Where is Ceylon in which country. Language and communication. Historical dates of Sri Lanka

A fairly small state located in the Indian Ocean is surprising in that the official capital and the actual one are located in different cities. The Parliament and the Supreme Court of the country are located in a city with a name that is almost impossible to remember or pronounce - Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Maybe that's why all tourists love the second capital -. This is where the government and the president are located. In addition, guests prefer cultural as well as historical attractions than the rich city of Colombo.

City of a thousand temples

In Colombo, indeed, any tourist can find a large number of iconic and religious buildings without even using the card. There are Christian cathedrals and Muslim mosques, as well as temple complexes adherents of Hinduism and Buddhism.

One of the most beautiful Buddhist complexes in Colombo - Kelaniya-Raja-Maha-Vihara. This is one of the classic examples of fine Sinhalese architecture. Inside it, on the walls, there are a large number of frescoes depicting certain scenes from the life of the Buddha himself.

In addition, the following temple buildings are considered the most popular:

  • Cathedral of Saint Lucy;
  • Ul-Alfar Mosque, built of white and red brick;
  • Hindu temples - Ganeshan, New and Old Katiresan.

All of them are of interest to travelers who are passionate about architecture, although they are worthy of the attention of any guest. Thousands of magnificent pictures of general views of temples, fragments of decor, frescoes and murals remain in memory.

Informal city walk

In addition to religious buildings, there are other equally beautiful places in Colombo. Firstly, it is worth going for a walk around the square and the park, located on coastline. The attention of tourists is attracted by a tower crowned with a clock, old lighthouse. Second, getting to know unique nature Colombo can be continued in other places, for example, walk along central park"Victoria" or visit "Sinamon Gardens" - the famous metropolitan gardens.

It is best to get acquainted with the animal world of the country not in conditions wildlife, but at the local zoo, which is located ten kilometers from Colombo. In addition to various predators, such as tigers, leopards, you can see many other representatives of the fauna of Sri Lanka here. But the most striking sight that awaits tourists is the performance of trained elephants.

Sri Lanka- a state located on the island of the same name in South Asia, not far from southeast coast Hindustan, widely known as a world resort. Official name country - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Language in Sri Lanka

There are three official languages ​​in Sri Lanka: Sinhalese, English and Tamil. The most numerous ethnic group in Sri Lanka are the Sinhalese, who speak the Sinhala language, which belongs to the Indo-Aryan group of the Indo-European language family. The Sinhala language is spoken by about 16 million inhabitants of the country, it also has its own script - the Sinhala script.
Tamil is spoken by the population of the eastern and northern parts of the island. It is the southernmost among the Dravidian languages, having a history of 2300 years, and also having its own script.
In hotels and other tourist enterprises of the island, you can communicate in English

Currency in Sri Lanka

Official currency unit Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan rupee, cents serve as a bargaining chip. 1 rupee = 100 cents. In circulation there are banknotes of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000 rupees and coins of 1, 2, 5, 10 rupees, 10, 25, 50 cents.
The Sri Lankan currency is quite stable against the dollar. You can buy rupees for dollars at banks and hotels, as well as at Colombo airport. The check received during the currency exchange should be kept until the end of the stay in the country, so that when leaving, exchange the unspent part of the money back. It should be noted that the export of the Sri Lankan rupee from the country is prohibited.

Religion in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankans mainly practice four religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Most of The population, predominantly Sinhalese, professes Buddhism (about 69%). The Tamil population is dominated by Hindus (15.4% of the country's population). Malians and Moors adhere to the Muslim religion (7.5% of the country's population). There are about 7.6% Christians on the island. Other religions are practiced by 0.2% of the population.

Capital of Sri Lanka

The capital of Sri Lanka is the city of Colombo.

Visa to Sri Lanka

For citizens of Kazakhstan, a visa is opened upon arrival at the airport, the cost is $40 Full description by VISA >>>

Time in Sri Lanka

The state of Sri Lanka is located in the GMT + 5:30 time zone. Thus, local time in this country ahead of Moscow time by 2 hours 30 minutes, and Kiev and Minsk - by 3 hours 30 minutes.
It differs from the Almaty time zone in the summer - plus 30 minutes, winter timeplus 1.5 hours.

Climate in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is located in the equatorial, warm and humid climate zone. The seasons here differ not in temperature changes, but in the difference in precipitation patterns. Most precipitation occurs in the summer, when the island is dominated by monsoon winds of the southwest direction.
In low-lying areas, the average annual temperature is at around +27 C, and the difference between the hottest and coolest months is no more than 5 C. In cities it is hot and always high humidity, and on the coast it is more comfortable due to the constant sea breeze, the temperature there is + 28+30 C.
The water temperature in the Indian Ocean is usually +27 C. Average annual temperature in the mountainous areas of the country it is within + 23 + 25 C. The coolest place in Sri Lanka is the high-mountain resort of Nuwara Eliya, called the "particle of the north", where the temperature during the day is about +18 C, and at night +10 C.
The best season for beach holiday on the southwestern coast, the period from December to April is considered, and for the northeastern part of the country - from March to November.

Statein Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is socialist democratic republic and the independent state formerly known as Ceylon. Legislative power in the country is in the hands of the parliament, whose members are elected by direct popular vote for a term of 5 years.
The executive power is concentrated in the hands of the president of the country, who here has the right to nominate and dismiss the prime minister and other members of the cabinet of ministers, and can also dissolve parliament. The President of Sri Lanka is elected by direct secret ballot for a term of 5 years.
Sri Lanka is a member of the largest international organizations: UN, Interpol, Asian Development Bank, Commonwealth of Nations, World Federation of Trade Union Movements, Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, South Asian Regional Assistance Association.

Historical dates of Sri Lanka:

  • 6th century BC - the arrival of the Sinhalese from northern India to the island.
  • 3rd century BC - the penetration of Buddhism on the island.
  • 3rd-13th century AD - the existence on the island of large Sinhalese kingdoms with capitals in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.
  • 1506 - discovery Portuguese navigator Lourenço d'Almeida of the island of Ceylon, in the future - the occupation of the coast of the island by the Portuguese.
  • 17th century - dominance of the Dutch on the island.
  • 1802 - the island becomes a colony of the British Empire.
  • 1948 - the state gains independence and is called the Dominion of Ceylon.
  • 1971 - the youth uprising of the Popular Liberation Front, which failed.
  • 1072 - the country ceases to be a dominion and is renamed Sri Lanka.
  • Since 1983, there has been a civil war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam guerrilla organization and the government.
  • December 2004 - Sri Lanka suffers heavy losses as a result of the tsunami. More than 38,000 people died, 6,000 went missing, and the homes of hundreds of thousands of residents were destroyed.
  • May 18, 2009 - end civil war, the victory of government forces.

Geographical position Sri Lanka:

Sri Lanka is located on an island in the Indian Ocean south of the peninsula Hindustan. The length of the island from south to north is 445 km, and from east to west - 225 km. The main part of the territory of the state is located in a flat area, the height of which practically does not exceed 100 m.
In the center of the island there is the Central mountain range with a height of 1000-2000 m, here is located highest point islands - Mount Pidurutalaga (2524 m), but Adam's Peak (2243 m) is more famous. Many rivers of the state flow down from the mountains, the largest of which are the Ganga, Malvanuna Oya, Kelani Ganga. Many rivers are navigable, and there are many waterfalls in the mountains, the most famous of which are Koslanda Bryda Vale (aka "Bridal Veil") and Babarakanda, which have a height of more than 200 m.
East Coast Sri Lanka make up hundreds of continuous white sandy beaches, turquoise ocean with many coral reefs and diverse vegetable world.
14% of the territory of the state is occupied National parks, reservations and nature reserves, the most famous of which National Park Yala, Udawalawe National Park, Wasgamuwa National Park, Wilpatu National Park, Bundala National Park.
southwest coast the island is represented by continuous golden beaches, hotels and small towns where the resort atmosphere reigns everywhere
The city of Colombo - the capital of Sri Lanka is located on the ocean in the western part of the island.

Sri Lanka is interesting for tourists not only for its beaches, but also for its numerous attractions. Here are many architectural monuments, ancient cities, royal palaces and gardens, ancient monasteries. The painting and sculpture of the country speaks of the great cultural and technological achievements of the ancient inhabitants of this island.
There are many religious shrines in Sri Lanka. These include: the holy mountain of Sri Lanka, Adam's Peak, a rock with footprints of the Buddha, an ancient royal city Anuradhapura, the Temple of the Tooth Relic, the “Bo” tree under which the Buddha rested, the huge ark of Ruvanvelisiya Dagoba and others.
In the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, it will be interesting to visit the fort in the old part of the city, Presidential palace, Royal Botanic Gardens Kandy, elephant nursery, Yami-ul-Affa mosque, the palace of the last king of Kandy.
lion mountain, located in Sigiriya, is a giant monolith, on top of which there is a fortress. This attraction is interesting for many facts related to the Buddha.
Of great interest to tourists is the elephant nursery, which is regularly brought to small elephants who have suffered from poachers or left without parents.
No less interesting is a visit to the turtle farm, where 5 species come from afar every year sea ​​turtles to lay eggs. All these species of turtles are protected by law.
Being in Sri Lanka, you can always find a lot of exotic and even extreme entertainment: diving, snorkeling, surfing, windsurfing, rafting, fishing, camping safari, sea or river trip on kayaks and canoes, helicopter tour, fly on hot-air balloon, take a safari on jeeps or even on elephants.

National features:

The national characteristics of the inhabitants of Sri Lanka have been formed for many centuries mainly under the influence of religions and, first of all, Buddhism.
In general, local residents are always friendly, friendly and ready to provide any assistance. But, going on vacation to this country, you should be aware of some rules of courtesy.
- When entering the temple, you must always take off your hat and shoes, and your back, knees and shoulders must be covered. This rule also applies to ancient, dilapidated temples.
- You can not shake hands with the monks and even touch them. You can say hello by placing the palms of your hands together and raising them to the level of your forehead. You also cannot sit on the same level with a monk, only below him. In no case should you sit if a monk is standing nearby. Front seats in public transport always reserved for monks.
- It is considered bad form to walk down the street in an embrace, holding hands and kissing in public places.
- Women are not allowed to sit in the front seat next to the driver, walk in too open clothes, sunbathe topless.
- To take a photo local residents you need to ask their permission first. You can not take pictures with the Buddha statue, standing with your back to it.
- At dinner in restaurants, men are not allowed to appear in shorts.

Traditions and customs:

In Sri Lanka, five days a week are considered working days, and days off, in addition to Saturday and Sunday, are considered full moon days, which are intended for meditation. The main religious holidays here are determined by lunar calendar.
On February 4, Independence Day is celebrated here. Celebrations are held in Colombo at Independence Square and in Jayawardenapur in front of the new Parliament building.
New Year Sinhalese and Tamils ​​celebrate April 14th. This holiday is not considered religious and is celebrated everywhere in different ways. The time of the new year is always calculated by astrologers. At the appointed hour, it is customary to light a fire in the kitchen and cook traditional dishes kiribat and curry. On this holiday, people wear new clothes and exchange gifts with each other.
Each month has its own special full moon festival.

KitchenSri Lanka:

Sri Lankan cuisine. Sri Lankan cuisine is quite similar to Indian cuisine. In cooking, the same basic products are used here: fish, tropical fruits, a lot of greens, spices.
The basis of the usual daily diet here is rice and curry. Curry is a whole group of fish dishes, various seafood, meat, poultry, legumes, vegetables and fruits, united by a peculiar combination of spices ground into powder, called curry. The essential components of the mixture include black pepper, hot chili, coriander, mustard seeds, cinnamon, cumin, ginger, corn, garlic and leaves of the evergreen curry bush. There are many variations of this mix.
Coconut shavings, coconut oil, coconut juice and palm nectar are essential components of many Sri Lankan dishes.
In addition to curries, Sri Lankan cuisine is characterized by dishes made from rice flour, such as vermicelli or flatbread.

Articles:

Eurasia Travel

Almaty city
st. Satpaeva 50/13 (corner of Zharokov St.)

Dear readers, today I again invite you on a journey. Indian Ocean with warm water, golden sand beaches, palm trees, gorgeous nature and exotic animals - all this will impress even the most fastidious traveler. Where is this amazing place? - you ask. This former island Ceylon, now its new name is Sri Lanka, where rest will delight not only with picturesque landscapes, stormy rivers and comfortable weather, but also big amount unique sights, delicious food and unusually fragrant and strong tea.

The enchanting beauty of the island is complemented by a variety of resorts with hotels, a welcoming and friendly population - the Sri Lankans. By the way, most residents speak several languages, including English and Russian. This place is great for a quiet and a relaxing holiday the whole family.

Sri Lanka is the largest island located in the Indian Ocean. Represents the Democratic Socialist Republic in South Asia. The name translates as glorious and blessed land. Until that time, until it gained independence, or rather until 1972, the island was called Ceylon. India is in close proximity to Sri Lanka. Even before the beginning of the 15th century, these states were connected by an isthmus. Now, this place is a shoal, as a strong earthquake in the 15th century destroyed it. The capital of the island is a city with a hard-to-pronounce name - Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, but the cultural and economically developed unofficial capital is the city of Colombo.

In Sri Lanka richest world flora and fauna. Almost 3,000 varieties of plants grow here, of which about 1,000 are flowering, over 700 species of medicinal flowers and herbs, 150 varieties of wild orchids and ferns each. Many people associate this country with elephants. And not in vain. Mighty elephants really live here, and not only. The diversity of the animal world makes this island an amazing place. Beautiful butterflies, birds, reptiles, mammals - and many of them are protected by law, as they are listed in the Red Book as an endangered species.

Sri Lanka - monthly weather, rainy season, water temperature

The climate is tropical, with seasons monsoon rains. An amazing feature of the monsoons in the summer is that they come mostly at night. The weather is very favorable for recreation all year round. The air temperature is always stable, about 28-30 degrees Celsius at any time of the year. Only in the mountainous region the temperature in winter reaches only 10 degrees Celsius. beach paradise all year round - this is how this state can be characterized.

The rainy season is long. From December to May - rains in the eastern part of the island, from May to September - monsoons in the west of the country. Therefore, in winter period it is best to relax in the south and western region Sri Lanka. For example, the most popular cities are Colombo and Galle. Here Nice weather, dry and shining bright sun, at a time when the rainy season comes in the east. But in the summer months, resorts located in the eastern region are perfect.

The water temperature is always constant here. The average mark is 27 degrees Celsius. Therefore, you can swim here all year round. Even at night, you can soak up the warm waters of the ocean.

Sights of Sri Lanka, photo

equipped beaches, comfortable hotels- this is not all that Sri Lanka can boast of. A huge number of ancient and unique sights, 8 of which are included in the UNESCO list. Temples for all religions, various buildings and monuments in honor of the Buddha, beautiful palaces, museums and temples are just a small part of interesting places which you can visit.

Currently, excursions around the country are very popular, which allow you to see in a short time maximum amount attractions. Of course, if you have enough time and like to take your time enjoying sightseeing amazing places And architectural structures, then it is better to walk around the sights on your own. Here are some of them that you should definitely see, otherwise the trip around the island was in vain. Tea Center, Sacred Bodhi Tree, Golden Buddha Statue, national reserve Kumana and Adam's Peak.










Sri Lanka - rest and reviews of tourists

All tourists who have visited this amazing and mysterious place at least once were very pleased with their vacation. After reading a lot of reviews, I made some useful discoveries for myself that will help improve my vacation in this country. Now I will share some tips with you.

  • Do not buy tea in the city, otherwise you will buy a mixture of local Sri Lankan and second-rate Indian tea. You can buy a similar one at home, in a supermarket. Be sure to visit the tea plantations in Nuwara Eliya, where you will buy really good Sri Lankan tea and enjoy the view of tea plantations that cover all the slopes and peaks of the mountains.
  • When swimming in the ocean, be careful, it is restless and it is better to swim where you feel the bottom. After a wave, you can be pulled into the ocean, and the point of no return is very easy to miss. There are no lifeguards, and the cry for help may not be heard. Better swim in the pool.
  • On the island it is not customary to use the usual toilet paper. They have a special hose in the room with the flow of water, or a bucket (you know why). Therefore, if you cannot live without personal hygiene products, be sure to take it with you.
  • There are a lot of insolent and everywhere scurrying monkeys on the island, which can seriously spoil the whole vacation. Do not leave your belongings unattended. When leaving the hotel room, be sure to close the windows, otherwise it may threaten you with the loss of things and a significant destruction of the room.



Holidays in Sri Lanka - independent travel

From Moscow to Colombo can be reached by direct flights of airlines. Unfortunately, direct flights do not take place every day, but on schedule. If you urgently need to get to this island, then you can use flights with transfers. There are several of them - in Abu Dhabi, in Dubai, in Koh and in Istanbul.
How long is the flight from Moscow to Sri Lanka? A direct flight is the shortest in terms of flight time, it takes from 8 to 9 hours. If the flight is with transfers, then it is a little longer, it can take up to 12 hours of flight time. Do not forget to get a visa before planning a trip to Sri Lanka.

Public transport of the island is trains and buses. Therefore, you can travel around the country on your own only by train and buses.

Traveling by bus is only suitable for the city. The bus fare is very low, while the price for private transport is the same as for public transport. There are even luxury buses with air conditioning and free seats, only the price for such a trip is much more expensive. But what can you do for comfort?
Remember, the first places in local buses are intended for monks - you can’t occupy them in any way!

You can travel between cities on your own by train. Affordable prices and the choice of comfort have made this type of transport very popular among tourists and local residents. 1st class trains are not just luxurious, they are unique. In addition to air conditioners and free WI-FI here very interesting interior wagons, in vintage style. Train timetables are available on the official websites of railway stations.

You may also be interested to know the reviews of tourists or visit the sacred Indian city, follow the links. I hope you enjoy reading and seeing photos of these trips.

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Be healthy! Taisiya Filippova was with you.

ශ්‍රී ලංකා ප්‍රජාතාන්ත්‍රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජය

Capital- the city of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Square– 65,610 sq. km.
Population- 21.6 million people
Language- Sinhala and Tamil
Form of government- mixed republic
Date of Independence (from UK)- February 4, 1948
The largest city
Currency— Sri Lankan rupee
Timezone — +5:30
Telephone code — +94

At the official level, the country is called Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The state is located in the south of Asia on the territory of the island of Sri Lanka in the southwestern part of the coast of Hindustan. Until the moment when the country gained independence, it was called Ceylon. official capital state is the city of Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, where Supreme Court and parliament. However, the actual capital is the city. Here is the residence of the President of the country and the government sits. Dondra - southern cape islands, Dutch Bay - western.

Sri Lanka - video

Sri Lanka is bordered by the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. The Polk Strait and the Gulf of Manara separate Sri Lanka from Hindustan. In the past, the island was connected to the mainland by the so-called Adam's Bridge (a shallow in the Polk Strait), but according to legend, the bridge was destroyed during one of the earthquakes. Located in the center of the country mountain ranges, the relief of the rest of the territory is predominantly lowland. The tallest Mountain peak is located at an altitude of 2,524 meters above sea level and is called Pidurutalagala. The subequatorial monsoon climate of the island is due to the northeast and southwest monsoons blowing throughout the year.
Most major rivers Sri Lanka are Kalu, Aruvi-Aru, Kelani, Mahaweli-Ganga.

According to the state census conducted in the summer of 2013, about 21.6 million people live in the country. On a national basis, one can distinguish Sinhalese (about 75%), Tamils ​​(about 18%), Sri Lankan Moors (about 7%), burghers (about 0.3%), Veddas (about 1 thousand people). In religious terms, the country's population is divided into followers of Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam - 70%, 15%, 8% and 7% respectively.

The calling card of the country is tea. In terms of its production, Sri Lanka is the third in the world, second only to China and. The country has achieved the greatest success in mining precious stones, rubber and cinnamon. The textile industry occupies a leading position in terms of exports (about 63%), agriculture - about 20%. The country has a fairly extensive network bus routes, which serves as a state bus company as well as private enterprises. You can get by bus to any corner of the island, but traveling in it will bring little pleasure due to dirt, dust, crush and low speed (no more than 45 km / h). There are also more comfortable buses, but getting on them is quite difficult - tickets must be ordered in advance at bus stations or transport agencies.

Worth mentioning about railway transport islands. Railway communication connects large. The trains have cars of different classes with and without air conditioning. On one of the routes, the world-famous restored train runs, which was built back in 1928. Sri Lanka has Bandaranaike International Airport, located about 35 kilometers from. The airport was built by the British in 1940 and was initially used as a military one.

Sights of Sri Lanka

Waterfall Bambarakanda

Waterfall "Bridal Veil"

On the territory of the state are famous plantations Ceylon tea , which was first brought here from China in 1824. In the second half of the 19th century, tea was first grown here on an industrial scale - James Taylor, a planter from Scotland, did this, planting about 80 hectares of land with tea.

1. In Sri Lanka, intra-ethnic conflicts often occur, so don't be surprised a large number military on the streets and roadblocks. Railway stations and bus stations in the country are usually surrounded by fences, and at the entrance all passengers must present identification documents. In the southern part of the country, the situation is somewhat calmer, so there are usually fewer checks here.

2. When visiting restaurants or cafes, pay attention to what the food you ordered is prepared from, as all dishes here are spicy. To avoid misunderstandings, ask the waiter serving your table about the composition of a particular dish. Sauces should be chosen carefully. If you have eaten very spicy food, then you do not need to drink it with water - it is better to eat bread or unleavened bread.

3. If you have a desire to order tea in a cafe, take the trouble to explain how you need to brew it, because here it is done a little differently than in Europe.

4. The main dish in Sri Lanka is rice, which is served on a separate large plate, along with which they bring small saucers with various spices and seasonings.

5. Do not be afraid if you are offered to buy light drugs on the street - this is considered a common occurrence here, despite the fact that the laws of the country provide for the death penalty for the distribution and possession of drugs.

6. Be sure to wash your hands very thoroughly before eating. Vegetables are best scalded with boiling water. Water should only be drunk from plastic bottles with factory caps.

7. The inhabitants of the country are very friendly with tourists, although this attitude is not always pleasant, as sometimes it develops into obsession (this applies mainly to local street vendors and guides).

8. In Sri Lanka, entry to many beaches is free, however, the beaches at some hotels are closed. It is strictly forbidden to hunt animals and collect corals here.

9. It is best to dress in the country in light clothes made of natural fabrics in light colors. If you are going to climb the mountains, be sure to take warm clothes with you.

10. When visiting temples, you need to take off your shoes and hats. It is forbidden to enter such places in short skirts and shorts, as well as with bare shoulders and back. Do not turn your back on Buddha statues, do not show your feet or shoe soles to others, do not take pictures local population without permission, and also do not offend the cows, as they are sacred animals here.

11. It is not necessary to leave a tip in restaurants or hotels. Sometimes they are included in the total bill for the service or lunch.

12. The voltage in the local electrical network is 230-240V, and the sockets are installed with three pins, so you need to purchase a special adapter to use them.

Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) - large island located in the northern part indian ocean off the southeast coast of the Indian subcontinent. Translated from Sanskrit, the name of the island literally means "Blessed Land".

According to experts, the island of Sri Lanka mainland origin. Once it was connected to the Hindustan peninsula by a narrow isthmus, which was later flooded, which gave rise to a number of hypotheses and myths in this regard. The shape of the island, slightly elongated from north to south, resembles a chicken egg. The relief of the island off the coast is flat and mountainous in its central part, it is here that the highest point of Sri Lanka is located - Mount Pidurutalagala with a height of 2524 meters above sea level.

The most ancient tribes that inhabited the island of Sri Lanka in antiquity were the progenitors of the Veddas, who belonged to the Australoid-Negroid race. Around the 6th century BC, Sinhalese tribes from North India began to invade the island. In the 3rd century BC, Buddhism also came to the island from Hindustan. At the beginning of our era, states with strong centralized power began to form in Sri Lanka. For Europeans, the island of Sri Lanka, which they called Ceylon, was discovered by a Portuguese expedition led by Lourenço de Almeida. After that, throughout the 16th century, the Portuguese actually completely occupied the coast of the island. The Dutch replaced the Portuguese in the 17th century and the British in the 18th. In 1802, the island was declared a colony under the name "British Ceylon". In 1948, the island gained independence, having received the name Dominion of Ceylon, and in 1972 this state was renamed Sri Lanka.

Currently, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a developing state that is trying to build socialism. Simultaneously in mountainous areas countries from time to time there are skirmishes between government troops and rebels, which negatively affects the country's economy, which is based on the mining industry, agriculture and tourism.

The monetary unit currently in circulation in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan or Sri Lankan rupee (LKR, code 144), consisting of 100 cents.

The population of Sri Lanka exceeds 20 million people. The ethnic division of Sri Lankans occurs in the following ratio: Sinhalese make up about 75%, Tamils ​​- just over 11%, Sri Lankan Moors (Larakalla) - about 9%, descendants of Europeans and Veddas - less than 1%. The official and most widely spoken languages ​​on the island of Sri Lanka are Tamil and Sinhalese.

The capital of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and at the same time the most populated city is Colombo, located in the central part of the island and inhabited by 670 thousand inhabitants. Among other significant settlements on the island it is worth mentioning the cities of Galle, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Kandy, Chilaw and others.

The main part of tourists and guests of the island arrives in Sri Lanka by air transport. There are currently three airports on the island: international Airport Bandaranaike, located in the suburbs of Colombo, Ratmalana, which does not have international status and is located slightly south of the capital and Kankesanturai Airport, located in Jaffna and has recently received international status. You can book tickets for a flight to the island of Sri Lanka and not only online using the services of the Your Ticket resource. It is always cheap, fast and reliable. Currently in force special offer from a resource for purchasing tickets for SriLankan Airlines flights to Colombo from 380 euros. Despite the fact that most of the cities of Sri Lanka, which are located on the coast, are seaports, the number of tourists who arrived sea ​​view transport is negligible.

Arriving on the island, tourists can stay in hotels of various classes, which operate in almost all cities of the country. More than 1800 hotels and beach and hotel complexes are at the service of visitors, which are included in the service tourist catalogs of the whole world. The most famous and luxurious of them are RoyalPalms, EdenResort & SPA, VivantabyTajBentota, CinnamonBey, HeritanceAhungalle and others.

The climate on the island of Sri Lanka is classified as sub-equatorial monsoon. The northeast monsoons blow on the island from mid-October to the end of March, from June to the end of October their direction changes to the northwest. The temperature is quite even and there are no significant seasonal fluctuations. The difference between the winter and summer periods is no more than 2-3 degrees Celsius. Average monthly temperature air is about 30 degrees. Winter and summer on the island differ only in the number of precipitation in the form heavy rains precipitation. Most of them fall in summer. average temperature coastal waters of the Indian Ocean near the island averages +27 ° C throughout the year.

In the coastal cities of Sri Lanka there are a huge number of magnificent beaches both white and yellow sand. All of them are washed clearest waters Indian Ocean, which in these places have an emerald hue. The specificity of Sri Lanka lies in the fact that around almost every coastal city of the island there are 7-8 vast beach and hotel complexes with appropriate infrastructure and entertainment for tourists. In addition to beach lovers, divers will also be satisfied in Sri Lanka, who have a huge number of coastal limestone caves, as well as dozens of sunken ships from various historical eras.

For lovers of attractions, Sri Lanka opens up all its gamut ancient architecture and historical monuments. For tourists, local guides always present a wide program of visiting the ancient Buddhist temples, other religious buildings of different eras and cultures. In addition, the peculiar architecture of Sri Lankan cities and villages has always aroused great interest among tourists.

Central and Northern part Sri Lanka is an impenetrable wet tropical jungle. Sri Lankan guides have laid out trekking routes for amateurs in some places hiking to the center of the island. If you wish, you can also ride here on an elephant, which is a special highlight of such events. And the unique surrounding nature will not leave indifferent even the most sophisticated tourists.