Sri Lanka - Country Info

History is closely linked to legends and religious stories. Here you will find a mystical intactness believed to have been left by Buddha and the island chain that Rama helped save his wife Sita. Soak up the sacred atmosphere that has existed since the 3rd century BC. BC prevailed when Buddha’s teachings and philosophy were introduced here.

Story:

Don’t miss the opportunity to discover the cultural heritage, magnificent landscapes, mountains, pristine forests and magnificent beaches, meet friendly open-hearted people who live on the pearl of the Indian Ocean, full of invisible treasures and blessed with fertility.

Buddhism played an important role in the country’s cultural and social development. In the Middle Ages, Sri Lanka was a center of intellectual and social progress in the Far East. In addition, Sri Lanka became a trading center after the first arrivals of Arab traders. In 1972 the island achieved republic status. Fortunately, the 25-year civil war between the Sinhalese and Tamils that began in 1983 ended in 2009.

Geography:

Sri Lanka has three zones in different landscapes. The heart of the country is the central highlands, which lies in the south-central part of the country. This zone contains the highest mountains and hills with tea plantations that Sri Lanka has. North-central Sri Lanka is dominated by high rolling hills and plains. The most impressive and breathtaking mountain range is the Knuckles Range. The land of the coast beckons with mangrove lagoons, swamps and white sandy beaches.

It is also a dreamy place for fishing. The highest mountain in Sri Lanka is Pidurutalagala (2,524 m), which is located on the plateau that runs north-south over a length of approximately 65 km. On the plateau at the southern end, two mountain ranges extend 50 km east towards Namunakula (2,036 m) and 50 km west towards Sri Pada (2,243 m). Sri Pada is the most important mountain for various religions.

Located near the equator, Sri Lanka has a tropical climate characterized by two monsoons per year. The first rainy season lasts from May to November and brings rain to the western and southern regions. The second rainy season lasts from November to January, especially in the northern and eastern regions.

The daily average temperatures on the coast and in plains remain the same, sometimes rising to more than 30 ° C. It can get colder in the mountainous regions in winter (5 ° C – 15 ° C). The climate near Kandy is particularly pleasant to travel with; temperatures rarely rise above 25°C. The best season to visit the southwest coast, where tea plantations and mountains are located, is from November to the end of March; the east coast – similar to European standards in the summer months (June – August).

Flora Fauna:

Sri Lanka is a country with an incredible diversity of animal species: 92 different mammals, 242 butterflies, 435 bird species, 107 fish, 98 snakes and many others. If you are lucky, you may even come across rare, solitary and nocturnal predators such as leopards, golden jackals, sloth bears, civets, mongooses and pangolins. Most of the time you will come across various primates: various langurs, monkeys and Ceylon macaques. You can look forward to seeing elephants, wild boars, sambar deer and smaller white-spotted deer running across the road. Parks and gardens provide ideal conditions for bushy-striped-tailed squirrels and flying foxes.

The waters in Sri Lanka are inhabited by crocodiles, the water monitors – 3m long lizards, cobras and the other 98 species of snakes and 54 colorful fish species as well as 5 endangered sea turtles.

The tropical climate and proximity to the Asian continent have contributed to bird diversity. More than 400 species of birds, 26 of them are unique and live only in Sri Lanka, and 198 species of migratory birds stay here. In addition to turtles, there are animals in the estuaries such as crocodiles, dugongs (sea cows), langurs, red lorikeets, Ceylon crested monkeys and elephants, but they are also endangered.

The flora of Sri Lanka is no less diverse and fascinating. 88% of all plants in Sri Lanka are concentrated in the south-western humid zone. The local climatic conditions are ideal for tropical forests where ebony and teak trees grow . The central hilly area is covered by cloud forests, meadows and stunted forests. The sacred Bo trees grow here, and trees such as the banyan, Ceylon ironwood and the neem are used for various medicinal purposes. The area is rich in fruit trees, such as mangoes, bananas, tamarinds, papayas, guavas and breadfruit.

Population:

By the end of the 20th century, the population of Sri Lanka was about 19 million. The largest ethnic group here is the Sinhalese (74% of the population), the second largest group is the Tamils (18% of the population). But despite having lived on this island for a long time, none of these peoples are considered indigenous. Throughout the long history of the Sinhalese, predominantly Buddhists and Tamils, Hindus have felt hostility towards any other population because of their dominant position in the country. After 25 years of civil war, both sides reached a compromise. In contrast to the Sinhalese, the Tamils are a heterogeneous ethnic group. The Ceylonese Tamils inhabit the outskirts of Jaffna, i.e. the north and northeast and the Indian Tamils inhabit the tea plantation areas in the center of the island and Colombo. They are divided into two groups. When talking about the ethnic diversity of Sri Lanka, it should be mentioned, except for the Sinhalese and Tamils, the island is also populated by Moors (7% of the population), who are excellent traders, descendants of Portuguese, Dutch and British as well the natives of Veddah. In Sri Lanka you can also meet Chinese, Pakistanis and Indians. The official languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhalese and Tamil.

Religion

The majority of Sri Lankans are Buddhists (74%), followers of the Theravada school to be more precise. They pay attention to achieving Nirvana. The main purpose for every Theravada adherent is an Arhat who has achieved “liberation by traversing the “Noble Eightfold Path” and letting go of the “Ten Shackles” of false ideas about the world and life. Buddhism is so widespread in Sri Lanka that it influences almost all aspects of life: literature, art, architecture and everyday life. The country’s second predominant religion is Hinduism, which almost all Tamils follow. This religion is closely linked to Buddhism. Both Buddhists and Hindus attempt to achieve enlightenment through asceticism, meditation and worship of deities. Hindus believe in the existence of many gods, the most important of which are Brahma, who created the universe; Skanda, god of war; Vishnu, incarnation of the Buddha; Shiva, creator and destroyer; Ganpati, god of wisdom; Ganesh and others. Islam is the third largest religion on the island (7% of the population), practiced mostly by Moors and Malays.

Christianity, namely Roman Catholicism, is widespread on the west coast of Sri Lanka. According to history, there were the Portuguese who introduced this religion to Ceylon.

Other religious communities include Sikhs, Parsees and Veddahs.

Food and Drink

Sri Lankan food is made up of unique and complex items introduced by traders, immigrants and colonizers. The island’s national food consists of boiled or steamed rice, curry seasoned with chili, cinnamon, cardamom, coriander etc. Guests should not miss trying Sri Lankan native food called Hopper, a bowl-shaped pancake, fermented batter made from rice flour, coconut milk and a puff of palm wine. Fish and seafood lovers can eat a fresh cooked seer (similar to tuna), crab or lobster. The most famous dessert here is the Wattalappam – coconut milk, egg custard with palm sugar and cinnamon. The best way to quench your thirst is mineral water, tea with sugar and chilled beer.

Festivals

Sri Lanka thrives on the various festivals, which number more than 166 per year. Most of them mark important events in Buddhist, Hindu, Christian or Muslim religious history.

July to August is the most important time in the island’s cultural life. The most important festivals take place during this time. The Kandy Esala Perahera, which venerates the sacred tooth, the relic of Kandy par excellence. On the day of the annual Hindu festival, the Vel called, with the decorated chariot of Skanda, the god of war, takes place in Colombo and on the streets of Jaffna from one temple to another. Supernatural self-mortification will be shown at the Kataragama Festival.

Ramadan takes place in October – November. In December, Sri Lankans, Buddhists and Hindus celebrate Unduvap Poya. On this full moon day, many devotees gather near the sacred Bo tree (place of enlightenment of Buddha) in Anuradhapura.

Enjoy the magnificent parades during the Duruthu Perahera in January, celebrating Buddha’s arrival in Sri Lanka and Navam Perahera in February in Colombo. These include colorful processions with hundreds of elephants, dancers and torchbearers. No less lively and exciting is the celebration of Independence Day on February 4th, with fabulous parades, performances, dances and national games.

April sees the celebration of the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year known as Aurudu, which marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the Southwest Monsoon. Sri Lankans perform rituals combining different games, such as those with coconuts and watching elephant races. The Vesak Poya Festival (May) is dedicated to the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha, and features colorful open-air performances. Plus, you can’t turn away from the breathtaking sight when the paper lanterns and oil lamps are lit. The Introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka or Poson Poya is celebrated throughout the island in June, with picturesque lighting, processions and beautiful performances. Religion has a major influence on many aspects of life on the island. Buddhist and Hindu temples, as well as mosques and churches with their colorful furnishings are the most striking features of Sri Lanka’s culture. The country’s landscapes are adorned with Buddhist shrines such as Dagobas, whose chambers contain Buddha’s relics, the Gedige (temples with thick walls and a sloping roof) and Hindu temples, most of which are dedicated to Shiva or Murugan. European-style colonial architecture gives the island a charming atmosphere. Guests can familiarize themselves with Portuguese buildings with high sloping roofs and covered verandas, as well as ornamental Dutch buildings with small arches and stained glass windows. Sacred themes associated with the life of Buddha can be found in painting and also in sculptural works. The most popular and unusual design in Sri Lanka is Kolam, a delicate floor painting that is made every day by women in households using rice powder.

Colorful and bright folklore is shown in Sri Lanka in the masked dance drama, the devil dances to free a person from evil spirits and the Kandyan dances are represented with some amazing and symbolic elements of acrobatics. Sri Lanka is also known for its handicrafts: wood and ivory carvings, weaving, pottery and mask making.

What to wear while traveling in Sri Lanka?

We recommend light, comfortable summer clothing, preferably made from natural fibers such as cotton or linen, as well as a long-sleeved shirt/blouse or a light one

Pullover for slightly cooler and possibly windy evening hours. For temples we recommend taking socks and clothing with covered sleeves and knees.

Take with you against mosquitoes!

We recommend Anti Brumm Forte with the active ingredient DEET.

You are not allowed to take anything from Sri Lanka!

The import of weapons, ammunition, explosives and the like is prohibited. The export of antiques (items older than 50 years), shells, corals and the export of plants and animals is prohibited.

Usual tipping in Sri Lanka

In restaurants, 10% for service is already included in the bill. However, it is customary to tip an additional 5%.

Drinking water quality

The water in Sri Lanka is not of drinking quality. You should therefore only drink tested and packaged water (preferably carbonated) and also use it to brush your teeth.

The usual means of payment/currency in Sri Lanka

You pay the entrance fees on site at the respective ticket counters. It is best to pay the entrance fees in the local currency, Rupee (LKR). At larger sights it is also possible to pay in euros, although the conversion rate is usually very poor.

ATMs and Ge ldtake off in Sri Lanka

The most common banks include the Bank of Ceylon, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon, the Sampath Bank, the Standard Charted Bank, the Union Bank or the HNB. When withdrawing money with a debit card, the Maestro or Cirrus logo (not a VPay logo) must be on the card.

What is the most popular food in Sri Lanka?

Fabulous main courses. Rice and curry is the typical food in Sri Lanka. The Indian Thali is eaten by locals in Sri Lanka at least once a day. The traditional dish consists of white rice served with various curries.