Location
& Physical Features
Sri Lanka, an island in the Indian Ocean is located to the south of the
Indian subcontinent. It lies between 5O 55' and 9O 55' north of the equator
and between the eastern longitudes 79O 42' and 81O 52'. The total land
area is 65,610 sq. km. and is astonishingly varied. A length of 445 km.
and breadth of 225 km. encompasse beautiful tropical beaches, verdant
vegetation, ancient monuments and a thousand delights to please all tastes.
The relief features of the island consist of a mountainous mass somewhat
south of the centre, with height exceeding 2,500 metres, surrounded by
broad plains. Palm fringed beaches surround the island and the sea temperature
rarely falls below 27°C.
Climate
& Seasons
In the lowlands the climate is typically tropical with an average temperature
of 27°C in Colombo. In the higher elevations it can be quite cool
with temperatures going down to 16°C at an altitude of nearly 2,000
metres. Bright, sunny warm days are the rule and are common even during
the height of the monsoon - climatically Sri Lanka has no off season.
The south west monsoon brings rain mainly from May to July to the western,
southern and central regions of the island, while the north-east monsoon
rains occur in the northern and eastern regions in December and January.
Temperature
Chart
|
Place |
Jan-April |
May-August |
Sept-Dec |
|
Max. |
Min. |
Max. |
Min. |
Max. |
Min. |
|
Colombo |
30°C |
22°C |
30°C |
24°C |
29°C |
22°C |
|
Kandy |
31°C |
17°C |
29°C |
21°C |
28°C |
18°C |
|
Nuwara
Eliya |
21°C |
14°C |
18°C |
16°C |
18°C |
15°C |
|
Trincomalee |
32°C |
24°C |
33°C |
25°C |
33°C |
23°C |
History
Recent excavations show that even during the Neolithic Age, there were
food gatherers and rice cultivators in Sri Lanka. Very little is known
of this period; documented history began with the arrival of the Aryans
from North India. The Aryans introduced the use of iron and an advanced
form of agriculture and irrigation. They also introduced the art of government.
Of the Aryan settlements, Anuradhapura grew into a powerful kingdom under
the rule of king Pandukabhaya. According to traditional history he is
accepted as the founder of Anuradhapura.
During the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa, a descendent of Pandukabhaya,
Buddhism was introduced in 247 B.C. by Arahat Mahinda, the son of Emperor
Asoka of India. This is the most important event in Sri Lankan history
as it set the country on the road to cultural greatness. As a new civilisation
flourished Sri Lanka became rich and prosperous.
In the mid 2nd century
B.C. a large part of north Sri Lanka came under the rule of an invader
from South India. From the beginning of the Christian era and up to
the end of the 4th century A.D. Sri Lanka was governed by an unbroken
dynasty called Lambakarna, which paid great attention to the development
of irrigation. A great king of this dynasty, Mahasen (3rd century A.D.)
started the construction of large `tanks' or irrigation reservoirs.
Another great `tank' builder was Dhatusena, who was put to death by
his son Kasyapa who made Sigiriya a royal city with his fortress capital
on the summit of the rock.
As a result of invasions
from South India the kingdom of Anuradhapura fell by the end of the
10th century A.D. Vijayabahu 1 repulsed the invaders and established
his capital at Polonnaruwa in the 11th century A.D. Other great kings
of Polonnaruwa were Parakrama Bahu the Great and Nissanka Malla both
of whom adorned the city with numerous buildings of architectural beauty.
Invasion was intermittent
and the capital was moved constantly until the Portuguese arrived in
1505, when the chief city was established at Kotte, in the western lowlands.
The Portuguese came to trade in spices but stayed to rule until 1656
in the coastal regions, as did the Dutch thereafter. Dutch rule lasted
from 1656 to 1796, in which year they were displaced by the British.
During this period the highland Kingdom, with its capital in Kandy,
retained its independence despite repeated assaults by foreign powers
who ruled the
rest of the country. In 1815 the kingdom of Kandy was ceded to the British
and thus they established their rule over the whole island. Modern communications,
western medical services, education in English, as well as the plantation
industry (first coffee then tea, rubber and coconut) developed during
British rule. By a process of peaceful, constitutional evolution, Sri
Lanka won back her independence in 1948 and is now a sovereign republic,
with membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations
Organisation.
Economy
Sri Lanka is mainly an agricultural country. The chief crop is rice with
which the country is almost self sufficient. Tea, rubber and coconut are
also important agricultural crops, with tea being a major foreign exchange
earner. In addition, other crops of importance are cocoa and spices such
as cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, pepper and cloves. Fruit and vegetables,
native to both tropical and temperate regions, grow well in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is also a major exporter of precious and semi-precious stones.
Within the last few years remittances from Sri Lankans employed abroad
have contributed a large share towards foreign exchange.
The last three decades
have seen tourism emerge as an important industry. There has also been
a rapid growth in manufacturing industries which offer a wide range
of export goods such as petroleum products, leather goods, ready made
garments and electronic equipment.
Demography
Sri Lanka has a population of 18.5 million of whom the majority are
Sinhalese (74%). Other ethnic groups are made up of Sri Lankan Tamils
(12.6%), Indian Tamils (5.5%), Moors, Malays, Burghers (of Portuguese
& Dutch descent) and others (7.9%).
Although Sri Lanka
is a multi-religious country, Buddhists constitute the majority with
69.3%. Other religious groups are Hindus 15.5%, Muslims 7.6% and Christians
7.5%. Sri Lanka's literacy rate of 88.6% is one of the highest in Asia.
Language
& Religion
Sinhala and Tamil are official languages in Sri Lanka. Sinhala, a language
of Indo-Aryan origin is the language of the majority. English is widely
spoken and understood. Place names and sign-boards on buses and trains
are usually in all three languages. Sri Lanka is a land of religious
freedom and tolerance. Wherever you travel you will come across a Buddhist
Temple or Dagaba, a Hindu Kovil, a Christian Church or a Mosque, each
with its own distinctive architecture. When visiting holy places please
conform to the requirements as regards dress in order not to show disrespect.
Buddhism is the
main religion of Sri Lanka where it was officially introduced in the
third century B.C. during the reign of King Devanam Piyatissa by Venerable
Mahinda who was son of Emperor Asoka of India. No sooner than it was
introduced here the new teaching caught up with the inhabitants of the
country so rapidly that within a few months’ time the entire country
became Buddhist. In Sri Lanka it has found its most congenial permanent
home.
Buddhism is the
practical system of psychological and philosophical ethics taught to
humanity by the Indian prince Siddhartha Gauthama in the 6th century
B.C. He was born on the full – moon day of May in the year 623
B.C. as the son of Suddhodana, a provincial ruler of the kingdom of
Kapilavastu in Central India. His teaching has today become a world
religion providing inspiration and guidance to nearly one fourth of
the world’s population.
He lived the house
– hold life for twenty-nine years, the last thirteen years of which
constituted his married life with princes Yasodhara. As a royal prince
born with the silver spoon in the month he led a luxurious life. However,
he had been a very contemplative person from his young days and this
nature of his did not make him happy amidst his royal luxury. To him
such enjoyment did not make any appeal because he saw that it was fleeting
and temporary and as such, in the ultimate analysis, life is painful.
All so-called pleasures are delusive. Amidst comfort and prosperity
he realized the university of sorrow inherent in human existence.
Despite all the
efforts of man to achieve happiness in this world, human suffering stares
in the face of all living beings. Search after worldly pleasures available
to him and donning the simple garb of an ascetic, alone and penniless,
he wandered forth from home to homelessness in search of Truth and Peace,
which to him appeared as an attainable objective.
Initially, he went
to all the distinguished teachers at the time all of whom failed to
meet his demands. He was determined to find it for himself. This was
followed by six years of painful austerities which too proved futile.
However, by directing the searchlight inward, followed by a severe mental
and an emotional struggle, he ultimately achieved his cherished goal
on the full moon day of May 588 B.C. under the Bodhi Tree at Buddhagaya
in India.
(Associate
Editor Buddhist Publication Society)
Government
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a free, independent
and sovereign nation. A system of administration through provincial
councils was introduced in 1988. Legislative power is exercised by Parliament,
elected by universal franchise on a proportional representation basis.
Executive power of the people, including defence, is exercised by the
President, who is also elected by the people. |
