May you live long !

Sri Lanka(Pearl of Indian Ocean)

W.C.Madusanka

World map

Ptolemy's world map (constructed based on his notes written 150AD )

Flag

Four essential Buddhist concepts

General Information• Official name : Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

• Capital : Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Administrative)

Colombo (Commercial)

• Official languages : Sinhalese, Tamil • Recognized : English• Religions : Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Christian

• Area : 65,610 km2 • Water (%) : 4.4

• Population : ~21 million• Density : 309/km2 • Independence : 4 February 1948

Alphabet

Sigiriya• The 1,600-year-old Sigiriya frescoes are an

example of ancient Sri Lankan art at its finest.

• It is one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning in the world.

• It has been declared by UNESCO as one of the seven World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka

Flora and fauna• Sri Lanka is one of 25

biodiversity hotspots in the world

• it has the highest biodiversity density in Asia

Economy• The country's main economic sectors are services, tourism,

agricultural exports and clothing • Main agricultural products – rice, tea, rubber, spices

– Produces the world’s best spices and tea, also the world's 2nd largest exporter of tea.

Food• Dishes include rice and curry, pittu,

Kiribath, wholemeal Roti, String hoppers, wattalapam, kottu, and hoppers.

• Jackfruit may sometimes replace rice.• Traditionally food is served on a

plantain leaf or lotus leaf.

Sweets

Festivals• Sri Lanka is never short of festivals and celebrations.• Every month brings a celebration either religious or cultural

importance• In April, Sri Lankans celebrate the Buddhist and Hindu new year

festival.

• Esala Perahera is a symbolic Buddhist festival consisting of dances and decorated elephants held in Kandy in August.– Fire-dances, whip-dances, Kandian dances and various other cultural

dances are integral parts of the festival.

Sport• National sport in Sri Lanka is volleyball, but the most popular sport

in the country is cricket– Former Sri Lankan off-spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan has been rated as the

greatest Test match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack