|
Asia - The Indian Subcontinent >Sri Lanka > Introduction
| S R
I L A N K A |
A tear-drop falling
from the southern tip of peninsular India, suspended on the blue-green waters of the
Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka was known over the centuries, as 'The Pearl of the East,
'Swarndvip (Golden Isle) and 'Serendib - the root of the word
'serendipity the faculty of making happy discoveries by accident names
which, though rather grandiose, are not too far from the truth. |
 |
 |
Sri Lanka has always
epitomised the exotic a place where the earth opens up to yield precious bounty of
'pigeon blood' rubies and bright green emeralds, of yellow and blue sapphires as big as
rocks and sloping tiers of rubber, tea, coffee and spice plantations on hillsides.
Although tiny, Sri Lanka is one of the worlds major tourist destinations, with
enough spice gardens, temples, elephants and tea plantations to hold its own against the
rest of the Far East. |
F A C
T B O X |
| Full Name |
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka |
| Area |
66,000 sq km |
| Population |
18 million |
| Capital City |
Colombo |
| People |
74% Sinhalese, 18% Tamils, 7% Muslims |
| Religion |
69% Buddhist, 15% Hindu, 7% Muslims, 9%
Christians |
| Language |
Sinhala, Tamil, English |
| Government |
Democracy |
Head
of State |
President Mahinda Rajapaksa |
|
|
|