Geography: Colombo is the capital of Sri Lanka, which is an island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
National Symbols: Lion
National Anthem: “Sri Lanka Matha" -Mother Sri Lanka
Language: Sinhala
Distance from Pittsburgh: 14,375km or 8,932miles
Terrain: Sri Lanka is mostly low, flat to rolling plains with mountains in south-central interior.
Highest Point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Weather You Should Expect: It is a tropical monsoon climate.
Facts about Sri Lanka:
Fact 1: Sri Lanka is often known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.
Fact 2: The world famous Michael Ondaatje comes from Sri Lanka.
Fact 3: Sri Lanka is the world's largest tea exporter.
Fact 4: Sri Lanka was the first country in the world to have a democratically elected head of state who was a women.
Fact 5: Sri Lanka's national flag is considered to be one of the oldest flags in the world.
Fact 6: There are eleven universities located in Sri Lanka.
Fact 7:The spice, cinnamon, originated in Sri Lanka and was discovered by the Egyptians.
Fact 9: The most common meal is Sri Lanka is a spicy curry served with rice and a small side dish of vegetables.
Fact 10: Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon before 1972.
Historical Fact: The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the island were controlled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972.
Historical Fact: The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the island were controlled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972.
Everything You Need to Know About the Flag:
The flag is yellow with two panels. The smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green and orange. The other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red rectangular field that also displays a yellow leaf in each corner. The yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels. The lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery whereas the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation. The four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity. Orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils and green the Sri Lankan Moors. Dark red represents the European Burghers, but also refers to the rich colonial background of the country and yellow denotes other ethnic groups. This flag is also referred to as the Lion Flag.
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