Coffee hour about Sri Lanka

SRI LANKA“The Pearl of the Indian

Ocean”

MAY YOU LIVE LONGER !!!

'AYUBOWAN'

Sri Lanka Students’ Association

Country Profile:Country Profile: GeographyGeography

SRI LANKA

USA

Country Profile: Geography

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) is an island situated in the Indian ocean, at the base of the Indian sub-continent

latitude: - 6 – 10o Nlongitude:- 80 – 82o E

(880 km north of the equator)

Country Profile: Geography

Area: 25,332 miles2

(1/3 of Kansas and slightly larger than West Virginia)

Average Temperature:Low land along the coast: 800 F

Hill country : 67o F

Capital: Colombo (Business)Sri Jayawardhana (Legislative)Highest Elevation 8281 ft MSL

CITY OF COLOMBO

GALLE FACE, COLOMBO

Country Profile: GovernmentCountry Name - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Government Type - Republic

Chief of State - President Legal System - Mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law

Suffrage – 18 yearsFirst Female Prime Minister in the World (1960-65, 1970-77 and 1994-00)

Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike

National Flag

National Emblem

National Flower (Blue Water Lily)

National Tree

(Mesua Nagassarium )

Country Profile: PeopleThe Sri Lankan Society is rich with Ethnic and Religious diversity

Ethnicity - Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Muslim 7%, Other 1%Population - 20 million

Population / Area = 790 people/ miles2 (34 in Kansas)

Languages - Sinhala, Tamil, English

Religions - Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Islam 7%Religions - Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Islam 7%

Country Profile: People

Country Profile:Country Profile: EducationEducation Literacy Rate - 92% ( 49% in South Asia)Literacy Rate - 92% ( 49% in South Asia) A free education system with fully government funded A free education system with fully government funded

Schools and UniversitiesSchools and Universities

Primary (Grade 1- 6)Primary (Grade 1- 6)

Junior Secondary (Grade 7-11)Junior Secondary (Grade 7-11)

Senior Secondary (Grade 12-13)Senior Secondary (Grade 12-13)

Higher Education (University)Higher Education (University)

Medium of InstructionMedium of Instruction Schools – Sinhala, Tamil & EnglishSchools – Sinhala, Tamil & English

Universities – EnglishUniversities – English

Less than 1% of Private Schools & UniversitiesLess than 1% of Private Schools & Universities

Country Profile:Country Profile: HealthHealth Life expectancy at birth – 73 years Life expectancy at birth – 73 years

(62.8 in South Asia)(62.8 in South Asia) Free Health Care system Free Health Care system Government funded National Government funded National

HospitalsHospitals No Mandatory Health InsuranceNo Mandatory Health Insurance The Practice of AYURVEDIC Medicine The Practice of AYURVEDIC Medicine

is very popularis very popularAYURVEDA - science of life or the Art of AYURVEDA - science of life or the Art of

healthy living with herbal medicines and healthy living with herbal medicines and natural treatmentsnatural treatments

CultureCivilized before 300 B.C. using agriculture and irrigationInfluenced by Portuguese, Dutch & British ruleIntimate connection between society & religionDiversity ranging from traditional farming to Information TechnologyWorld famous for hospitality of people

Culture: FestivalsSinhala & Hindu new year

Celebration of the end of the major harvest season "Maha" of the year, in the month of Bak (April) according to the Sri Lankan calender.Rituals based on times calculated according to astrology.

Thaipongal FestivalMostly celebrate by Hindus in the month of January

Culture: FestivalsVesak festival

Celebrates on the full moon day in May to commemorate the Birth, the Enlightenment and the Parinibbhana (death) of the Lord Buddha.

Vesak Lanterns

Culture: FestivalsKandy Perahera (Procession)

Held annually in August to honor the living memory of the Buddha, the sacred tooth relic.‘One of foremost World Heritage events' – UNESCO.

perahara events

FoodFood The Staple diet is Rice and curryThe Staple diet is Rice and curry Very famous for spicy and hot foodVery famous for spicy and hot food Use of coconut cream for cooking is very commonUse of coconut cream for cooking is very common Over hundred of varieties Over hundred of varieties

SportsSports National Sport – VolleyballNational Sport – Volleyball Most Popular game – CricketMost Popular game – Cricket Other Games – Soccer, Hockey, Rugby, Other Games – Soccer, Hockey, Rugby,

AthleticsAthletics AchievementsAchievements

Winners of 1996 Cricket World cupWinners of 1996 Cricket World cupWon the bronze medal for women 200m in Won the bronze medal for women 200m in

2000 Olympic 2000 Olympic

Susanthika Jayasinghe

Nature & AttractionsSri Lanka is one of the biodiversity hot spots in the world.

Sinharaja rain forest, a primeval forest over 15 million years old is a world heritage site

More than 50% of the flora & fauna of the Sinharaja forest are endemic.

Nature & AttractionsSri Lanka has a rich and exotic variety of wildlife.

Nature & AttractionsIn comparison to its size, Sri Lanka has perhaps the largest number of waterfalls in any country of the world (approx. 400 waterfalls)

waterfalls in Sri Lanka

Nature & AttractionsSri Lanka has the most picturesque white, sandy beaches.

Nature & AttractionsSri Lanka has the largest orphanage for Asian elephants.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Economy

Sri Lanka's economy mainly depends on agricultural products, garment exports and tourism.

GDP : $80.58 billion (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line: - 22% (1997 est.)Unemployment rate: - 7.8% (2004 est.)Currency: Sri Lanka Rupee (US$ 1 = 102 Rupees)

per capita : - $4,000 (2004 est.)composition by sector : - agriculture: 19.1%

industry: 26.2% services: 54.7%

Economy: AgricultureSri Lanka is one of the largest Tea Producer in the World - Ceylon Tea has achieved a reputation as being the best tea in the world.

Other agricultural exports include spices, rubber, coconuts, foliage plants & flowers.

Economy: IndustriesSri Lanka supplies 1.2% of US Garment needs and Apparel Industry accounts for 71% of Sri Lanka’s Industrial Exports

Sri Lanka is a Leading exporter of high-grade graphite & rich in Mineral deposits such as Illemanite, Rutile & Apatite.

Sri Lankan Ceramics are some of the finest in the world.

Large deposits of precious stones can be found in and around Ratnapura, the city of gems.

Economy: TourismSri Lanka is a tropical gateway for thousands of visitors all around the World

Every year more than 0.5 million tourists visit Sri Lanka

Economy: Tourism

Economy: TourismNational ParksNational Parks

Economy: Tourism

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri LankaSacred City of Anuradhapura – 1st Capitol (4th Century

BC)

Jetavana Dagoba, Sandakada Pahana, Samadhi Buddha Statue, Ruwanweliseya, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya

Ancient city of Polonnaruwa - 2nd capital (1017 - 1284 AD)

Buddha Statues, Watadage and guardstones

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka

MAHA NUWARA (KANDY): LAST KINGDOM -1805 AD

DALANDA MALIGAWA (TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH RELIC)

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka

World famous for its unique landscaping and Frescoes

Rock, Steps, Entrance & Frescoes

THANK YOU ! ...