Sri Lanka is an island country located off the southeast coast of India. It has a population of over 21 million people, with the majority being Sinhalese. Sri Lanka gained independence from British rule in 1948 and its capital and largest city is Colombo. The country has a tropical climate and a mainly Buddhist population. Tourism, tea production, and apparel manufacturing are key industries. Popular attractions include beaches, Buddhist temples, wildlife parks, and tea plantations.

1. SRILANKA

3. • The arrival of British in 1796 resulted in expelling Dutch.
• Kandy was then established as a capital of British Rule and the unified
administration for the island was set up in 1818.
•Independence: 4 February 1948
• English became national language which leaded to the enhancement
of education system.

4. • Area: 65,610 sq. km. (25,332 sq. mi.)
•Cities: Capital--Colombo
• Kotte is the officially designated capital and is
the site of Parliament.
• Other cities--Kandy, Galle , Jaffna .
• Climate: Tropical. Rainy seasons--light in
northeast, heavy in southwest.

5. 74%
18%
7% 1%
Ethnic groups
Sinhalese Tamils Muslims Others
Nationality: Sri Lankan(s).
Population: 2,13,00,000
Annual population growth rate: 0.9%.
Ethnic groups : Sinhalese (74%), Tamils (18%),
Muslims (7%), others (1%).
Religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity.
Languages: Sinhala and Tamil (official), English.
Literacy--91%.
Life expectancy--73 yrs. (male); 77 yrs. (female).

6. GDP: $5900 crores.(2011)
Annual growth
rate: 8.2%(2011)

7. 11%
60%
29%
GDP CONTRIBUTION
Agriculture
Services
Industry
Natural resources: Limestone, graphite, mineral sands,
gems, and phosphate.
Agriculture (11% of GDP): Major products--rice, tea,
rubber, coconut, and spices.
Services (60% of GDP): Major types--tourism, wholesale
and retail trade, transport, telecom, financial services.
Industry (29% of GDP): Major types--garments and leather
goods, rubber products, food processing, chemicals,
refined petroleum, gems and jewelry, non-metallic
mineral-based products, and construction.

8. • Currency- Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)
• Unemployment- 4.3% (2011)
• The Central Bank of Sri Lanka is the monetary
authority of Sri Lanka and was established in
1950.
• Colombo Stock Exchange(CSE) is the main stock
exchange in Sri Lanka.

9. Exports--$275 crore: garments, tea, rubber products, jewellery and gems,
refined petroleum, and coconuts.
Major markets--U.S., U.K., India.

10. Imports--$ 440 crore . Major suppliers--India, Singapore, Hong
Kong, China, Iran, Malaysia, Japan, U.K., U.A.E., Belgium, Indonesia,
South Korea, U.S.

11. Major Industries
• Tourism
Major tourist attractions are focused around the islands
famous beaches and ancient heritages
• Tea industry
The industry was introduced to the country in 1867
by James Taylor, a British planter Recently, Sri Lanka has
become one of the countries exporting fair trade tea to
the UK and other countries. It is believed that such
projects could reduce rural poverty
• Apparel and textile industry
The apparel industry of the Sri Lanka mainly exports to
the United States and Europe. Europe increasingly relies
on Sri Lankan textiles due to the high cost of labor in
Europe. There are about 900 factories throughout country
serving companies such as Victoria's Secret, Liz
Claiborne and Tommy Hilfiger.

12. TEAS FROM THE ISLAND
OF SRI LANKA

13. Festivals
• Wesak :
Wesak for the Buddhists , the birth of Prince Siddhartha,
who eventually attained Buddhahood as Gauthama Buddha
Candle lanterns are lightened made of wooden frames and
transparent paper to celebrate this festival

14. • Kandy Perahera :
It is one of the biggest Buddhist celebrations of the year.
The festival is held every July/August in Kandy
This Festival is to honour the sacred tooth relic of the
Buddha – said to have been brought to the island 2000
years ago.
The relic is kept in the Temple of the Tooth and a replica is
displayed in a Golden Casket on top of a brightly
decorated elephant at the front of the evening parade
around the streets.
Following this, dancers, fire-breathers and jugglers mill
amongst the crowd and there are lots of lively
celebrations.

15. • New Year :
Although Sri Lanka celebrates January 1st as a New Year from a western
or international perspective the proper Sinhalese and Tamil New Year , is
celebrated about the 13th - 14th of April.

16. • Devil Dancing :
It is a form of exorcism . The colourful and sometimes
frightening masks worn by the performers, represent the
good and evil spirits. These masks are all hand crafted by
traditional craftsmen out of local soft woods.

17. • Balloon Festival

18. Tourist Places
• Beaches
Negombo Beach
A characteristic fishing town 37km. north of Colombo.
Negombo is a gourmet's paradise with sea food in plenty
Bentota Beach
It is a romantic view of river and sea with several
hotels, railway station, post office, shopping
arcade, cafeteria .

19. Hikkaduwa Beach :
Hikkaduwa is the place for underwater delight.
Kalkudah, is ideal for bathing. It has a fine bay with
clear waters. A popular tourist centre with a
modern hotel and other facilities.
Kalkudah Beach :

20. The Parakrama Samudra is a statue of a man holding
a book in his hands (Written on palm Leaves)
The statues of Lord Buddha, rank among the
finest in Sri Lanka.

21. • Isurumuniya Lovers -
The best known among these is the
"Lovers". It is believed that the carving
may represent Saliya, and the low-caste
maiden whom he loved.
Saliya was the son of the great king
Dutugamunu
Sigiriya-The Lion Rock

22. Sports
• National sport in Sri Lanka is volleyball
• The most popular sport in the country is cricket.
• Rugby union also enjoys extensive popularity, as do aquatic
sports, athletics, football (soccer) and tennis.
• Winner of 1996 cricket World cup
• Sri Lanka has won the Asia Cup in 1986, 1997, 2004 and 2008

23. National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries
Sri Lanka has a rich and exotic variety of wildlife .
The following are the most important sanctuaries in terms of
attractions, accessibility and availability of facilities.

24. Yala (Ruhuna) National Park-
• The large no. of elephants are undoubtedly the best known
attraction
• Deer are seen all over the Park
• The Peacock is easily the most famous of the birds at Yala.
• Yala is approximately 1,259 sq.km

25. Wilpattu National Park-
• Wilpattu is approximately 1,908 sq.km. in
extent.
• The leopard and sloth bear are the speciality
rather than elephants.

26. Elephant Orphanage -
• An orphanage for elephants has been set up by
the department of National Zoological Gardens,
at Pinnawela,
National Zoological Gardens-
• The Zoo has a fine collection of animals, birds,
reptiles and fish from all over the world. The
aquarium is the only one of its kind in Asia and
displays over 500 varieties of aquatic life.
There are daily elephant performance

27. Cuisine
• Fish Curry and Mixed Rice
• Egg Hoppers (Appa)

28. • Pittu – Flour and Coconut Funnel Cakes
• Ulundhu Vadai