Geographical location of Sri Lanka.

SRI LANKA, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (until 1972 Ceylon), a state in South Asia, on about. Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent, which is separated by the Gulf of Manar and the Strait of Polk, between which is the chain of islands of the Adam's Bridge. The area is 65.6 thousand km2. Population 20.482 million (2004).

The actual capital of the country is Colombo. The official capital is Sri Jawayardenapura Kotte, a suburb of Colombo.

State system of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is a unitary republic. Part of the Commonwealth. The current Constitution was adopted in 1978.

The head of state is the president (elected by universal suffrage for 6 years). President of Sri Lanka since 1994 - Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (was re-elected for a second term in 1999).

The head of government is the prime minister (appointed by the president). Prime Minister since 2004 - Mahinda Rajapakse.

Legislature - unicameral parliament (National State Assembly), elected for a term of six years.

Administrative divisions of Sri Lanka.

The territory of Sri Lanka is divided into 8 administrative provinces (Western, Sabaragamuwa, Northeast, Northwest, Uva, North-Central and South), which consist of 25 counties.

Population of Sri Lanka.

About 74% of the Sinhalese population (inhabit the western, central and southern regions of the country), 18% - Tamils \u200b\u200b[two separate branches: Sri Lankan (in the northern and eastern regions) and Indian (in the central)], 8% - the so-called. Sri Lankan Moors (descendants of the Arabs); there are also several thousand Veddas (descendants of the oldest population of the island), Sri Lankan burghers (descendants of the Portuguese, Dutch and English), as well as Malays.

The official languages \u200b\u200bare Sinhalese and Tamil, English is widely spoken.

The religious affiliation of the population mainly corresponds to the national-ethnic composition: Buddhism is practiced by about 70% (mainly Sinhalese), Hinduism - by more than 17% (mainly Tamils), Islam and Christianity - by about 8% each (Moors, burghers, etc.) ...

Largest cities: Colombo, Moratuwa, Galle, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Kandy.

Sri Lanka climate.

The climate is monsoon, subequatorial in the north and east, equatorial in the south and west. The air temperature on the plains is + 26-30 ° C, in the mountains it drops to + 15-20 ° C, changes slightly during the year. One of the coldest places on the island is the mountain resort Nuwara Eliya (1881 m above sea level), the average temperature in January is +14 ° C, in May +17 ° C.

The largest amount of precipitation (up to 5000 mm per year) falls on the southwestern slopes of the highlands (mainly during the summer southwestern monsoon); at the foot of the mountains - up to 2000 mm per year. On the northeastern slopes of the highlands and adjacent plains, most of the precipitation falls during the northeastern winter monsoon, the annual amount being reduced to 1000-2000 mm; the dry season is observed for 8-9 months. The smallest amount of precipitation (less than 1000 mm per year) is on the northwestern and southeastern coasts. Abundant convective afternoon (so-called zenital) rains fall in many areas in spring and autumn. Air humidity about 75%.

Natural resources of Sri Lanka.

The length of the island of Sri Lanka from north to south is 445 km, from west to east - 225 km. The shores of the island are predominantly low-lying, often lagoon, bordered by coral reefs, weakly indented, with separate ingression bays.

Over 80% of the territory is occupied by low-lying plains (100 m above sea level), above which there are individual rocky outcrops (up to 700 m high), often of a bizarre shape (reminiscent of either a huge animal, or a giant book, or the ruins of an ancient temple). In the central and southern parts of the island there is a stepped upland (average altitude of 1000-2000 m) with leveled surfaces, dissected by faults, and steep fault benches. The upper tier of the highland is formed by table surfaces and steep peaks - Pidurutalagala (2524 m), Adamov Peak (2243 m), etc. One of the faults consists of scattered links, generally having a meridional orientation; the other has an arcuate shape and a latitudinal strike; in general, they look like an anchor, the rod of which is extended from north to south.
Sri Lanka occupies part of the Hindustan shield of the Indian platform, the basement of which is composed of gneisses, granite-gneisses, scoopites, amphibolites, crystalline schists, quartzites, marbles with intrusions of Upper Proterozoic granites (about 1 billion years ago), dolerite and pegmatite dikes; known carbonatites. Basement rocks are exposed to the surface in 9/10 of the territory of Sri Lanka; in the north, the foundation is hidden under a cover of sedimentary rocks (sandstones, siltstones, mudstones, limestones, sands, clays) of Jurassic and Miocene ages. Coastal-marine Quaternary deposits (pebbles, gravel, sand, clay) are widespread along the coast of the Indian Ocean. Laterites are developed on crystalline rocks.

Basic minerals: graphite, precious and semi-precious stones (sapphire, ruby, aquamarine, topaz, moonstone, chrysoberyl, etc.), coastal-sea "black" sands with ilmenite and rutile, zircon and monazite; apatite, kaolinic and other clays, limestone, feldspars, quartz sand.

Sri Lanka's river network is dense. Short deep rivers (the largest is the Mahaveli River) begin in the Central Highlands and spread radially in all directions, forming waterfalls in the mountains. Kelani and Mahaoya flow to the west bank, Walawa and Nilwala to the south, Gal and Yang to the east. Used for irrigation (mainly in the north and east); numerous reservoirs have been built.

The soils are red earth and lateritic, along river valleys and along the coasts there are strips of alluvial soils.

Natural vegetation covers about 3/4 of the island's surface. On the southwestern slopes of the mountains and in some places at their foothills (44% of the entire country), humid equatorial forests (individual trees reach a height of 80 m) with a huge variety of species (palms, dipterocarp, etc.) are preserved, forests are distinguished by rich undergrowth, an abundance of mosses. The plains in the north and east of the island and the adjacent highland slopes are covered with secondary deciduous forests (9-12 m high). The plateaus are occupied by savanna-type wastelands (a combination of tall, coarse grasses with individual trees), above 2000 m - crooked forests. Along the northwestern and southeastern coasts there are thickets of thorny bushes, in places near the coasts - mangrove forests, coconut palms.

The fauna of the Indomalayan type, with an admixture of Madagascar species (lemurs). Mammals: elephant, sloth bear, leopard, lynx, 5 species of monkeys, deer, wild boars, civets. Abundance of birds (parrots, peacocks, flamingos, storks), many lizards, snakes, crocodiles. Insects are diverse (butterflies, ants, termites, etc.). The number of large animals is steadily declining due to the expansion of agricultural areas and deforestation.

National parks: Vilpattu, Yala (Ruhunu), Gal-Oya. Reserves: (Ritigala, Wasgomuva, Hakgala). Near Kandy there is a large botanical garden of Peradeniya.

Economy and industry of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is an agricultural country with a developed plantation economy. The share of industry in GDP is about 35%. The economy remains dependent on foreign, mainly English, capital and foreign markets. The role of the public sector is growing.

Agriculture employs St. 70% of the economically active population. More than 1/3 of the territory is processed. The basis of the economy is the production for export of tea (one of the first places in the world), rubber and coconut products. The main food crop is rice. They also grow millet, corn, legumes, sweet potatoes, cassava, vegetables, spices (cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom), from industrial crops - fibrous and oilseeds, from fruits - bananas, pineapples. Livestock raising is poorly developed, cattle (including buffaloes) are used mainly as a draft force. Elephants are also used as working animals. Fishing (including coastal).

Extraction of graphite, iron ore, precious stones (ruby, sapphire, aquamarine, etc.), ilmenite, rutile, zircon, salt, mica, limestone, peat, etc.

Sri Lanka is mainly hydropower, so energy production is highly dependent on seasonal fluctuations in rainfall and river flow.

Traditional manufacturing industries are tea, rubber processing, copra and coconut oil. The light (textile, footwear, paper, etc.) and food (sugar) industries are well developed. Mechanical engineering, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, the production of building materials, woodworking and oil refining industries are developing. The main industrial center is Colombo and its surroundings.

Traditional handicraft production (blacksmith, pottery, weaving, weaving of mats, bags, hats, ropes, rugs, art carving on wood, horn, ivory, tortoiseshell plate, metal chasing, making gold, silver jewelry with precious stones, etc.) ...

Tourism is developing. Seaside (Negombo, Beruwela, Bentona, Trincomalee, etc.) and mountain resorts.

Exports: tea, rubber, coconut products, ready-made clothing. Imports: textiles, machinery and equipment, oil and oil products, wheat, sugar, fertilizers. Major foreign trade partners: Saudi Arabia, USA, UK, India, Germany, Japan.

Near Colombo - Katunayaka International Airport.
Main ports: Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee.

The monetary unit is the Sri Lankan rupee. 1 Lankan rupee equals 100 cents.

Geography of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a state located in South Asia near the equator, on the island of the same name in the Indian Ocean. A beautiful tropical island with long sandy beaches surrounded by lush tropical greenery is located just 34 km southeast of the Indian city of Rameshwaram. Sri Lanka is the 25th largest island in the world.

The island of Sri Lanka is separated from mainland India by the Palk bay, as well as a chain of small islands called Adam's Bridge located in the Mannar Bay. The total length of the coastline of Sri Lanka is 1340 km. On the west side, the island is washed by the Laccadive Sea, on the east - by the Bay of Bengal (on all sides the country is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean). The state has maritime borders with India in the northwest and the Maldives in the southwest.

Coordinates of the island of Sri Lanka

• Length: from 5 ° 55 "C to 9 ° 50" C,
• Width: 79 ° 41 "B to 81 ° 52" B.

Coordinates are given at the extreme points of the island.

Distance from Sri Lanka to the Equator

Contrary to popular belief, the equator line does not pass through Sri Lanka; the distance by water from the southernmost point of the island (Cape Dondra in the Matara region) to the equator is 650 km.

Territory of the island

The area occupied by the state is 65,610 sq km, of which 64,740 sq km belongs to the land, and 870 sq km to the water part. The largest island, Sri Lanka, has an area of \u200b\u200b65.268 sq km, its length is 430 km, and its width is 218.82 km (Negombo - Kalmunai).

Relief

The entire surface of the island of Sri Lanka can be divided by geographic relief into three zones with an appropriate climate: Central highlands, plains and coastal lowlands. The relief of the island is very heterogeneous, due to which several climatic zones with significantly different weather conditions and temperatures are located on the territory of the country.

Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (center of the country)

The central highlands of Sri Lanka are the heart of the island and this area includes its highest mountains. The high plateau, located in the center of the island, stretches for 65 km from north to south. The highest point of the country is Pidurutalagala Mountain, 2,524 m high, located at the southern end of the plateau. Nuwara Eliya, famous for its tea, is located at the foot of Pidurutalagala. Many kilometers of mountain ranges stretch from Pidurutalagala: to the west to Sri Pada / Adam's Peak by 50 km, the height of the peak is 2.243 m, and also to the east, to Mount Namunakula 2.036 m high. On the sides of the high central ridges are two lower plateaus.

To the west of the Central Highlands lies the Horton Plateau, a deeply dissected series of ridges, with a steep edge descending to lower elevations towards the north. The Uva Plateau, located in the east of the Central Highlands, consists of valleys interspersed with deep valleys and gorges. In the north, separated from the main part of the mountain and plateau by wide valleys, lies the Knuckles massif: steep mountain ledges, deep gorges and peaks rise to more than 1,800 meters above sea level. To the south of Adam's Peak lie the parallel Rakwan Ranges, with several peaks over 1,400 meters high. The level of altitude drops from the central part of the highlands to a series of slopes, to an altitude of 400-500 meters, before descending to the low zone of the coastal plains.

Plains of Sri Lanka (north)

Most of the surface of the island of Sri Lanka lies on plains with a height of 30 to 200 m above sea level. In the southwest, the ridges and depressions gradually rise to the level of height, merging with the Central Highlands. Extensive erosion in this area has led to the destruction of many ridges and the formation of fertile soil downstream of the rivers. In the southeast, red lateritic soils create a relatively flat surface of monolithic hills. The transition from the plain to the central part of the highlands in the southeast is rather steep: the mountains rise almost vertically. In the east and north, the highland is a flat plain, dissected by long narrow granite ridges coming from its central part.

Coastal Lowlands (Coast at the Edge of the Island)

The mountainous part of the country is surrounded by coastal lowlands lying at an altitude of about 30 m above sea level. Much of the coastline is made up of picturesque sandy beaches with extensive coastal lagoons and wetlands. In the north-east and south-west there are natural bays of Galle and Trincomalee, deeply cut into the land.

Natural resources of Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, significant reserves of such rocks as limestone, graphite, quartzite, marble, minerals, phosphates, and clays exist and are being developed.

Sri Lanka mountains

The highest mountains in Sri Lanka are located in the Central Highlands in the Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura regions, their height ranges from 2000 to 2524 meters. List of the highest mountains of the island:

1. Pidurutalagala - 2524 m
2. Kirigalpotta - 2395 m
3. Totupola Kanda - 2357 m
4. Kudahagala - 2320 m
5. Adam's Peak - 2243 m
6. Kikilimana - 2240 m
7. Great Western - 2216 m
8. Hakgala - 2170 m
9. Konical Hill - 2166 m
10. Van tri hill - 2100 m

Sri Lanka islands

The territories of Sri Lanka include not only the island of the same name, but also a number of islands, the total area of \u200b\u200bwhich is over 342 sq km. Most of the islands are concentrated in the northern and northeastern regions of the country: Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Puttalam, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Jaffna. They were formed millions of years ago during the departure of Sri Lanka from the continental territory of Hindustan. The numerous islands in the northern part of the country vary greatly in size. So, one of the smallest in terms of area is Pigeon (Trincomalee), which occupies an area of \u200b\u200bonly 0.01 sq km, while the largest - North Mannar occupies 126 sq km.

Sri Lanka rivers

Due to the relief, which forms a large number of rivers, and many natural and man-made reservoirs, Sri Lanka has huge reserves of renewable water resources: 53 cubic km. The longest river in the country, with a length of 325 km, is the Mahaveli Ganga River, which originates in the valleys of the Horton Plateau.

The second longest is Malvathu Oya, with a length of 164 km. The rest of the rivers (there are more than a hundred of them) have a shorter length, but mainly also originate in the Central Highlands, such as the Kelani Ganga or Walave Ganga. The total length of rivers exceeds 4,500 km, on the territory of the island there are reservoirs with a total area of \u200b\u200b169.941 ha.

Man-made reservoirs dug in antiquity by the Sinhalese kings throughout the island and the infrastructure work carried out by the Dutch in the 18th century to build canals on the island still provide water to all major cities.

10 longest rivers in Sri Lanka

1. Mahaveli Ganga - 325 km;
2. Aruvi Aru - 170 km;
3. Malvathu Oya - 164 km;
4. Cala Oya - 148 km;
5. Kelani Ganga - 145 km;
6. Yan Oya - 142 km;
7. Deduru Oya - 142 km;
8. Valave Ganga - 138 km;
9. Maduru Oya - 135 km;
10. Maha Oya - 134 km.

Coral reefs of Sri Lanka

The island of Sri Lanka is surrounded by coral reefs that are found along the coastline around it. The corals in the northeastern part of the island are much better preserved to this day than the corals in the southwest. In the south, they were badly damaged during the 2004 tsunami, which practically destroyed the "Underwater Gardens" of Hikkaduwa and other resort towns.

Sri Lanka is an island with coordinates 7 ° 0 "north latitude and 80 ° 0" east longitude. Cartographers and travelers have always compared its shape to a drop of tea or a pearl.

Sri Lanka is about 48 km away from India. There is evidence that in ancient times the island was connected to the mainland by a strip of land - the "Adam's Bridge". The area of \u200b\u200bSri Lanka is 65 610 km², this is Holland and Belgium combined. The length of the coastline is 1600 km. The coast is one of the most attractive areas in Sri Lanka. But no less beautiful - and, moreover, fertile - are its inner lands, especially the southern ones.

Once the whole island was covered with dense jungle, but in the XIX-XX centuries. most of the forests were deforested, replaced by plantations of coffee, tea, palms and rubber trees. The main food of the islanders is rice, and coconuts play an equally important role. However, this is not what Sri Lanka is famous for. Its "business cards" are the most valuable spices, wonderful Ceylon tea and, of course, precious stones, the mining capital of which is Ratnapura, the "city of jewels".

In the central part of the island, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe former colonial resort of Nuwara Eliya, there is the highest mountain in Sri Lanka - Pidurutalagala (2524 m)... But the lower peak of Adam is much more famous and universal reverence. Locals call it Sri Pada, which means "noble footprint." It is a place of pilgrimage for adherents of all major religions in the country.

Due to seasonal precipitation, Sri Lanka is geographically divided into wet and dry zones, the latter occupying about 3/4 of the country's area. The wet zone is located in the southwestern, western, central and southern parts of the island, and the dry zone, respectively, in the southeast, east and north. However, the term "dry" is very relative. During the monsoon season, there are also heavy rains here, only they do not go continuously, as in a humid zone. Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons. One lasts from May to November and covers mainly the western and southern regions (southwest monsoon)and the other, from November to January, affects the northern and eastern regions of the country (northeastern monsoon)... This means that the best time to relax on the popular southwestern beaches of Sri Lanka is from November to February, that is, when winter reigns in the Northern Hemisphere. But tourists should remember that, although they go to the tropics, almost to the very equator, in the mountainous regions of the center of the country it can be quite cold in the evening and at night, especially on the windswept Horton Plateau. On the northern coast of Sri Lanka, in the Jaffna region, there are several small islands. From the south, the endless expanses of the Indian Ocean open up: except for a few coral islets, there is no land to Antarctica itself.

The island state of Sri Lanka, which means "Blessed Land" in translation, is a real tourist paradise in the middle of the ocean.

Capital of Sri Lanka?

The official capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, where the Parliament and the Supreme Court are located.
The actual capital is Colombo. Colombo is the seat of the government and also the seat of the president.

Area: 65 610 km²

Population: 21 675 648 people

National composition?

The ethnic composition of Sri Lanka is multinational. Among the population of Sri Lanka you can find representatives of such nationalities as Sinhalese, Tamils, burghers (descendants of the Portuguese and Dutch) and Moors (descendants of Arab merchants).

Official language?

Sri Lanka is spoken mainly in Indo-Aryan, Dravidian and Austronesian languages. The official languages \u200b\u200bare Sinhalese and Tamil, English.

Currency?

The Sri Lankan rupee is the national currency of the state. It is equal to 100 cents. In circulation, there are banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rupees, and there are also coins in the country of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and 1,2.5 rupees. International credit cards are accepted for payment. When importing foreign currency into the country, the procedure for its declaration is mandatory.

Timezone?

The time zone in Sri Lanka is UTС + 05: 30. All Sri Lanka's territory belongs to the same time zone.

Climate?

The climate in Sri Lanka is tropical. The weather changes with the arrival of the monsoons.

	t ° C of air during the day	t ° C of air at night
September

All about food

Sri Lankan cuisine is rich in aromas and spices, much like Indian cuisine. Sri Lanka's cuisine still has its own characteristics that will undoubtedly attract many tourists. In the preparation of their dishes, they mainly use fish, tropical fruits, a lot of herbs and spices.

True gourmets simply need to try the national cuisine of this island:

Stringhoppers - a popular breakfast on the island that you must try, it will surprise you with its spiciness. This dish is a delicious vermicelli made from rice flour, various spicy mixtures are added that you should definitely try.

Hoppers is a unique breakfast dish. An unusually tasty cake in the center of which you can add various ingredients for every taste
Kokis (Kokis) is a popular dessert dish. Its taste is similar to marmalade, but outwardly it is very similar to brushwood
White rice with coconut milk - kiribat - deserves a special attention of real gourmets. Kiribat is extraordinarily tasty without additives, but a completely different taste will surprise you if you try it with spicy snacks, for example, with a chopped mixture of hot red pepper, onion, lemon and spices - kattasambola. With coconut flakes and palm "honey", the kiribat becomes sweet.
Arak - amazingly tasty palm vodka.

Top 5 restaurants where you can taste the national cuisine of the island:

DiyaSisila Restaurant (Elpitiya Road | Bentota - Adaganthota, Bentota 50800);
Malli "s Seafood Restaurant (Beach Road | Opposite of Hotel The Surf, Bentota 80500);
Sun & Sea Restaurant (| Robolgoda, Bentota 80500);
Awanhala Beach Restaurant (Galle Road | Near the Railway Cross, Bentota 80500);
Bentota Rock Beach Restaurant (Aturuwella, Bentota 80500);

Top 5 restaurants where you can have a tasty and inexpensive snack:

Ocean View Restaurant (Robolgoda, Bentota, Bentota 80500);
Bamboo Shoot Restaurant (Yalegama Junction, Induruwa 12050);
Pub MachanBentota (357 Galle Road, Bentota 80500);
Barista Bentota (No 88 Welipenna Road, Aluthgama, Bentota., Bentota 80500);
The Red Fish - Sea Food Restaurant (200/1 Robolgoda, Galle Road, Bentota 80500);

Culture

Sri Lankans love to celebrate holidays, of which there are a great many in their calendar. The most important and revered holiday is the Ascension of the Holy Buddha tooth from the kandyan temple Dalada Maligawa... This celebration is celebrated at the same time as the festival Esala Perahera, where a colorful procession is arranged. During the procession, you can see torchbearers, beautifully painted temple elephants, dancers in national costumes and standard bearers. But this is only one of the mass of holidays in Sri Lanka. To enjoy the view and atmosphere of the holiday, it is worth visiting the Navam Perahera celebration, which is celebrated on the shores of the beautiful Lake Beira. Thousands of tourists gather for such a holiday and those wishing to participate in a colorful procession.
Festivals worth visiting include the New Year, which is celebrated on April 13-14, the Vel and Besak festivals in May, the Kataragama festival, which takes place in July or August, and the December Unduwap \u200b\u200bfestival. Almost all other holidays in Sri Lanka are celebrated in the same way as in other countries.
Every tourist visiting this country should know what not to do on the streets of Sri Lanka. Disrespect for the morals of the inhabitants of this island is considered to be photographing in front of the sacred statue of Buddha, i.e. do not turn your back on her. It is forbidden to photograph banks, strategic objects and government agencies. If you want to take a picture with a local resident, you need to ask him for permission so as not to bring the situation to conflict.

What to do with yourself?

Sri Lanka is a paradise for tourists with different preferences: it is perfectly suited for lovers of beach pleasures, connoisseurs of the ancient history of the island's culture.
Of course, Sri Lanka will become a favorite destination for surfers and divers. Hikkaduwa is famous for its steep waves, which are sure to be appreciated by true surfers. The resort is also popular with divers. Diving under the water, you can admire the wealth of the underwater world, as well as see the remains of a sunken ship.
Also at various resorts a variety of entertainment awaits: banana boating, water skiing, canoeing or scooter and much more.
Also, for those who want the wedding to be extraordinary and colorful, it is worth going to the Benton resort, where you can order an official marriage ceremony on the seashore or go through a Ceylon wedding ceremony.

How to visit Sri Lanka and not ride an elephant ?! The resorts offer many elephant entertainment: elephant trekking; drawing drawn by the trunk of an elephant; extraordinary massage.
Also for animal lovers there will be an opportunity to go on a yacht safari to watch whales and release newly born turtles into the sea.
Having visited Sri Lanka, you should definitely visit the famous Ayurvedic therapies, where you can enjoy traditional massage, meditation, yoga, various types of psychotherapy. Feel all the flavor and variety of the island.
And of course, a visit to Ceylon plantations, after which everyone will learn to distinguish the taste of green tea from white.
Rest in Sri Lanka gives health, beauty and great mood.

What is worth seeing?

Sri Lanka is rich in attractions. On the island, both architecture and history lovers and connoisseurs of tropical nature will find many interesting things for themselves.
Pilgrimage tours to Sri Lanka are interesting, since there are a lot of religious architectural monuments and monasteries in the country. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihard one of the most popular places where many tourists come, it is an unusually beautiful and largest temple on the island. Many believers believe that he consecrated this temple himself Buddha when I put it. Golden temple Dambulla, which houses the largest number of Buddha statues.
This amazing island is definitely worth it on your journey. see: the holy Adam's Peak (2243 meters), where, according to legends, a man's foot first stepped after paradise; visit the rock with the footprints of the Buddha; to see the unusually beautiful tree "Bo", under which the same Buddha once rested, to visit the ancient city of Anuradhapura, where there are numerous ancient monuments included in the UNESCO list. There are many different parks in the country where you can personally experience the whole flavor of the animal world. It is worth looking into the Royal Botanic Garden in Paradenia... The garden is well known all over the world for its rich plant collections. And be sure to take a walk through the wild jungle, where not only many wild monkeys live, but even leopards and cheetahs.

Visiting the country for tourists?

Before visiting the country, you should know that the rainy season begins in Sri Lanka in late spring and autumn. In summer, rain can be avoided in the eastern part of the island. If rest is not possible in winter, then, knowing this information, any tourist will know where it is better to go in the hot season. And it is better to visit the southern or western coast in the fall or winter.

Economic situation?

In the global economy, the island of Ceylon has been associated with the production of tea, rubber, cinnamon and the extraction of precious stones. The country is the 4th largest tea producer in the world. Sri Lanka exports tea, rubber, coconuts, graphite, sapphires, rubies and other precious stones. Agriculture provides 20% of exports, the main industry is textiles.

The political situation in the country?

The political situation in Sri Lanka is unstable. There are many servicemen on the streets, roadblocks have been set up, railway stations and bus stations have been fenced off. At the entrances there are military men who check the documents of all passengers. Some hotels, nat. parks and resort areas are protected by the national army.

What is the religious affiliation of the population?

The main religions are Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam. The main part of the inhabitants, Sinhalese, professes Buddhism. Most of the Tamil population is Hindu. The Malays and Moors adhere to the Muslim religion. 7.6% are burghers and part of the Tamil and Sinhalese population who are Christians.

Customs rules and regulations?

Import and export of any amount of foreign currency is allowed. Large amounts are subject to declaration. The import of the national currency of India and Pakistan is prohibited. The national currency of Sri Lanka (rupees) can be imported and exported from the country in a limited amount. At the entrance, a declaration of expensive items is required.

Allowed duty-free import of 2 bottles of wine and 1.5 liters of spirits. Duty free import - up to 200 cigarettes / 50 cigars / 250g of tobacco per person. Tobacco products that exceed the import norms are declared and taxed. Foreign currency: amounts over $ 15,000 must be declared. Amounts over $ 5,000 must also be declared if you intend to take them out on the return flight. The import of Indian and Pakistani currencies is prohibited. Allowed to import no more than 5,000 rupees. It is necessary to declare jewelry and jewelry, in order to avoid overlaps during export.
It is forbidden to import or export:
explosives, weapons, ammunition, piercing and cutting objects, drugs and psychotropic substances, pornography, materials that ridicule any faith.

Visa?

For short-term visits to Sri Lanka for tourist purposes, business travel or for transit through the country, you must obtain an Elastroniс Travel Authorization (ETA) - Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). For other purposes of the trip or for a long-term stay in the country, it is necessary to obtain other types of visas in advance.

Sights?

Adam's Peak
The most visited attraction in Sri Lanka, which is sacred to 4 world religions.
Sigiriya is a picturesque mountain where a city is built on top.
Mount Dambulla is a large religious complex located in the center of the island. This place is deeply appreciated by lovers of architecture and history, as there are unique cave temples, monasteries and other archaeological sites.
the city of Kandy - considered the cultural capital of the island nation, is located right in the middle of Sri Lanka and considered the cultural capital of the island nation.
The elephant nursery is home to kids left without parents or victims of poachers. Here the elephants are brought up, after some they are sent to zoos, while others are trained to work in Ceylon.
The tea industry did not grow tea in Ceylon until 1839. Only in 1839 did the British colonialists bring tea bush seeds to the island. The father of the Ceylon tea industry is James Taylor. For its exceptional characteristics, Ceylon tea is recognized as the best in the world and has maintained an excellent reputation for over a century. Tea harvesting takes place throughout the year.

Holidays and festivals?

The main holidays in Sri Lanka are February 4 and Independence Day. In addition, a number of Buddhist, Muslim and Christian holidays are celebrated. The days off, in addition to Saturday and Sunday, are the days of the full moon-Poya Day, which are intended for meditation.

What sights to visit first?

Pinnawela - the kingdom of the elephants
Pinnawala has a wonderful elephant nursery. That is why tourists are definitely taken here to get to know our smaller brothers. You can watch the life of elephants. Moreover, elephants here are of almost all ages: from four-month-old babies to adults, self-sufficient individuals.

Royal Botanic Gardens
While exploring Kandy, tourists should definitely look into Peradeniya. It is here that the best Royal Botanic Gardens in Asia are located.
Its beauty, like the skill of the designers, is impossible to convey in words.
Elephant nursery
Ceylon

The main tourist areas?

The main beach areas are: Marawila, Waikkal, Negombo, Mount Lavinia, Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruwella, Bentota, Induruwa, Kosgoda, Ahungalla, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unawatuna, Koggala, Weligama, Dikwella, Tangalle, Trugomrin-Hambaycomb.
The main excursion areas are Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Mount Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa.

Tip?

Tipping in Sri Lanka is considered optional, but desirable, and the coins left for the tea are considered ignorance, so it is better to leave a small bill. Only in expensive hotels and restaurants 10% service charge is already included in the bill. In cafes, tips are usually 10% of the bill. Taxi drivers, maids and porters will also not refuse a small sum that will express appreciation for the good service.

Currency exchange?

It is better to exchange money at Colombo airport. The receipt received from the official currency exchange should be kept until the end of the trip. In this case, when departing from Colombo, the tourist will have the opportunity to convert back unspent money at the airport bank at the rate of purchase. Money can also be exchanged at any hotel and bank. Banks are open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm from Monday to Friday.
Major hotels and shops accept international credit cards.

Opening hours of shops, bars, cafes, restaurants?

Shops in Sri Lanka work according to the following schedule: on weekdays from 10:00 to 20:00, on Saturdays - from 9:30 to 13:00, on Sunday - they have a rest. Many shops in resort areas are open much longer and are often open on weekends. Some shops, especially in the provinces, have their own opening hours. In most cases, bars and restaurants operate on their own schedule.

Popular resorts?

Colombo is one of the largest seaports in Central Asia. There are five-star hotels, high-rise buildings, numerous souvenir shops, street markets and all kinds of temples.
The South Shore of Negombo is a popular fishing spot for exotic fish.
Kalutara is a resort area in the south-west of the island, which is famous for its sports clubs.
Beruwela is located 56 km south of Colombo. Over the years, new hotels have appeared here, and the tourist infrastructure has been developed.
Bentota is a renowned resort with many hotels, a train station, a shopping mall, shops, cafes and an outdoor theater where masquerades and puppet shows are held.

Crime?

With crime in Sri Lanka, things are more favorable. There are very few serious crimes. Theft is the maximum that tourists can suffer from. Theft of personal belongings from rooms, pickpockets, thefts from safes in hotels do happen, so the necessary security measures should be taken. Robberies with the snatching of bags, phones, cameras are extremely rare.