Sri Lanka is an island country in the Indian Ocean south of the South Asian subcontinent, and it is a developing country in Asia. The plantation economy occupies an important place in the country, the country's industrial base is weak, and agricultural products and garment processing industries are the main industries of the country. The capital, Colombo, is the political, commercial and cultural center of Sri Lanka with a population of 1.1 million. Sri Lanka was the first South Asian country to implement economic liberalization policies. In 1978, the policy of economic opening up was implemented, vigorously attracting foreign investment, promoting privatization, and gradually forming a market economy pattern. In recent years, the Sri Lankan economy has maintained moderate growth. Since 2008, affected by the international financial crisis, Sri Lanka's foreign exchange reserves have been greatly reduced, and the income of major export commodities such as tea and rubber and short-term foreign investment have declined.
Capital of Sri Lanka: Colombo. Image source network
I. Introduction to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, known as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean south of the South Asian subcontinent. It is bordered by the Pauk Strait to the northwest from India. The country has a tropical monsoon climate, with summer all year round and no distinct four seasons. The terrain is high in the middle and the coastal plain in the surrounding area is low, and the agriculture, forestry, fishery and hydraulic resources are abundant. With a total area of 65,610 square kilometers, it is equivalent to the area of Ningxia Province in China, and the country is divided into 9 provinces and 25 districts, with the capital Colombo. As of 2022, Sri Lanka has a total population of 22.18 million, with the Sinhalese, Tamil and Moors being the three main ethnic groups, with 70.2% of the residents practicing Buddhism.
Map of Sri Lanka. Image source network
The plantation economy occupies an important place in the country, with the main crops being tea, rubber, coconut and rice. Sri Lanka has a weak industrial base, with agricultural products and garment processing being the country's main industries. In 2022, Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis in history swept the country, and the country's economy is slowly beginning to recover, but poverty and high debt still plague the country.
Sri Lanka is a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and a member of the Commonwealth, the G77, the Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations. Its capital, Colombo, is known as the "Crossroads of the East". In 2022, Sri Lanka's GDP was $77.1 billion, and GDP per capita: $3,474. Economic growth: –7.8%.
2. The history of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka dates back to the 5th century BC, when Aryan immigrants from North India established the Sinhalese dynasty.
In 247 BC, Ashoka of the Mauryan Dynasty of India sent his son to the island to promote Buddhism, which was welcomed by the local king and converted to Buddhism. Around the 2nd century BC, the Tamils of South India also began to migrate and settle in Ceylon.
From the 16th century, Sri Lanka was ruled by the Portuguese and then the Dutch. The Portuguese tried to control the country's trade after invading Sri Lanka, leading to rivalries with other European countries such as the Netherlands and Britain. Finally, the British took over Sri Lanka from the colonial rulers of India in 1815, which lasted until 1948.
On February 4, 1948, Sri Lanka officially declared its independence and became a Dominion of the British Commonwealth, named Ceylon.
After independence, Sri Lanka endured more than two decades of civil war waged by the Tamil minority, the Liberation Tigers, to fight for independence from the Sinhalese-dominated government. The civil war resulted in thousands of deaths and huge losses to the country, but ended in 2009 after government forces launched its last military strike against the Liberation Tigers.
At present, Sri Lanka has become a multi-ethnic, religious and cultural country, and the Government is rebuilding the country by improving economic and social development, while strengthening democracy and multicultural identity and tolerance.
World celebrities and key figures in Sri Lanka's history
1. Ranier Wickremesinghe is the current President of Sri Lanka, the son of Esmond Wickremesinghe, an adviser to the former President of Sri Lanka, and the grandnephew of former President Jayawadena. He graduated in law from the University of Colombo and was once the leader of the United National Party of Sri Lanka.
2. William Goberawa (1897-1981) was the last Governor of Ceylon and the first President of Sri Lanka. He studied law at the Maraja College in Kantida, St. Anthony's College, and the Ceylon Law School, where he received his J.D. degree. He was a lawyer to the Supreme Court in 1924, chairman of the Commission, and in 1961 ambassador to the United States, Cuba and Mexico. In 1962, he became Governor of Ceylon.
3. Koda Bandaranaike: He is an internationally renowned Sri Lankan-born novelist best known for his work Dark Night. Telling local stories from the 30s of the 20th century to the end of British India, the novel successfully incorporated Sri Lankan culture into it and brought a whole new reputation to the country's literature.
4. Eden Fernando: is a Sri Lankan footballer who has become an international football star for his outstanding performances in the football league. He played for Manchester City FC and helped England win the World Cup in 1966, one of the classic moments in history.
5. Ma'obe Ratna: He is a famous Sri Lankan musician, conductor and composer. He is known for his promotion and innovation of traditional Sri Lankan music and has released albums in several genres, including Sri Lankan classical, jazz and pop.
4. Sri Lanka's cultural characteristics and national specialties
1. Sri Lanka has a rich and diverse cultural heritage, including many religions and art forms such as Buddhism and Hinduism. Among them, Sri Lankan traditional dance is one of the most famous art forms, with unique dance moves, music and costumes. In addition, Sri Lanka is also a big tea growing country, and the Ceylon black tea produced is famous all over the world.
2. Sri Lanka is a multicultural country with a long history and deep cultural heritage. Important cities such as the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya have preserved many traditional architectural and historical cultural sites, which attract tourists from all over the world.
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Image source network
3. Sri Lanka is also a country rich in specialties. Due to climatic conditions, Sri Lanka produces many well-known specialties in the field of gastronomy and textiles, such as red curry, Nanban sugar, sapphire, ivory, etc.
4. Sri Lanka's Buddhist temples are regarded as one of the country's most precious historical and cultural heritages, attracting many stops. The famous Temple of the Relic, Thanksgiving Stupa, etc. are the most famous Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, showcasing the mysteries and uniqueness of the local religion, culture and art.
5. Famous tourist attractions in Sri Lanka
1. The Temple of the Tooth Relic is a famous Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka, which is located on the shores of Kandy Lake, also known as "Dalada Maligawa". It was founded in 1595 and is famous for enshrined the tooth relic of Shakyamuni, a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, and incense flourishes. The main hall is the Buddha Hall, the Drum Hall, the Long Hall, the Chanting Hall, the Great Treasure Trove, and the Inner Hall. At the core is the inner hall on the second floor, dedicated to the tooth tooth, a national treasure.
Temple of the Relic. Image source network
2. Fortress area refers to the military organization established in key coastal defense areas. Generally, there are garrison troops and detachments. In accordance with the operational requirements, permanent fortifications are built in the defense zone, equipped with strong firepower, and sufficient materials are reserved, forming an independent defense system. In China's Qing Dynasty, fortresses were established in key coastal defense places such as Humen, Tanggu and Wusong, and heavy troops were stationed for defense.
Sri Lankan fortified area. Image source network
During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods of China, fortresses were set up in areas where the situation was dangerous. In the Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire established a network of fortresses throughout the country, with several strategically located fortresses in various military districts throughout the country.
3. Adam's Peak, also known as the "Holy Foot", is a mountain in central Sri Lanka with an elevation of 2,243 meters. Adam's Peak is both a shrine of pilgrimage and a famous scenic spot. It is located in south-central Sri Lanka, about 40 km west of Colombo. Adam's Peak is a place of worship for Buddhists, Hinduism, Islam, Catholics and Christians.
4. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa was built in 933 AD and was once the capital of Sri Lanka. At present, the ancient city is a famous historical site in Sri Lanka with the remains of Brahmanism from the Kauras period and the garden city built by Paracrama I in the 12th century.
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Image source network
5. The Temple of the Relic of the Relic in the city of Kandy is a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and is a famous historical building. Built in the 14th century, Kandy is located in the southern central part of Sri Lanka and has long been surrounded by mountains with rare plant species. Located in a tropical vegetation zone, it was historically an administrative and religious center. The Singa ancestors ruled the island for more than 2,000 years, and the ancient city of Kandy was famous for its Buddhist shrine and was the last capital of the reign of King Sinhara. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1988.
6. Interesting facts about Sri Lanka's history and economy
1. The origins of the Sri Lankan tea industry can be traced back to the 19th century, when British colonial rulers introduced tea plants from China and India to the country. However, they soon discovered that Sri Lanka's climate and soil were very suitable for growing tea, so tea gradually became one of Sri Lanka's most important exports.
2. The spice trade has also played an important role in Sri Lanka's history, and this island nation is one of the world's famous producers of spices such as cinnamon, pepper and cardamom. The benefits of Sri Lankan spices are their rich and sweet taste, as well as their ability to enhance the taste and shelf life of foods.
3. Sri Lanka was once a major transport route and important part of trade along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. Sri Lanka has been an important gateway for trade between South and Southeast Asia for centuries, and a target for Western powers.
Maritime Silk Road Route Map. Image source network
4. The rise of tourism in Sri Lanka dates back to the late 19th century, when British rulers established resorts and golf courses in the country so that their officials could weather the hot summer months. As Sri Lanka developed into an autonomous nation, it gradually attracted more foreign tourists to take advantage of its rich resources such as beautiful beaches, mountains and elephants.
7. Political and military anecdotes of Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan civil war originated in the 80s of the 20th century, when the Tamir minority, believing that they had been discriminated against and exploited, launched anti-government armed actions. The civil war, which lasted until 2009, killed more than 100,000 people and caused severe economic and social damage.
Sri Lanka was a British colony in the early 20th century until independence in 1948. Shortly thereafter, the country formed a relatively stable parliamentary democratic government and began to develop into an important economic and cultural power in South Asia.
4. Both the Air Force and the Navy occupy an important place in modern Sri Lankan military history. The Sri Lankan Air Force has long used Russian-made MiG fighters to defend its airspace, while the Navy has several modern frigates and patrol boats to protect the coastline.
8. Gonzo in Sri Lanka
1. Sri Lanka is a country with a rich history and culture with many myths and legends. Legend has it that there is a Bodhi tree in the center of Anjiraboche in Sri Lanka, which is said to be the tree where Buddha sat and meditated when he became enlightened. The tree is considered sacred by the people of Sri Lanka and is visited by countless tourists every day.
Bodhi tree. Source: Network
2. Sri Lanka also has a rich music and dance culture, one of the most famous dances is the snake-themed "Kudalma Dance", which mimics the cobra hovering over Sri Lankan soil and showcases the intricate and beautiful dance style of Sri Lanka.
3. Sri Lanka's elephant herds and other wildlife are often found on the roads, so local residents need to be extra careful when driving. According to some reports, local drivers even choose to change their direction in order to avoid wildlife on the road.
4. Sri Lanka's dining culture is also worth mentioning. Sri Lankan cuisine is known for its spicy, spices and rich taste. Among the most popular dishes are curry and seafood dishes. Visitors to Sri Lanka must taste the local curry rice, which is a very famous dish in Sri Lanka with unique and memorable tastes.
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