Sri Lanka Facts and Culture

What is Sri Lanka famous for?

• Food and Recipes: The different religions of the country play a large role in determining what is and is not eaten. Sri Lankan's... More
• Family: Traditionally, the various caste systems of each ethnic group have governed family patterns and relationships. Even with the declining influence... More
• Fashion: Western-style clothing is popular, but traditional forms of clothing also are popular. With variation two basic styles of apparel for... More
• Visiting: Sri Lankan's are very hospitable. If refreshments are offered by the hosts, it is impolite to refuse them. In some... More
• Recreation: Cricket, introduced by the British in the 18th century, has become the country's most popular sport. In villages, amateur players... More
• Cultural Attributes: While some groups seek independence, people in general seek peace, unity, and economic development for the entire population. Sri... More
• Dating: Although individual choice of marriage is found among more Westernized circles, traditional practices of arranging marriages still prevail in Sri... More
• Diet: Rice is the staple in the Sri Lankan diet and is the basic food for all meals. Each ethnic group... More

What is the capital of Sri Lanka?

Capital	Colombo; note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital
Government Type	presidential republic
Currency	LKR
Total Area	25,332 Square Miles 65,610 Square Kilometers
Location	Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Language	Sinhala (official) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%. English is widely understood.
GDP - real growth rate	5.5%
GDP - per capita (PPP)	$11,200.00 (USD)

What is the population of Sri Lanka?

Ethnic Groups	Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%
Nationality Adjective	Sri Lankan
Nationality Noun	Sri Lankan(s)
Population	22,889,201
Population Growth Rate	0.89%
Population in Major Urban Areas	COLOMBO (capital) 693,000; Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) 126,000
Predominant Language	Sinhala (official) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%. English is widely understood.
Urban Population	15.1%

What type of government does Sri Lanka have?

• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA (since 18 November 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and... More
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal More
• Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Sri Lanka dual citizenship recognized:... More
• National Holiday: Independence Day, 4 February (1948) More
• Constitution: several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; amended many times, last in 2015 More
• Independence: 4 February 1948 (from the UK) More

What environmental issues does Sri Lanka have?

• Overview: A pear-shaped island in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka lies 18 miles from India at its closest point. It... More
• Climate: Monsoons produce two rainy seasons. The southwest monsoon lasts roughly from May to September. During this period, the southwestern part... More
• Environment - Current Issues: deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources... More
• Environment - International Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone... More
• Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior More

How big is the Sri Lanka economy?

• Economic Overview: Sri Lanka is attempting to sustain economic growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability under the IMF program it began in 2016.... More
• Industries: rubber processing, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco More
• Currency Name and Code: LKR More
• Export Partners: US 37.7%, UK 12.6%, Germany 4.3% More
• Import Partners: India 13.8%, Hong Kong 8.1%, Singapore 7.2%, Japan 5.9%, South Korea 5%, Taiwan 4.8%, UAE 4.5%, UK 4.3%, China 4.3% More

What current events are happening in Sri Lanka?
Source: Google News

What unique things can you discover about Sri Lanka?

• An important ritual when visiting a Buddhist temple is the Buddha puja, in which devotees carry cooked vegetables, rice and sweets to the image of the Buddha.
• Buddhist weddings are held on a square platform called a poruwa. After rings are exchanged, the couple feed each other kiri bath (rice cooked in milk) or rice milk. When the couple descends from the poruwa a coconut is broken to wish them happiness and prosperity.
• Coriander coffee and ginger tea are excellent home remedies for colds and flu. Samahan, a herbal product for colds, is now available in Canada.
• Elephants are an important part of Sri Lankan culture. They are decorated for religious processions called peraheras, and their images appear in temples and palaces. Some elephants are still used for work. Others are in danger of extinction due to uncontrolled expansion of agriculture and development.
• Growing tea is a laborious process. The bushes must be regularly pruned, and the leaves and buds picked by hand. The tea is then dried on hessian mats or troughs, crushed, and fermented. Tea was first brought to Sri Lanka in 1867 when coffee plantations were destroyed by disease.
• In 1960, Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world's first female prime minister in Sri Lanka.
• Most Sri Lankans eat with the fingers of their right hand rather than using forks and spoons.
• Religion is a compulsory subject in Sri Lankan schools, and university entrance exams include sections on religion.
• Sri Lanka has the world's highest rate of suicide with 47 per 1,000 people.
• Sri Lanka has various outdoor, rock-cut sculptures. The Galvihara group, from the 12th century, show the Buddha in various positions. The sigriya rock frescoes, from the 5th century, are detailed portraits of women in procession.
• Sri Lankan kites can be enormous, up to nine square meters. People must use smaller kites to bear the larger ones aloft, plus 60 to 90 meters of string.
• The oldest Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike was 78 years old when he was elected.
  
• Traditionally, Sinhala's curly script was written with a sharp metal stylus (a kind of pen) on polished palm leaves.
• When a child loses a tooth they close their eyes and say "Squirrel, squirrel, take this tooth and give me a new one."
  Then they throw it on the roof and run into the house without looking.

What can you learn about Sri Lanka in this video?

Destination Unknown Sri Lanka YouTube: Michael Murphy

What makes Sri Lanka a unique country to travel to?

Country Description

Sri Lanka is a presidential parliamentary democracy with a developing economy. On May 18, 2009, more than 26 years of conflict ended with the Sri Lankan government defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). During the war, the LTTE had a history of attacks against civilians, though none were directed against U.S. citizens. There have been no terrorist attacks since the end of the conflict, and the government has authority throughout the island. The LTTE remains on the U.S. list of designated terrorist organizations.

Sri Lanka's beaches, hill country, and archeological sites attract visitors from around the world. Tourism increased in 2013 and is expected to rise further in the coming years. The capital city of Colombo, the Cultural Triangle (Dambulla, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa), the cities of Kandy and Galle, and many southern beach towns have good tourist facilities, and the roads connecting many of those destinations are improving.

Crime

There is an elevated criminal threat in Sri Lanka. Most violent crime occurs within the local community. However, reports of violent crime, sexual assaults and harassment directed at foreigners have been increasing in recent months. Police response to assist victims can vary from a few minutes to hours, even in the tourist areas, and particularly in remote areas. In response to this rise in crime, the Sri Lankan government now requires that all foreign tourists provide their passport information to hotel staff when registering at local hotels and guest houses so that this data can be used by local law enforcement for the monitoring of foreign tourists.

Organized and armed gangs are known to operate in Sri Lanka and have been responsible for targeted kidnappings and violence, although there is no evidence to suggest that U.S. citizens are at particular risk. A British national was killed and a Russian national sexually assaulted and beaten during a violent attack by a gang in a tourist resort in the southern beach town of Tangalle in December 2011. The Sri Lankan justice system can be slower than in the United States and there are a number of outstanding cases of crimes against foreign nationals.

U.S. citizens are advised against travel on public buses in Sri Lanka, as passengers can be targets of criminal activity and bus drivers do not all obey driving regulations.

Travelers, especially women, should consider travelling with other people when possible. Western women continue to report incidents of verbal and physical harassment by groups of men. Such harassment can occur anytime or anywhere, but most frequently has taken place in crowded areas such as marketplaces, train stations, buses, public streets and sporting events. The harassment ranges from sexually suggestive or lewd comments to physical advances, and sexual assaults have occurred as well. While most victims of sexual assault have been local residents, an upswing in sexual attacks against female visitors in tourist areas in the southern beaches underlines the fact that foreign women should exercise vigilance.

Routine petty crime, especially thefts of personal property and pick-pocketing, is not uncommon if the traveler does not take appropriate safeguards. Cell phone theft is the most frequently reported crime against foreigners. Street hustlers or “touts” are common around hotels, shopping centers, and tourist sites. Credit card fraud is frequent and can happen in any establishment, or when paying online. Sri Lankan law enforcement personnel recently uncovered a foreign ring of criminals who were using “false fronts’” and “pen camera devices” to clone bank cards and steal personal identification numbers at ATM machines in Sri Lanka. Travelers should consider paying in cash whenever possible, and should carefully review billing statements to ensure that purchases displayed on their credit card statements are accurate. Consultation with personal credit card security advisors is encouraged for travelers to develop a protection plan that is best for your travel to Sri Lanka.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Sri Lanka, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. In places like military checkpoints, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Sri Lanka, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Persons violating Sri Lankan laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Sri Lanka are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Under the Cultural Prosperity Act and the Antiques Ordinance, the unlicensed export of antiques from the country is considered a criminal act.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

Medical Facilities and Health Information

There are six large hospitals in the Colombo area, including three facilities with emergency trauma service: Asiri Surgical Hospital, Lanka Hospital, and the government-run National Hospital. Medical facilities outside Colombo are limited. The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of private physicians that may be obtained upon request. The availability of medical supplies is uneven; as a result, travelers should carry any special medications with them. Serious medical conditions do require evacuation to the United States or to a nearby country with more advanced medical facilities, such as Thailand or Singapore. Neither Thailand nor Singapore requires U.S. citizens to have entry visas.

Several mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue fever, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis are present in Sri Lanka. Adequate mosquito protection is strongly advised.

Safety and Security

Newspapers and other sources report ongoing criminal activity around the country, including murder and kidnapping. Most violent crime occurs within the local community, although reports of violent crime and sexual assaults directed at foreigners have been increasing.

The Sri Lankan military continues to maintain a heavy presence in the north, and military roadblocks and checkpoints are commonly encountered when traveling in this region.

Although the government and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) continue operations to locate and dispose of landmines in the north, a number of areas are still mined. Landmines and unexploded ordnance are found in parts of northern and eastern Sri Lanka, especially in the areas north of Vavuniya, including the areas of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaittivu, Mannar and Puthukudiyiruppu (PTK). A map of the affected areas is available. Travelers in these areas should stay on main, heavily traveled roads, and never walk in forested or agricultural areas or in abandoned properties. Travelers should make themselves aware of, and able to recognize and avoid, any area cordoned off for landmine clearance. Travelers should not touch anything that resembles a landmine or unexploded ordnance and should notify local police if they see something that resembles a landmine.

U.S. citizens living or traveling in Sri Lanka should be aware of their personal surroundings and follow prudent security practices. You should avoid political rallies, military bases, military or police convoys, and closed areas of high security zones.

Demonstrations at or near Western embassies and international organizations are not uncommon. There have been recent demonstrations against the United States and United Nations. Some have been large, and on occasion they have become violent. Given the unpredictability of demonstrations, U.S. citizens are urged to exercise caution when demonstrations are announced or reported, and avoid areas where demonstrations are occurring or crowds are forming. Demonstrations can occur with little or no advance notice. U.S. citizens are urged to consult media sources and the U.S. Embassy website for current security information and to enroll with the Embassy to receive e-mail messages or cellular phone short message service (SMS) texts about impending demonstrations in Colombo.

U.S. citizens are encouraged to always carry their U.S. passports while in Sri Lanka. U.S. citizens of Sri Lankan origin may be subject to additional scrutiny upon arrival and while in the country. The activities of visiting journalists, researchers, aid workers, and volunteers may also receive particular attention.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

While in Sri Lanka, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Vehicular traffic in Sri Lanka moves on the left (British style). Traffic in Colombo can be congested. Narrow two-lane highways, overloaded trucks, poorly driven buses, and a variety of conveyances on the road, ranging from ox carts and bicycles to new four-wheel-drive vehicles, make driving dangerous. Unexpected road blocks and one-way streets are common and may not be clearly marked. Many visitors hire cars and drivers for long trips through the country. Individuals who choose to hire three-wheeled vehicles (“tuks” or “three wheelers”) should use metered vehicles or negotiate prices beforehand to avoid confrontations upon arrival. If you are renting a vehicle, you should specifically request one with working seatbelts.