archaeological treasures reflect the civilizations of the past that
covered the golden age of Greece, the Roman Empire, Mayan citadels, and
Napoleonic greatness. The culture that followed those glorious pasts has been
enriched by the more recent influences of Western colonizers and Eastern traders.
That resulted in developing a unique mix of races and religions, arts and crafts,
festivals and costumes available in this small country.
f Besides these man-made riches, one may find the God-given blessings of nature
in Sri Lanka. The island is blessed with azure seas, sandy beaches, green hills,
cascading waterfalls, abundant wildlife and a variety of flowers and fruits. TheColombo: The capital city
country abounds with coconut groves, spice gardens, tea estates and many other
gardens and woods. Travellers from all over the world come to Sri Lanka. Here, a
weary traveller can pass a gloriously lazy day by a palm-shaded lagoon looking at
the endless ocean. And for the adventurous, days can be full of excitement,
snorkeling, swimming, fishing or sailing.
