LankaTrips - Tourist Information of Sri Lanka - the Island Paradise - LankaTrips - Tours & Travel in Sri Lanka - the Island Paradise - Colombo, Kandy, Buddhist Shrines

Geography of Sri Lanka

Location of Sri Lanka is between 6 - 10 of North Latitude and Between 80 - 82 of East Longitude. The country has maximum Length of 432 km (Devundara to Point Peduru) and maximum width of 224 km (Colombo - Sangamankanda). Central and bit of southern Sri Lanka is hilly. Coastal area is made of flat and rolling plains. Land Area is 65,525 Sq. km. Pidurutalagala, also known as Mt Pedro, is Sri Lanka's highest point at 2,524 meters (8,281 ft). Another significant mountain is Sripada or Adam's Peak, also more than 2,000 meters tall.

Sri Lanka Culture and Festivals

Festivals of Sri Lanka Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival Every year on April 13th Sinhala and Tamil people celebrate, and Muslims celebrate Ramasan. Esala Perahera (A-suh-luh peh-ruh-ha-ruh) is the grand festival of Esala held in Sri Lanka. It is very grand with elegant costumes. Happening in July or August in Kandy, it has become a unique symbol of Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist festival consisting of dances and richly-decorated elephants. There are fire-dances, whip-dances, Kandian dances and various other cultural dances. The elephants are usually adorned with lavish garments. The festival ends with the traditional 'diya-kepeema'. The elephant is paraded around the city bearing the tooth of Buddha.

Festivals are a part of Sri Lankan culture. They can be either Religious or National festivals and are observed in grand scale.


Sri Lanka Economy

Sri Lanka is a developing country and the major occupation of the people is agriculture. In 1977, Colombo abandoned statist economic policies and its import substitution trade policy for market-oriented policies and export-oriented trade.

Sri Lanka's traditional economy has been agricultural with rice being the main food crop. Spices, tea, rubber and coconuts were especially encouraged by the British under the colonial system and are still an important part of the economy. Apart from these there were more exotic products like precious stones and even elephants and peacocks which were exported. However in recent years there has been a thrust on developing new areas. One of these has been textile and garment manufacturing which has overtaken tea as an export earner.

Wildlife of Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan wildlife is rich and varied, including bears, crocodiles, elephants, monkeys, and snakes. Sri Lanka is on a large bird migration route, and birds from all over the world winter on the island. There is a growing need to protect the island's many rare and endangered species. The clearing of forest land has destroyed the habitats of many birds and animals. In addition, many species have become threatened or even extinct because of hunting and trapping.

Arts of Sri Lanka

Art of Sri LankaArts of Sri Lanka have achieved great heights during the course of history. All art forms like dance, music, sculpture, paintings and architecture have enjoyed development. Influence of Buddhism on the arts of Sri Lanka is obvious as is the impact of India. Originated religious beliefs of the people are the base of Sri Lanka arts. Every phase in the history of Sri Lanka has added some characteristic elements to Sri Lankan arts.

Hill Stations

Contrasting other regions of Sri Lanka, the Hill Country or the Central highlands offer pleasant cool climate. The hilly slopes are carpeted by tea plantations which creates a distinct aroma on mixing with fresh air. The Central Highlands have rich list of tourist destinations. The Lankan citizens also love to visit hill country for it gives them respite from hot humid tropical climate. So visit the hill country in Sri Lanka and enjoy gala time here.

Sri Lanka Tea

Rolling hills in Sri Lanka are carpeted with some of the best tea plantations in the world. Very popular all over the world, the Celon tea or the Black tea was brought to the Sri Lankan hills by the British, who found the hilly region tailor-made for the plantation of tea.