Sri Lanka.

The Lost State of Ceylon.
Years of existence: from 1505 to 1972
In ancient times, the land on which the tribes of the Veddas lived had the historical name of Sri Lanka.
In the 6th century BC, the Sinhalese invaded the island.
In the 3rd century Tamil invasion.
At different times, Sinhala and Tamil states existed here.
By the beginning of the 16th century, there were at least thirty principalities in Sri Lanka, the rulers of which were at enmity with each other.
In the XVI century, the island became Portuguese, a fortress was built here. The Portuguese exported cinnamon, gems and elephants.
In the middle of the 17th century, the Portuguese power was replaced by the Dutch,
By the end of the 18th century, the British had gained a foothold on the island. Sri Lanka became Ceylon and was declared a British colony in 1802. The British managed to subjugate the entire territory of the island.
On February 4, 1848, Ceylon became an independent dominion state, part of the British Commonwealth of Nations.
In 1972, the Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka was proclaimed. The ancient name was returned to the independent state.
The capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

Geographical coordinates

Latitude
7°38′30″N (7.641643)
Longitude
80°41′31″E (80.691979)

Travel from Moscow

By plane - 12 hours. to Bandaranaike Airport.

Travel from St. Petersburg

By plane - 13 hours. to Bandaranaike Airport.

Distance from Moscow

Distance from Saint Petersburg

Description in the encyclopedic dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron (published on the border of the 19th-20th centuries)

Ceylon, ancient. Ta probane, native. Singhala - Bol. island in the Indian Ocean, the crown colony of Great Britain, to the SE. from the peninsula of Hindustan, between 5°53′-9°51′ N. sh. and 76°42′-81°55′ E. d.

Space around 64000 sq. km, the greatest length from north to south is 450 km, width - 230 km.

residents 3576000 (1901); the main element of the population is the Sinhalese; some of them are the descendants of colonists from the Ganges valley who first settled here in 543 BC. In 1901, there were 2334570 Sinhalese, Tamils ​​(a race of South India) 950844, Moors (Moormen) 249572, Euphrasians and others 23253, Europeans 9583. There are also Veddas (see), Afghans and Malays.

Orographically, Ceylon is divided into two extremely different regions.

The northern half of the island is low-lying plains, mostly covered with extensive tropical forests; southern - a country of mountains and valleys; the central part of the south. The region is occupied by a mountain range stretching between 6°40′-7°40′ N. sh. and reaching an average height of 2000-2500 m; the most significant peak, Pedrotallagalla, rising in the center of the ridge, at 2524 m; the most famous of these mountains is Peak-Adam (2262 m high), according to the native Samanella, in Buddhist books called Kripada (Saripada, Cripada), which means "The imprint of the sacred foot" of the Buddha, as well as Sumanakuta, Devakuta.

Others most elevated peaks of the main range: Kirigalpolla (2380 m) east of Pik-Adam and Totapolla (2353 m). This whole mountainous region, rightly called Sinhalese Switzerland, abounds in picturesque views and beautiful and fertile valleys; well irrigated and cut through by forests and cultivated fields and enjoys one of the best climates in the world. Geologically, the range of mountains consists of gneiss intersected by veins of quartz and, in places, granite; near the coast, basalt looms in many places. Separate spurs of mountains and hills dot vast undulating plains that encircle the mountain range and gradually slope towards the coast. On N. and NW. the coast islands are flat, monotonous, dotted with lagoons; in the south and east they are elevated and rocky. Although Ceylon, in its general circumference, is rich in small bays, it has only one true roadstead, vast, deep, well protected and combining all the conditions of an excellent military and commercial port - Trincomalee, on the eastern coast of the island; the other two, Pointe de Galle and Colombo, are minor.

Rivers many and quite large, especially 10 on the west coast, between the bays of Pointe de Galle and Manard. There are more rivers on the east bank, but they are less significant; in low-lying areas, where there are terrible heats and where evaporation is very significant, the sources are insufficient for the constant supply of rivers. The most significant rivers of Ceylon are: Mahavelliganga in the North, forming a vast delta, the main branch of which flows into Trincomalee Bay; Kalaniganga, which flows into the West near Colombo; Malwatta-Oya - to the NW .; very few of pp. Ceylon is navigable; there are no lakes, but the ancient rulers of Ceylon dug reservoirs and irrigation channels, the dimensions of which are still a matter of amazement.

Climate Ceylon is more level and pleasant than that of the peninsula of Hindustan, from which it is separated by the Gulf of Manaar; generally hot and humid, with very little fluctuation during the year: the averages of the warmest and coldest months differ only by 2 ° -3 °, the average year in Colombo is 27 °, to the east. bank ½° higher. It is colder in the mountains, for example. in the famous sanatorium Nevera Elia (1890 m) 15.0. Ceylon is located in the monsoon region, from May to October southwest., Bringing rain to the western part of Ceylon. From November to April, north-east. monsoon and rains in the east. The division of the year into rainy and dry periods is sharp only in the north and east, where there is less rain, in the south and west there is little rain in all months, and even more even rain in the mountainous center. The average number on the coast is 1800 mm per year, in the north and east 1000-1200, in the mountains it is much more, up to 4000. The climate of Ceylon in populated and cultivated places is quite healthy; Fever rages in the dense forests in the north and east. Here in ancient times there was the most dense population and huge facilities for artificial irrigation. Some dams had hundreds of square meters. km area. Now all this is in decline, the water is stagnant, and the area has become unhealthy.

The population is now concentrated mainly in the west, where there are huge groves of coconuts and rice fields, and in the mountainous center, where the British set up huge coffee plantations, and from the 1870s, when coffee became diseased, plantations of the Assam variety of the tea bush. A significant part of the workers are Tamils ​​from India.

The vegetation of Ceylon is splendid, as is that of the islands of the Malay Archipelago, with which it bears great resemblance, yielding to it only in the north and east. The main product of the soil is rice, cultivated for local consumption; under his crop in 1900 there were 672,584 acres, under other crops, 109,095 acres; tea occupied 405,405 acres, coffee, 7,086 acres, coconuts, 846,115 acres, and cinnamon, 39,619 acres. The forests are extensive, their species are diverse.

Ceylon is rich in minerals, especially precious stones (rubies, sapphires and in the greatest abundance - garnets); in the Gulf of Manaar, pearl fishing is plentiful. Gold, silver, iron (excellent quality), lead, coal (anthracite), kaolin. Almost all the animals of Hindustan are found in the forests of Ceylon, with the exception of the tiger and the horse; the main representative of mammals is an elephant; herds of elephants roam the southwest. areas of the island. Extraction of ivory; turtle and pottery, mat weaving, fan making, woodcarving. Salt mining is a government monopoly. 298 miles roads (1900), 367 post offices. and telegraph offices and 2451 miles of telegraph wires.

Ceylon administration in the hands of the Governor, a 5-member Executive Council, and an 18-member Legislative Council (including the Governor and members of the Executive Council). Representatives of the main races of the island sit in the legislative council. For administrative purposes, Ceylon is divided into 9 provinces, which are headed by government agents. Large cities have their own city government; in the districts, the natives retain their village councils and courts for matters of lesser importance.

Main religion Buddhist - 1877043 people; Hindus 615932, Mohammedans 211995, Christians 302127.

public education has made considerable progress since it was organized under a separate department of education; in 1899, 193,468 pupils attended schools. The only higher government school is the Royal College, but many private English higher schools receive subsidies. Technical college with 125 students; agricultural and forestry schools; 32 professional schools.

Ceylon Finance in 1900: income (in rupees) 27325930, expenses 28948925. Imports worth 122339758 rupees, exports 94962277.

The main city of Colombo; other remarkable cities are Yafna, Kandu and Gall. Ceylon was conquered by the Portuguese in 1505 in the west and south; about half of the 17th century. he was taken from them by the Dutch. In 1795-96. the British took possession of the foreign colonies of the island, which was attached to the Madras Presidency. In 1798, Ceylon was recognized as a separate colony. In 1815, after a successful struggle with the native tribes of the central regions, the entire island is subject to the rule of the British. Wed Emerson Tennent. Ceylon; Schmidt, "Ceylon" (1897); Geiger, "Ceylon" (1898); Van der Aa, Ile de Ceylon. Croquis, mœurs et coutumes" (Leven, 1899); Minaev, "Essays on Ceylon and India"; Klingen, Among the patriarchs of agriculture. T. II. Ceylon and India.

Video

Sri Lanka is known as an exotic island nation.

But where is Sri Lanka?

Let's try to find out more...

Sri Lanka is known as an exotic island nation located off the southeastern coast of Hindustan in the Indian Ocean. It is located in the tropical zone 650 km from the equator. It is located in the tropical zone 650 km from the equator.

Where is Sri Lanka on the map

By the way, if you look closely at the map, you can almost immediately notice that this country has no land borders with neighboring lands. Its length from north to south is 445 km, and its width is 225 km. The length of the coastline is 1330 km, of which 130 km is.

Until 1972, Sri Lanka was called Ceylon, the state was in colonial subordination to Portugal, after Holland, further than Great Britain.

But today its name is very symbolic, because in ancient Sanskrit Sri Lanka sounds like “blessed land”.

Businessmen call the region "sapphire island" because of the local extraction of the precious stone.

The Secret of Sri Lanka's Popularity

For the uninitiated, it is difficult for a person to understand how the tiny island of Sri Lanka can be both a place with famous Ceylon tea plantations and an abundance of resorts. And the secret is simple. - All this became possible thanks to a suitable climate.

The best time to travel is from November to April. At other times, monsoon rains will spoil the rest, and from May to October it also becomes unbearably hot.

The remoteness of tourist areas from the capital's Colombo airport is small, it is very convenient to get there.

Main settlements

To the main settlements include the following cities:

• Kalutar. The most popular city in the country. It is built in the southwest of the island, 43 km from the international airport. There are luxury hotels, clubs for fans of diving, sailing and other active lifestyles. And lovers of quiet entertainment with great pleasure will visit excursions along the Kalu Ganga (Black River), go to visit hermits or plunge into the mango thickets.
• The village of Bentota extends a little south of Colombo at a distance of 62 km. The name of the place comes from the river of the same name, which flows into the Indian Ocean. Unique nature, a large number of exquisite hotels, quality service helped the resort to get the name of the elite. Couples in love often come to the local beach to spend their honeymoon, or wealthy people to celebrate an anniversary. The weather is good in May-June. The temperature is stable at around 30-33ºС, and in other months it drops to 25ºС. The ocean will please in September-April. Windsurfing, water skiing, underwater fishing will help you spend your vacation with benefit.
• The city of Hikkaduwa is located 128 km from the airport. It is better to get here by train with a change in the capital or by regular buses. Those who do not want to mess around for a long time on the road may well use the taxi order service or car rental. The trip to the destination will last about four hours. To get into a quiet environment is probably only here. There are always suitable options for wealthy people in the area, simple economy class hotels. welcome locals are also able to shelter strangers at home. The kitchens of cafes and restaurants are oriented to all tastes, you do not need to cook yourself, or adapt to the hotel menu. It is here that you should definitely try the national dish called curry. Parties are regularly held on two kilometers of beaches. People go boating, diving in the so-called reef garden. Hikkaduwa is also a coral sanctuary.
• Quiet corners include Tangalle and Hambantota, which are characterized by the presence of small hotels. However, you should pay attention to the fact that in Hikaduwa, Tangale there are powerful undercurrents, therefore, when going to these resorts, it is better to leave children at home.

WHERE IS SRI LANKA
Country borders	The length from north to south is 445 km, and the width is 225 km.
Coastline	1330 km, 130 km is the territory of beaches.
original title
Local Attractions	Beaches, tea plantations, sapphire factories, architectural monuments
Auspicious time to travel	November to April
Monsoon rains	May to October
Distance from the airport	Relatively small
Main settlements	Kalutar, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Tangalle and Hambantota

Sri Lanka (Ceylon): flags, capital

The official capital of the island nation of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, and the country's largest city and de facto capital is Colombo. The words "Sri Lanka" are traditionally translated from Sanskrit as "Blessed Land", although the more correct is not "Earth", but "Island". The former name of Sri Lanka was Ceylon.

Modern complete official name country - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The official capital of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is small town in the Colombo agglomeration - largest city countries. Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte houses the country's parliament, as well as various government departments and the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Colombo, the de facto capital of the country, is also its administrative, political and economic centre.

• Serendib (pre-Singhal era),
• Tambapanni (from the founding of the Sinhalese state to the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505),
• Ceylon (from 1505 to 1815),
• British Ceylon from 1815 to 1948 (actually from 1817, since the Kingdom of Kandy existed before that time),
• Dominion of Ceylon from 02/04/1948 to 1972 (after gaining independence from Britain, the country became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations),
• Republic of Sri Lanka from 1972 to 1978,
• Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka since 1978.

Often you can meet the question of the correct placement of stress in the name of the country "Sri Lanka": L A nka or lank A? However, based on the original name, neither of the two options will be correct. The stress in the word "Lanka" is not put, since in the Sinhalese language there is no stress, but there are only long and short sounds, and in this case only short ones are used.

Flags of Ceylon and Sri Lanka

Throughout history, the colors and motifs of the flags of the island nation have changed many times. The following shows exactly how this has been expressed over the past two centuries.

History of changing the flags of Sri Lanka

The modern state flag of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the result of many years of transformation of its parts and elements since the state gained independence. The symbolism of the latest modern version of the national flag of Sri Lanka is shown below.

• 1815-02/04/1948 British Ceylon

A new flag was created, based on the British flag and placed on a blue background in the upper left corner and the symbolism of the country (in the understanding of the British colonizers) in the form of a satellite in the middle right.

• 02/04/1948-03/02/1951 Dominion of Ceylon

In 1948, after the liberation of the island from colonial dependence on Great Britain, the new republic adopted the flag of the last independent Kingdom of Kandy (1469-1815) as the official flag. It depicts the symbol of the country - the Sinhalese lion with a raised sword in its paw and 4 decorative elements at the corners of the canvas.

• 03/02/1951-05/22/1972 Ceylon

Colored stripes have been added to the flag, occupying 1/7 of the flag's area - the colors of the country's ethno-religious minorities: Muslim Moors and Hindu Tamils.

• 1972 - present Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka

Four stylized leaves of the Bo tree (one of the symbols of Buddhism) were added to the composition at the corners of the flag, replacing the previous ornament.

Flag of the Republic of Sri Lanka: symbols

After the flag of the Kingdom of Kandy was adopted as the basis, the changes and additions indicated above were made to it. Their appearance was associated primarily with the interethnic problems of the Sri Lankan society.

As a result, the interpretation of the symbolism of the national flag of Sri Lanka was used by various political forces earlier and continues to be used now in the interests, mainly aimed at strengthening the urgency of the national issue, and not searching for common ground.

The Sinhalese lion is the national symbol of Sri Lanka.

After Ceylon gained independence from Britain in 1948, the question arose of creating the banner of a new republic. To develop the layout of the flag, a special committee was created, which decided to return to the version of the flag of the last free Sinhalese kingdom, used during the reign of King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha (Sri Vikrama Rajasinha): it depicted a Sinhalese lion on a maroon background.

Despite the fact that lions are not found in Sri Lanka, the choice of a symbol would seem somewhat strange. However, the fact is that the appearance of the Sinhalese lion symbol itself dates back to the time of Prince Vijay, who landed on the island in 543 BC. with a flag with a lion on it. According to legend, the founder of the Sinhalese nation came from India, where lions were found in large numbers in those days. So, having appeared as the flag of Prince Vijay, over time, the Sinhalese lion was fixed as a symbol of royal power. For example, the paws of a lion on the flag of the kingdom of Kandy meant the stability of Sri Lanka, its steadfastness; and equal distances from the paws to the body and from the body to the crown symbolized the equality of the ruler and the law.

ශ්‍රී ලංකා ප්‍රජාතාන්ත්‍රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජය

Capital Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte city
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. The official capital of the state is the city of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, where the supreme court and parliament are located. 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 the extraction of 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 are served by both the state bus company and 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 international Airport Bandaranaike, 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 Ceylon tea plantations, 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 the soles of your shoes to others, do not photograph the local population without permission, and do not offend 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.