Located south of the Hindustan Peninsula between 5 "54" and 9 "52" north latitude, 800 km. from the equator. The northern and central parts of the island are in the subequatorial, and the southern part in the equatorial zones. The total area of \u200b\u200b65,610 sq. Km, length from north to south 445 km, and from west to east 225 km. According to geologists, the island repeatedly rose from the water and sank again. Over the centuries, displacement of geological strata formed hills, mountains and gorges. The main part of the island is occupied by a plain, the height of which rarely exceeds 100 m above sea level.

The central mountain range is located in the center of the island. The average height of the mountains is 1000-2000 m above sea level, but individual peaks rise higher. The highest point of the island - Mount Pidurutalagala - has a height of 2524 m., Then Kirigalpotta - 2395 m., Totopolakanda - 2357 m. However, the most famous is the majestic Adam peak (Sri Pada) - 2243 m.
   Many Sri Lanka rivers flow from these mountains. The largest Mahaweli Ganga River (335 km.) Originates near Adam's Peak and flows into the Indian Ocean in the east of Sri Lanka near Trincomalee. Other rivers of Malvanuna Oia - 164 km, Kelani Ganga - 145 km. The only river that does not start in the mountains, Kala Oya - 148 km, flows from the ancient giant reservoir Kalaveva, built in the 5th century AD. Many rivers are navigable. Where there are mountains and rivers, there are also waterfalls. The 212 meter Cosland Bride Vale, "Bride's Veil" is one of the tallest single-stream waterfalls in the world. Babarakanda Waterfall - 241 m. The highest cascade on the island.

The east coast of Sri Lanka is hundreds of kilometers of continuous snow-white beaches, a transparent turquoise ocean, coral reefs and a huge variety in the plant world. In the northeast, 6-12 km. from Trincomalee Bay, a number of cozy hotels are located - Trinco Blu by Cinnamon, Nilaveli Beach Hotel, Anilana Nilaveli, Pigeon Island Beach Resort from which you can visit unique places for diving and snorkeling, daily excursions to the coral island are organized. 14% of the island is occupied by national parks, reserves and reservations. The largest of them are Yala National Park (309 km. From Colombo), Udavalave National Park (170 km. From Colombo), Vasgamuva National Park (200 km. From Colombo), Vilpatu National Park (176 km. From Colombo) and National Bundal Park (260 km. From Colombo).

The southwestern coast of Sri Lanka is continuous golden beaches, hotels and small towns - such as Negombo, Marawila, Mount Lavinia, Wadduva, Kalutara, Beruwela, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Tangalle. The atmosphere of the resort reigns throughout - the blue ocean, golden sand, coconut palms, chic and affordable hotels. The capital of Sri Lanka is the city

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

The capital of Sri Lanka?

The official capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, where the parliament and supreme court are located.
The actual capital is Colombo. Colombo is the seat of government, and here is the residence of the president.

Area: 65,610 km²

Population: 21,675,648

National composition?

The ethnic composition of Sri Lanka is multinational. Among the population of Sri Lanka, you can meet 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 the Indo-Aryan, Dravidian and Austronesian languages. The official languages \u200b\u200bare Sinhala and Tamil, English.

Currency?

Lankan rupee is the national currency of the state. It is equal to 100 cents. Banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rupees are in circulation, there are also coins in the country of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and 1.2.5 rupees. We accept international credit cards. When importing foreign currency into the country, the procedure for its declaration is mandatory.

Timezone?

Time zone in Sri Lanka UTC + 05: 30. The entire territory of Sri Lanka is in one time zone.

Climate?

The climate in Sri Lanka is tropical. The weather changes with the advent of the monsoon.

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

All about food

The cuisine of Sri Lanka is rich in aromas and spices, in many ways similar to the cuisine of India. The cuisine of Sri Lanka still has its own characteristics, which will undoubtedly attract many tourists. In the preparation of their dishes mainly use fish, tropical fruits, a lot of herbs and spices.

Real gourmets just 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 pungency. This dish is a delicious vermicelli, which is prepared from rice flour, add various spicy mixtures, which you should definitely try.

Hoppers  is a unique breakfast dish. Extraordinarily delicious tortilla in the center of which you can add various ingredients for every taste
Kokis  (Kokis) is a popular dessert dish. It tastes like marmalade, but looks very similar to brushwood.
  . Special attention of real gourmets deserves white rice in coconut milk - Kiribat. Kiribat is unusually tasty without additives, but a completely different taste will surprise you if you try it with hot appetizers, for example, with a crushed mixture of hot red pepper, onion, lemon and spices - cattasambol. With coconut flakes and palm honey, Kiribat becomes sweet.
Arak  - amazingly delicious palm vodka.

Top 5 restaurants where you can try 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 meal:

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

Residents of Sri Lanka love to celebrate the holidays, which in their calendar is a great many. The most important and revered holiday is the Ascension of the Sacred Buddha's Tooth from the kandy temple DaladaMaligawa. This celebration is celebrated at the same time as the festival. EsalaPeraheraon which a colorful procession is arranged. At 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 attending the Navam Perahera celebration, which is celebrated on the shores of beautiful Beira Lake. Thousands of tourists and those who wish to participate in a colorful procession gather for such a holiday.
The holidays that are worth visiting include the New Year, which is celebrated on April 13-14, May festivals Vel and Besak, the Kataragama festival, which is held in July or August, as well as the December festival of Unduvap. 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 should not be done on the streets of Sri Lanka. Disrespect for the customs of the inhabitants of this island is considered photographing against the backdrop of the sacred statue of Buddha, i.e. don't turn your back on her. It is forbidden to photograph banks, strategic facilities 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 the best suited for lovers of beach pleasures, lovers of the ancient history of the island's culture.
  Of course, Sri Lanka will become a favorite place for fans of surfing and diving. Hikkaduwa Resort is famous for its steep waves, which must be appreciated by true surf lovers. The same resort is also popular among divers. Diving under water, you can admire the wealth of the underwater world, as well as see the remains of a sunken ship.
  Also, various resorts expect a variety of entertainment:   riding a banana, water skiing, canoeing or scooter and much more.
Also, for those who want the wedding to be extraordinary and colorful, it’s worth going to the resort of Benton, where you can order an official marriage ceremony on the seashore or undergo a wedding Ceylon rite.

How to visit Sri Lanka and not ride elephants ?! The resorts offer a lot of entertainment with an elephant: elephant riding; drawing drawn by the trunk of an elephant; extraordinary massage.
Also, for animal lovers there will be the opportunity to go on yachts to a sea safari to observe whales and release the recently born turtles into the sea.
  Having been to Sri Lanka you should definitely visit the famous Ayurvedic therapies, where you can enjoy traditional massage, meditation, yoga, various types of psychotherapy. Feel the whole flavor and diversity of the island.
  And of course, a visit to Ceylon plantations, after which everyone learns to taste green tea from white tea.
  Rest in Sri Lanka gives health, beauty and good mood.

What is worth seeing?

Sri Lanka is rich in attractions. On the island, a lot of interesting things will be found for both lovers of architecture and history, and lovers of tropical nature.
  Pilgrimage tours to Sri Lanka are interesting, as there are a lot of religious monuments of architecture, monasteries in the country. Kelania Raja Mah Wichard  one of the most popular places where many tourists come together, it is an unusually beautiful and largest temple on the island. Many believers believe that this temple was sanctified by himself Buddha  when put it. Golden Temple Dambullawhich contains the largest number of Buddha statues.
In this journey, this amazing island is definitely worth look: the holy Peak of Adam (2243 meters), where, according to legends, the man’s foot first stepped after paradise; visit the rock with footprints of Buddha; to see the unusually beautiful tree “Bo”, under which the same Buddha once rested, to visit the ancient city of Anuradhapur, where there are numerous ancient monuments listed by UNESCO. The country has many diverse parks where you can personally experience the full flavor of the animal world. You should look into the Royal Botanical Garden in Parade. The garden is well known throughout the world for its rich collections of plants. And be sure to stroll through the wild jungle, where not only many wild monkeys live, but even leopards and cheetahs.

Tourists visiting the country?

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

Economic situation?

In the global economy, the island of Ceylon was associated with the production of tea, rubber, cinnamon and the extraction of precious stones. The country is in 4th place in the world for the production of tea. 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 military personnel on the streets, roadblocks have been established, railway stations and bus stations have been fenced. At the entrances are the military, who check the documents of all passengers. Some hotels, nat. parks and resort areas are guarded by the national army.

Religious affiliation of the population?

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

Customs regulations?

Allowed the import and export of any amount of foreign currency. 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 volume. Upon entry, a declaration of expensive items is required.

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

Visa?

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

Sights?

Adam's Peak
The most visited attraction of 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. Lovers of architecture and history deeply appreciate this place, since 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 considered the cultural capital of the island nation.
The elephant nursery is home to kids left without parents or affected by poachers. Here elephants are brought up, after some they are distributed in zoos, and others are trained to work in Ceylon.
The tea industry until 1839 did not grow tea in Ceylon. Only in 1839, the British colonialists brought tea bush seeds to the island. The father of the Ceylon tea industry is James Taylor. By its exceptional characteristics, Ceylon tea is recognized as the best in the world and has maintained an excellent reputation for over a century. Tea is harvested throughout the year.

Holidays and festivals?

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

Attractions to visit first?

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

Royal Botanic Garden
  When exploring Kandy, tourists should definitely look into Peradeniya. It is here that the best Royal Botanic Garden in Asia is located.
Its beauty, as well as the skill of designers, cannot be expressed in words.
Elephant nursery
Ceylon island

The main areas of tourism?

The main beach areas: Marawila, Waikkal, Negombo, Mount Lavinia Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruvella, Bentota, Induruwa, Kosgoda, Ahungalla, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unawatuna, Koggala, Weligama, Dickwella, Tangalle, Hambantota, Trincomalee, Arugam Bay.
The main excursion areas: Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Mount Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa.

Tip?

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

Currency exchange?

It is better to exchange money at Colombo airport. The check received at the official currency exchange should be kept until the end of the trip. In this case, when leaving 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 to 13:00 from Monday to Friday.
Large 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 relax. Many shops in resort areas work much longer, often they are open even on weekends. Some stores, especially in the provinces, have their own work schedules. In most cases, bars and restaurants operate on their own schedule.

Popular resorts?

Colombo is one of the largest seaports in Central Asia. Here are five-star hotels, high-rise buildings, numerous souvenir shops, street markets and all kinds of temples.
The south coast 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 tourist infrastructure has been developed.
Bentota is a famous resort, where there are many hotels, a railway station, a shopping center, shops, a cafe and an open-air theater, where masquerades and puppet shows are held.

Crime?

With crime in Sri Lanka, the situation is more favorable. There are very few serious crimes. Theft is the maximum that tourists can suffer from. Theft of personal belongings from rooms, pickpocketing, theft from safes in hotels happen, so the necessary security measures should be taken. It is extremely rare that robberies occur when pulling out bags, telephones, and cameras.

Sri Lanka is located in South Asia and is an island. The island of Sri Lanka is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean and its Bay of Bengal. It is separated from Hindustan by the Manarsky Gulf and the Strait of Polk 50 km wide. T.N. The Adam bridge - a chain of islands in the Strait of Polk - once completely connected Sri Lanka with the mainland, but, according to chronicles, it was destroyed by an earthquake around 1481. The island is 350 km long, 180 km wide in its widest part, and it is the same size as Tasmania or Ireland.

The state of Sri Lanka is located between 5`54` and 9`52` north latitude, 800 km. from the equator. The northern and central parts of the island are in the subequatorial, and the southern part in the equatorial zones. The total area of \u200b\u200b65,610 sq. Km, length from north to south 445 km, and from west to east 225 km. According to geologists, the island repeatedly rose from the water and plunged again. Over the centuries, displacement of geological strata formed hills, mountains and gorges. The main part of the island is occupied by a plain, the height of which rarely exceeds 100 m above sea level.

In fact, the capital is Colombo (the seat of the government and the main institutions of the country are located here), the suburb of Colombo Sri Jaya-Vardenapura (Jayavardenapura-Kotte), where the country's legislative bodies and several administrative organizations are located, is considered official.

Sri Lanka Relief

The central mountain range is located in the center of the island. The average height of the mountains is 1000-2000 m above sea level, but individual peaks rise higher. The highest point of the island - Mount Pidurutalagala - has a height of 2524 m., Then Kirigalpotta - 2395 m., Totopolakanda - 2357 m. However, the most famous is the majestic Adam peak (Sri Pada) - 2243 m.

Many Sri Lanka rivers flow from these mountains. The largest river of the Mahaweli Ganga (335 km.) Originates near Adam's Peak and flows into the Indian Ocean in the east of Sri Lanka near Trincomalee. Other rivers of Malvanuna Oia - 164 km, Kelani Ganga - 145 km. The only river that does not start in the mountains, Kala Oya - 148 km, flows from the ancient giant Kalaveva reservoir, built in the 5th century AD. Many rivers are navigable. Where there are mountains and rivers, there are also waterfalls. The 212 meter Cosland Bride Vale, "Bride's Veil" is one of the tallest single-stream waterfalls in the world. Babarakanda Waterfall - 241 m. The highest cascade on the island.

The east coast of Sri Lanka is hundreds of kilometers of continuous snow-white beaches, a transparent turquoise ocean, coral reefs and a huge variety in the plant world. In the northeast, 6-12 km. from Trincomalee Bay, there are two cozy hotels - Club Oceanic and Nilaveli Beach Hotel, from which you can visit unique diving and snorkeling sites, daily excursions to the coral island of Pigeon are organized. 14% of the island is occupied by national parks, reserves and reservations. The largest of them are Yala National Park (309 km. From Colombo), Udavalave National Park (170 km. From Colombo), Vasgamuva National Park (200 km. From Colombo), Vilpatu National Park (176 km. From Colombo) and National Bundal Park (260 km. From Colombo).

The southwestern coast of Sri Lanka is continuous golden beaches, hotels and small towns - such as Negombo, Marawila, Mount Lavinia, Wadduva, Kalutara, Beruwela, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle. The atmosphere of the resort reigns throughout - the blue ocean, golden sand, coconut palms, chic and affordable hotels. The capital of Sri Lanka is the city of Colombo, located in the western part of the island, on the ocean.

Sri Lanka Minerals

The ancient Precambrian shield, lying at the base of the Deccan Plateau of Hindustan, continues in the bowels of Sri Lanka. Among its crystalline rocks, many minerals occur. The most famous deposits of high-quality crystalline graphite, the reserves of which Sri Lanka is the first in the world.

Deposits of phosphorites and mica are being developed. In some coastal areas, large expanses are occupied by black monazite sands containing rare and radioactive elements. Local people use laterite for building houses, which is formed by weathering crystalline rocks containing aluminum and iron compounds (the latter give the laterites a brick-red color). Laterite is easily cut into bricks, which quickly become hard in the air.

Sri Lanka is famous for precious stones: rubies, sapphires, topazes, amethysts. As the ancient Mahavamsa Chronicle testifies, many kings and sultans in other countries adorned their crowns with these stones mined on the island. The centuries-old predatory exploitation has led to the depletion of rich deposits, but the extraction of precious stones still continues.

The country is searching for oil, in the 1970s, Soviet geologists took part in them. According to experts, offshore Sri Lanka has promising oil sedimentary structures. Offshore exploration work has begun in the 1980s, for which the Sri Lankan State Oil Corporation has entered into long-term contracts with companies in the United States and Canada. There is an agreement with the Indian Oil and Natural Gas Commission on joint exploration.

Inland waters of Sri Lanka

Plain rivers are short, mountain rivers have great hydropower potential. The water in most rivers is warm. The largest rivers are Mahaweli-Ganga, Kelani, Kalu, Aruvi-Aru.

Mahaweli Ganga is the largest river in Sri Lanka. Length 335 km. It originates in the central province. Its pool is the largest in the country, and covers almost one fifth of the total area of \u200b\u200bthe island. The river reaches the Bay of Bengal in the northwestern part of the island. On the river, 6 hydroelectric dams were built.

Climate Sri Lanka

The climate in Sri Lanka is subequatorial and equatorial monsoon, greatly complicated by the relief and general orientation of the island from north to south. The average annual temperature in the plains is about + 29-31 ° С (seasonal fluctuations are insignificant), in the mountainous part - from + 16 ° С to + 24 ° С. The temperature of sea water all year round above + 25 ° C.

Humidity is high and almost constantly keeps above 75%. Precipitation falls from 1000 (northern and eastern regions) to 5000 (southwest coast) mm per year. The rainy season falls from May to September (southwest monsoon) and from October to April (northeast monsoon), but in different parts of the island these periods often have different time frames.

Flora and fauna of Sri Lanka

The nature of Sri Lanka includes many unique species and is considered one of the most biologically diverse regions of the world. The endemic level of animals and plants of Sri Lanka is 16% of the entire fauna and 23% of the flower flora. The flora of Sri Lanka is diverse and has a high degree of endemism. It includes 3,210 species of flowering plants from 1,052 genera. 916 species and 18 genera are endemic to the island. There are 8 types of forests in Sri Lanka.

In the southwest, at the foot of the mountains and on their slopes, in some places dense moist equatorial forests with a huge variety of vegetation types (ebony, teak, silk tree, fruit trees) have been preserved. Thorny shrubs grow along the northwestern and southeastern coasts, sometimes mangrove forests and coconut palms are found.

Fauna. Sri Lanka has 91 species, 41 of which are endangered (9 in critical condition). 16 species of the island's endemic, 14 of which are endangered, including the bear Gubach (Melursus ursinus), the endemic Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) and the Sri Laknian elephant (Elephas maximus maximus), as well as the Indian zambar deer (Cervus unicolor). Among the 11 orders of the largest species accounted for the order Batwing (30 species). In the marine waters surrounding Sri Lanka, 26 species of Cetacean order are found.

Sri Lanka inhabits: 227 bird species (up to 486 species were previously noted), 46 of which are endangered (10 in critical condition); 171 species of reptiles live in Sri Lanka, 56 of them are endangered and 101 species endemic to the island (these are mainly snakes). And the largest species are represented by two crocodiles: Swamp crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) and Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).

Sri Lanka is one of the most diverse in the world in terms of species regions for the amphibian class. Here 106 species of amphibians live, 90 of which are endemic to the island and this is the highest species density for amphibians in the world. 52 species are threatened with extinction, almost all of them (except one) are endemic.

82 species of freshwater fish are found in Sri Lanka, of which 28 are endangered. Butterflies are represented on the island by 245 species, of which 23 are endemic and are not found anywhere else. 76 species are endangered, especially the species Pachliopta jophon.

Sri Lanka population

The population is 21.3 million (as of July 2009). Annual growth - 0.9%. Fertility - 16.2 per 1000 (fertility - 1.99 births per woman); Mortality - 6.1 per 1000; Emigration - 1.1 per 1000; Infant mortality - 18.5 per 1000; The average life expectancy is 73 years for men, 77 years for women.

Singals make up about 75%, Tamils \u200b\u200b- about 18% of the population, mainly in the northern and eastern regions. There are also Sri Lankan moors (Laracalla, descendants of Arabs) - about 7%, burghers (descendants from mixed marriages with Europeans) - about 0.3%, Veddas (descendants of the oldest population of the island) - about 1 thousand people.

About 70% of the population (mainly Sinhala) profess Buddhism, 15% - Hinduism (Tamils), 8% - Christianity, 7% - Islam (Sri Lankan Moors). Literacy - 92% of men, 89% of women (according to the 2001 census).

The official languages \u200b\u200bare Sinhala and Tamil, and English is widely spoken. The ethnicity of the population mainly corresponds to the religious affiliation of the population: Buddhism professes about 70% (mainly Sinhalese), Hinduism - more than 17% (mainly Tamils), Islam and Christianity - about 8% each (Moors, burghers, etc.) . Largest cities: Colombo, Moratuva, Halle, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Kandy.

Source - http://travellanka.ru/geografia.html
http://ru.wikipedia.org/
http://www.shri-lank.ru/

The official name is the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajawadi Janarajaya). It is located in the southern part of Asia, on the island of the same name in the Indian Ocean, southeast of the Indian subcontinent. An area of \u200b\u200b65,610 km2, a population of 19.58 million people. (2002). The official languages \u200b\u200bare Sinhala and Tamil; English is the language of international communication. The capital is the city of Colombo (642 thousand people, 2001). The administrative capital is Sri Jaevardenepura Kote (seat of parliament). Public holiday - Independence Day February 4 (since 1948). The monetary unit is the rupee.

Member of the British Commonwealth of Nations (since 1948), WTO (since 1948), UN (since 1955), SAARC (since 1985), etc.

Sri Lanka Attractions

Geography of sri lanka

It is located between 79 ° 50 ’and 82 ° 00’ East and 6 ° 00 ’and 9 ° 50’ North. It is washed by the Indian Ocean. The coastline is 1340 km long. OK. 80% of the territory is occupied by low and in places hilly plains (30-200 m above sea level). In the central and southern parts - stepped highlands. The average height of the mountains is 1000-2000 m above sea level. The highest point of the island is Mount Pidurutalagala (2524 m).

The main minerals are: limestone, graphite, precious and semiprecious stones, coastal “black” sands (with ilmenite, rutile, zircon and monazite), phosphates, kaolin and other clays. Soils are red earth and lateritic; along river valleys and along coasts there are stripes of alluvial soils.

The climate is tropical monsoon. The average annual temperature in the country is + 27 ° C. Temperature changes during the year are insignificant. The two main monsoon periods are summer and winter. On the southwestern slopes of the highlands, from 2500 to 5000 mm of precipitation falls annually, on the southeastern slopes from 1200 to 2000 mm. Rivers begin on the central highlands. The longest are Mahaweli Ganga (335 km) and Aruvi Aru (170 km).

OK. 1/3 of the territory is covered by forests. Natural forests of the wet zone were preserved only in the interior of the southwest. In the north and east are secondary deciduous forests. Fauna of the Indomalayan type, mixed with Madagascar species.

Sri Lanka population

Natural population growth in 1991-2002 decreased from 1.5 to 0.85%. The birth rate has fallen sharply (16.4%). Mortality 6.5 ‰, infant mortality 15.7 people. for 1000 newborns. Life expectancy is 72.4 years. Due to the civil war, the negative migration balance (more than 200 thousand Tamils \u200b\u200bwent to Western countries, more than 100 thousand to India).

Women make up 50.8% of the population. The proportion of young people (under 15 years of age) is 25.6%. The urban population is 22.8% (2000). Among the population over 15 years old, literally St. 91.6% (2000).

74% of the population are Sinhalese, 18% are Tamils. Sinhalese speakers who speak Sinhala (belong to the Indo-Aryan group of Indo-European languages) populate the western, central and southern regions of the country, and Tamils \u200b\u200bwho speak the Ceylon dialect of the Tamil language (belongs to the southern group of Dravidian languages), inhabit the northern and eastern regions (a small part “Indian” Tamils \u200b\u200blive in central areas). OK. 7% of the population are so-called. Ceylon Moors (Muslims who claim to be of Arab origin, but who are apparently from South India). There are also burghers (descendants of Dutch settlers), Malays and other ethnic groups. The most ancient people are extremely small Veddas.

OK. 70% of the population (Sinhala) are Buddhists, 15% (Tamils) are Hindus, 8% (burghers, some Tamils, etc.) are Christians, 7% (Moors, Malays) are Muslims (2000).

Sri Lanka History

The most ancient people were hunting tribes, the ancestors of the Veddas. The first Indo-Aryans appeared in the north of the island in the 5th century. BC. The city of Anuradhapura was founded, which later became the capital of the first major Sinhala state association. The key role in these processes was played by King Devanampia Tissa (250-207 BC). Anuradhapura sought to extend its power to the entire island.

In the 9th century the Buddhist state was attacked by Pandyev in the 10th century. - Cholov, who for 75 years turned the island into their province, the capital of which became Polonnaruwa. Chola was driven out (1070) by King Vijayabahu I, who ruled until 1110. Economic prosperity in the 2nd floor. 12 century It was replaced by constant feuds in the 13th century. and the raids of the conquerors from India. The relocation of the Sinhals to the central and southwestern regions of the island began. In the north appeared the Tamil state - Jaffna. In the 15th century King Parakramabahu VI (1412-67) reunited the island, but after his death the country plunged into the abyss of strife.

To the beginning 16 century refers to the penetration of Portugal in the 17th century. only the territory of the kingdom of Kandy remained uncontrollable to her. In 1658, the Dutch defeated the Portuguese after a twenty-year war, after which they began to gradually seize new territories, waging war against Kandy. The Dutch East India Company monopolized a range of goods. A reform of the law and the legal system was carried out.

In 1802, Ceylon became a colony of Great Britain. To the beginning 1830s British power was firmly established throughout the island. A plantation economy appeared, initially a coffee farm, which became a catalyst for economic development. The country's socio-economic development accelerated sharply, and capitalism began, albeit one-sided. In 1864, the first national socio-political organization, the Ceylon League, was established, which advocated the expansion of the participation of local residents in governing the country. In 1919, the first major political party appeared - the Ceylon National Congress. The 1931 Constitution, which provided for the creation of an elected parliament - the Council of State and the introduction of universal suffrage, led to the emergence of the rudiments of representative government in the country. At the same time, the country was turned into an agrarian appendage of the metropolis, and the living conditions of local residents worsened.

In accordance with the Ceylon Independence Act of 1947, elections were held in the country, in which the overwhelming majority of seats were won by the United National Party (ONP), created in 1946 from a number of organizations, including the Ceylon National Congress. The party leader D. S. Senanayake (1884-1952) was proclaimed prime minister. On February 4, 1948, a new Constitution entered into force, which granted Ceylon independence as a dominion.

The first government did not seek a radical liquidation of the colonial inheritance. In the field of foreign policy, it was largely oriented to the UK. In 1951, the center-left, led by Solomon Bandaranaike, left the ONP and created the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (PSL), which won the 1956 parliamentary elections. In 1958, agrarian reform began, the development of the public sector and industry, and important socio-economic reforms were carried out. A course was taken to strengthen relations with India, the establishment of diplomatic relations with the socialist countries, a policy of non-alignment was carried out (already in 1957 Great Britain was forced to close its military bases in Ceylon). In the areas of economy and culture, discriminatory measures against Tamils \u200b\u200bhave intensified. In September 1959, Bandaranaike was killed. His widow Sirimavo Bandaranaike (1916-2000) won the 1960 election and became the first woman in the world to lead the country. Sufficiently radical socio-economic transformations, including the nationalization of a number of objects owned by Western companies, an alliance with leftist forces led to a government crisis. In 1965, the ONP returned to power (in alliance with other parties), which failed to resolve complex economic problems. In 1970, S. Bandaranaike returned to power in alliance with the Communists and Socialists. In 1971, ultra-left forces raised an armed uprising, hardly suppressed by the authorities. In 1972, a new Constitution was adopted, according to which a republic was proclaimed. Many provisions on the protection of minority rights were lifted. The government failed to cope with inflation, rising unemployment and a deepening economic crisis. In 1977, the ONP led by J.R. Jayavardene. The course was pursued towards economic liberalization, partial denationalization, and the promotion of private and foreign capital. A pro-Western foreign policy course was conducted. In 1978, a new Constitution entered into force, introducing a presidential form of government. Jayavardene became the first president of the country. Re-elected in 1982.

Despite minor concessions to minorities, extremist and terrorist Tamil organizations appeared. In July 1983, the Sinhala-Tamil conflict escalated into a civil war, which by 2003 had claimed the lives of approx. 70 thousand people Failure ended with the deployment to the island of the Indian peacekeeping contingent (1987-90). At the hands of Tamil militants R. Gandhi and the president of Sri Lanka, Ranasinghe Premadasa, were killed.

In 1994, the 17-year stay of the ONP in power ended. PSPS leader Chandrika Kumaratunga became president. The post of prime minister was given to her mother, S. Bandaranaike. In the 2001 parliamentary elections, a victory was won by the ONP, led by the main political rival of President R. Wikremasinghe, who became prime minister. In February 2002, with the mediation of Norway, he signed a ceasefire agreement with leaders of Tamil militants.

Government and political system of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a free, sovereign, independent and democratic socialist republic, which is a unitary state.

It is administratively divided into 10 provinces: Central, North-Central, North-East, North-West, Sabaragamuva, South, Uva, Western, Northern and Eastern. The last two provinces were merged into the Northeast in 1988, but in 1993 the provinces were again separated de jure. Provinces are divided into 25 districts.

The largest cities (2001, thousand people): Colombo, Dehiwala (210), Moratuva (177), Negombo (122), Kotte (116), Jaffna (120, 1981), Kandy (110).

The form of government is the presidential republic. The supreme legislative body is the unicameral parliament (National State Assembly). 225 deputies are elected for 6 years. The head of state is the president, who, according to the Constitution, is also the head of the executive branch, the head of government, and the commander in chief of the Armed Forces. Has the right to dissolve the parliament, appoints the prime minister (with the approval of the parliament) and ministers from among the members of the parliament, determines their functions. The term of office of the president is 6 years. Can only be selected to this post twice. The head of the highest legislative body is the speaker, who chairs the parliament. His powers are very limited. The government (cabinet) is headed by the prime minister. There is a collective responsibility of the cabinet to parliament.

The right to vote is granted to all citizens who have reached the age of 18, who have not committed serious crimes and who have not been recognized as legally incompetent. The president and members of parliament are elected on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.

The province is headed by a governor appointed by the president for a term of 5 years. He has the right to dissolve the provincial council, which is elected by the population for 5 years. At the district level, there are development tips. A number of council members are appointed by the central government, and some are elected for a term of 4 years. Local governments are city councils and village committees.

Elements of a bipartisan system took shape, and for half a century all the main pre-election struggle took place between the ONP and the PSL (and their allies).

The main organization of business circles is the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, which is a member of the chambers of commerce and industry of the countries - members of the SAARC and the Asia-Pacific Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In 2000, there were 707 public organizations.

Sri Lanka is one of the organizers of the Non-Aligned Movement and a participant in all conferences of non-aligned countries. During the bipolar period, ONP governments maintained closer relations with Western countries, while PSPSL governments, while maintaining these ties, actively developed relations with the socialist camp. Of particular importance are neighboring countries. Since 1985, Sri Lanka has been actively involved in SAARC activities. A major role is played by economic relations with developed countries. After the outbreak of the Civil War, the main focus of foreign policy is the desire to stop supporting Tamil militants from the outside.

Armed forces (total number 125 thousand people) are staffed for hire. Consist of Ground Forces (approx. 90 thousand people), Air Force and Navy. Defense costs amounted to approx. 56 billion rupees (2001).

Sri Lanka has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in 1957).

Sri Lanka Economy

In 1997-2000, annual GDP growth rates were 5.3%, in 2001 1.4%, in 2002 4%. GDP is 16.2 billion US dollars (or 68 billion dollars according to the purchasing power of the currency), and per capita income is 3530 dollars (PPP). Sri Lanka's share in the global economy is small (0.15%).

In 2002, 5982.8 thousand people belonged to the economically active population. (the proportion of men is 68.3%). Unemployed 12.4% (approx. 750 thousand). The percentage of unemployment among women and youth is high. The exploitation of child labor continues. The number of people employed in the public sector is 910 thousand people. In 2001, inflation was 13%, in 2002 - 8.1%.

In 2002, manufacturing accounted for 18.1% of GDP, agriculture - 16.2%, transport and communications - 10.8%. In terms of employment, agriculture continues to occupy a major position (34% of the economically active population), 16.4% in manufacturing, and 12.7% in trade.

The main industries are agricultural processing, fabric and clothing production, cement production, oil refining, and the tobacco industry.

Agriculture of Sri Lanka throughout history has been associated with the cultivation of rice (harvest in 2001 - 2695 thousand tons). During British colonial rule, a special role was played by the plantation production of tea (295 thousand tons), coconuts (2905 thousand tons) and rubber (86 thousand tons). The area under crops does not increase. Animal husbandry is less developed, and fish catch (more than 300 thousand tons) amounted to 12.2% of all agricultural production (2002).

The length of roads (public) - St. 11.3 thousand km, railways - 1463 km, of which 1346 km are single-track (2000). More than 1.7 million cars are registered (2000). More than 43 million people were transported by rail, 1.2 million tons of cargo (2000). Ships transported more than 78 million tons of cargo. Main ports: Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee. 15 airports. International Airport - Katunayaka.

The main share in GDP is accounted for by trade, restaurant and hotel business (25.1%, 2002). In 2002, trade grew by 5.2%, banking, insurance and real estate 11%, private services 4.2%. The number of tourists has fallen (in 2001 - 336.8 thousand people). They left an amount in excess of $ 210 million in the country.

Since 1977, the introduction of market economy elements has begun in Sri Lanka, and local and foreign capital has been encouraged. Recently, the state has been reducing the cost of subsidies to the population and increasing the share of funds allocated for infrastructure investments. Foreign trade has been liberalized and export-oriented production has been encouraged. Free trade zones have been created. A partial denationalization program has been implemented. Private banks began to replace state ones. The most dynamically developing sectors of the economy were the food industry, the manufacture of textiles and clothing, telecommunications, insurance and banking.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka was established in 1950 and is a semi-autonomous entity. He is responsible for economic, financial and price stability, acts as an adviser to the government on economic issues, acts as his banker, provides funds to commercial banks, and establishes control over the exchange rate. It also plays the role of a development catalyst, including rural areas.

Private consumption accounts for 71% of GDP, government spending 13%. In 2001, 15.5%, 9.5%, and 16% of government spending fell on education, healthcare, and social security, respectively. The bulk of government revenue comes from income taxes — almost 70%, and the next most important source was taxes on production and expenses. Sri Lanka's external debt was estimated at $ 9.9 billion (2000). Debt servicing took 4.5% of GDP and 9.6% of exports.

In 2002, the incomes of the 10% highly profitable group of the population (38.6% of all incomes of the population) were 22.7 times higher than the incomes of the 10% of the low-income group (1.7%). The incomes of the population vary widely in terms of employment, gender, age and educational principles, among residents of rural and urban areas. Food expenses account for 43.8% of the total population expenditures, 15% is spent on housing, including utilities, and 7% on transport and communications. In 2000, 6.6% of the population had an income of less than $ 1 per day (in 1993 prices, based on PPP), 45.4% - less than $ 2. According to the national methodology, the share of the poor is 25%.

The volume of foreign trade is 905,848 million rupees (65% of GDP) (2001). Export is significantly inferior to import. The main export items are ready-made clothes (in 2001 - 49% of exports), tea and other agricultural products, precious stones. The main import items are textiles, engineering products, food products, oil. The main exporters to Sri Lanka are China, Japan, India and Singapore. The main importers from Sri Lanka are the USA and Great Britain.

Science and Culture of Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, incomplete secondary education is compulsory for children. In 2001, there were more than 4.3 million students, who accounted for more than 200 thousand teachers. There were 13 universities in which more than 48 thousand students studied. The largest universities in Peradeniya, Sri Jaewardenepura Kotte, Colombo.

Scientific activities are coordinated by the National Science Foundation under the Ministry of Economic Reforms, Science and Technology. There are many research institutes engaged in basic research, problems of agriculture, medicine. Important research centers are the universities of Sri Lanka.

Art in the classical period (3rd century BC - 12th century) developed primarily in the capitals Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Architecture and painting were primarily associated with Buddhism. Giant stupas with a height of more than 100 m, built in Anuradhapur in 3-5 centuries, are still preserved. The frescoes in Sigiriya depicting apsar (5 c) are famous. From the 8th century Buddhist temples become less monumental, gaining complete harmony in Polonnaruwa. The construction of giant Buddha statues continued. Many secular sculptural images, buildings of royal palaces, Hindu temples have been preserved. The most outstanding painting of the Middle Ages are wall paintings in the Jetavana monastery (Polonnaruwa, 12-13 centuries). With ser. 13 century the period of decline of culture begins. Religious revival caused the emergence of the Kandy style of painting (18-19 centuries). With con. 19 century professional easel art is emerging.

Since 1948, painting and architecture have been actively developing, combining national traditional and modern European cultures. Along with the preservation of folk theater, modern types of theatrical art appeared.

The most ancient works of literature - Deepavansa (4th century AD) and Mahavansa (5th century) - are written in Pali. Along with myths and legends contain historical facts. In the 5-6 centuries. enormous commentary literature appears on Pali. The most famous authors are Buddhaghoshi, author of the Visuddhimagga Encyclopedia of Buddhism; Buddhadatta, author of five canon manuals; Dhammapala. A new heyday of literature in Pali came in the 12th century.

The oldest literary works in Sinhala are dated 9-10 centuries. From this period, literature developed primarily in this language. The 13th century is considered the golden age. (“Sea of \u200b\u200bNectar” and “Lampada of Buddhist teachings” by Gurulugomi; “Sanctuary of the Buddha” by Vidyachakravarti and especially “Dharmasena's Garland of Gems of True Faith”). One of the best works of Sinhala poetry “The Pearl of Poetry” appeared, written by King Parakramabahu II (1236-70). Particularly significant work of the 14th century. is the "Ornament of True Religion" by Jayabahu Dharmakirti. From the 15th century the gradual decline of Sinhala prose begins, but poetry flourishes. They distinguish the “Diadem of Poetry" (1450) by Sri Rahul, the author and several other relatively secular poetic works; "The Poem of Guttil" by Vettev. From the beginning 17 century there is a decline in Sinhala poetry.

With con. 19 century the development of Sinhala non-religious prose begins (Vimala and the Love Letter by Albert Silva, Mina by Simon Silva). Martin Wickremasinghe (1891-1976), author of the famous trilogy The Changing Village, The Last Century, and The End of the Century, is recognized as the largest writer. Significant works were created by Gunedadas Amarasekar (“Reborn” and “Footless”), Edirivira Sarachandra (“Tired of Seeing No Way”, “Memorial Day of the Dead”), K. Jayatilleke (“Unpleasant Story”) and Siri Gunna-singhe (“Shadow” ").

With con. 19 century as an independent, Sri Lankan literature begins to develop in Tamil and English.

The 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 Manara Gulf and the Strait of Polk, between which is a chain of islands of the Adam Bridge. Area 65.6 thousand km2. The population of 20.482 million people (2004).

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

The political system of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is a unitary republic. Included in 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 Rajapaksa.

The legislature is a unicameral parliament (National State Assembly), elected for a term of six years.

Administrative division of Sri Lanka.

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

The population of Sri Lanka.

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

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

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

Largest cities: Colombo, Moratuva, Halle, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Kandy.

The climate of Sri Lanka.

The monsoon climate is subequatorial in the north and east, and equatorial in the south and west. The air temperature in 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 of Nuwara Eliya (1881 m above sea level), the average January temperature is +14 ° C, in May +17 ° C.

Most 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 winter northeastern monsoon, their annual amount decreases to 1000-2000 mm; dry season is observed within 8-9 months. The least rainfall (less than 1000 mm per year) is on the northwestern and southeastern coasts. In the spring and autumn, in many areas, heavy convective afternoon (so-called anti-aircraft) rains occur. Humidity is 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 lowland, often lagoon, bordered by coral reefs, slightly cut, with separate ingressive bays.

Over 80% of the territory is occupied by low-lying plains (100 m above sea level), above which separate rocky outcrops rise (up to 700 m high), often of bizarre shape (resembling either a huge animal, then a giant book, or the ruins of an ancient temple). In the central and southern parts of the island there is a stepped highland (average height 1000-2000 m) with leveled surfaces, dissected faults, and steep fault ledges. The upper tier of the highlands is formed by table surfaces and steep peaks - Pidurutalagala (2524 m), Adamov Peak (2243 m), and others. One of the faults consists of disparate links, generally having a meridional orientation; the other has an arched shape and latitudinal spread; 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 foundation of which is composed of gneisses, granite gneisses, scoops, amphibolites, crystalline schists, quartzites, marbles with intrusions of Upper Proterozoic granites (about 1 billion years ago), dikes of dolerites and pegmatites; carbonatites are known. Rocks of the foundation come 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 the Jurassic and Miocene ages. Along the coast of the Indian Ocean, coastal-marine Quaternary deposits (pebbles, gravel, sand, clay) are widespread. Laterite is developed on crystalline rocks.

The main minerals: graphite, precious and semiprecious stones (sapphire, ruby, aquamarine, topaz, moonstone, chrysoberyl, etc.), coastal-sea “black” sands with ilmenite and rutile, zircon and monazite; apatite, kaolin and other clays, limestone, feldspars, quartz sand.

Sri Lanka's river network is dense. Short full-flowing rivers (the largest - the Mahaweli River) begin on the Central Highlands and radially flow in all directions, forming waterfalls in the mountains. Kelani and Mahaoya flow to the west coast, Valave and Nilwala to the south, Gal and Jan to the east. Used for irrigation (mainly in the north and east); Numerous reservoirs built.

Soils are red earth and lateritic, along river valleys and along 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 places at their feet (44% of the whole country), moist equatorial forests (individual trees reach a height of 80 m) with a huge variety of species (palm trees, dipterocarpous, etc.) are preserved, forests are characterized by rich undergrowth, an abundance of mosses. The plains in the north and east of the island and the adjacent slopes of the highlands are covered with secondary deciduous forests (9-12 m high). The plateaus are occupied by wasteland-type wastes (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 along the coasts there are mangrove forests, coconut palms.

The fauna of the Indomalayan type, with an admixture of Madagascar species (lemurs). From mammals: elephant, sponge bear, leopard, lynx, 5 species of monkeys, deer, wild boars, wyverns. The abundance of birds (parrots, peacocks, flamingos, storks), many lizards, snakes, crocodiles. Various insects (butterflies, ants, termites, etc.). The number of large animals is steadily declining due to the expansion of agricultural land and deforestation.

National parks: Wilpattu, Yala (Ruhunu), Gal-Oya. Reserves: (Ritigala, Wasgomuva, Hakgala). Near Kandy - a large botanical garden 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 the foreign market. The role of the public sector is growing.

In agriculture, St. 70% of the economically active population. Processed over 1/3 of the territory. 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. Millet, corn, legumes, sweet potato, cassava, vegetables, spices (cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom) are also grown, from industrial crops - fiber and oilseeds, from fruit crops - bananas, pineapples. Livestock is poorly developed, cattle (including buffaloes) are mainly used as draft power. Elephants are also used as working animals. Fishing (including coastal).

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

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

The traditional manufacturing industries are tea, rubber processing, copra and coconut oil. Light (textile, shoe, paper, etc.) and food (sugar) industries are developed. Engineering, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, the production of building materials, the woodworking, and oil refining industries are developing. The main industrial center is the city of Colombo and its environs.

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

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

Export: tea, rubber, coconut products, ready-made clothes. Import: textile products, machinery and equipment, oil and oil products, wheat, sugar, fertilizers. The main foreign trade partners: Saudi Arabia, USA, Great Britain, India, Germany, Japan.

Near Colombo is the international airport in Katunayaka.
   Main ports: Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee.

The monetary unit is the rupee of Sri Lanka. 1 Sri Lankan rupee is equal to 100 cents.