Sri Lanka, mainly known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean which is geographically situated towards the south of the Indian subcontinent. It is also known as the Teardrop of India as it is separated by Indian peninsular by the Palk Straight. It lies between 5O 55′ and 9O 55′ north of the equator and between the eastern longitudes of 79O 42′ and 81O 52′.The total land area is 65,610 sq. km and the Island has a length of 445 km and a breadth of 225 km.
The Climate in Sri Lanka is tropical and consists of very distinctive dry and wet seasons. The average temperature of Sri Lanka usually ranges from 28 – 32 degrees Celsius which may differ due to global weather conditions as a whole. Bright, sunny warm days are in abundance and are common even during the height of the monsoon. Climatically Sri Lanka has no off season.
The current population of Sri Lanka is 20,947,914 based on the latest United Nations estimates.Sri Lanka ranks number 58 in the list of countries by population. Three ethnic groups Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim make up more than 99 percent of the country’s population. While the mother tongue is Sinhala, Tamils and Muslims speak the Dravidian language of Tamil. More than 90 percent of the Sinhalese are Buddhists, and other religions are Hindu, Islam and Catholic. Sri Lanka’s economic growth has been primarily driven by the Colombo Metropolitan Region (CMR), which currently generates 45 percent of the country’s GDP and is home to 28 percent of its population.
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In today, visitors from all over the world are welcome to Sri Lanka to experience the nation’s glittering beauty of culture, and the rich abundance of nature. It is a beautiful country which has a wonderful natural beauty with all the kinds of natural attractions including flora and fauna, and all the natural spots such as waterfalls, national parks, beaches, rivers, mountains & peaks, jungles etc. Due to this amazing natural beauty, Sri Lanka has become a popular place of attraction for the foreigners.
At present Sri Lanka has a growing tourism industry. Since gaining independence in 1948, it continued to attract foreign investors and tourists to the island. Over the years, many beautiful resorts, hotels and spas have opened incorporating the diverse culture of the country. The various Tourist Establishments here offer visitors a unique, yet memorable experience to remember with.
There are so many beautiful and interesting places for visitors to tour Sri Lanka. Although it’s a small country, there is so much history, nature and beauty to see in this country. It is not only a country with wonderful natural beauty but also a country with prestigious historical places and landmarks. Among the best sights and tourist attractions in Sri Lanka there are famous cities with natural beauty, cities with remarkable historical importance, national parks, jungles, waterfalls, temples and the places with historical importance. Such important places to travel Sri Lanka are Colombo, Kandy, Sigirya, Yala National Park, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Galle etc.
Sri Lanka is one of the few countries with a very vast and rich cultural diversity. The Culture is itself very unique and thereby contributes to the Sri Lankan Identity. It mixes modern elements with traditional aspects and is known for its regional diversity. Sri Lankan culture is often reflected by the use of art, architecture, sculptures and even food. Some people would say that it has a more conventional culture which is obviously influenced by the prominent religions prevailing the country such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, etc.
The Sri Lankan way of life is very simple and filled with humanity and happiness, this is one of the reasons why the Sri Lankans have a very great sense in appreciating the simple things in life such as nature. Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic country and celebrates a wide range of Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim festivals. The Kandy Esala Perahera is one of the country’s most important and spectacular pageants. 10 days of vibrant processions bring together torchbearers, whip-crackers, Kandyan dancers, drummers, colorfully dressed Elephants, throngs of devotees from all over the country and spectators from around the world. Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrated with elephant races, traditional games such as pillow fights. Vesak (May), a sacred full moon festival commemorating the birth, death and enlightenment of Buddha. The Hindu Vel festival, where the ceremonial chariot of Skanda, the God of War, is hauled between two temples in Colombo. Many viewers from everywhere in the world come to visit Sri Lanka during the festive seasons and to have the great experiences.
