ABOUT SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka, officially Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, island republic in the Indian Ocean off the south-eastern coast of India. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar. Lying between the two nations is a chain of tiny islands known as Adam’s Bridge. Sri Lanka is somewhat pear-shaped, with its apex in the north. The greatest length from north to south is about 440 km (273 mi); the greatest width is about 220 km (137 mi). The total area of Sri Lanka is 65,610 sq km (25,332 sq mi). The capital of Sri Lanka is the ancient city of Sri Jayavardhanapura-Kotte; Colombo is the largest city.
Sri Lanka has a population of 20,064,776 (2005 estimate), which yields an estimated overall population density of 310 people per sq km (803 per sq mi).
Buddhism, which was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 3rd century bc, is the prevailing faith. As practised in Sri Lanka, Buddhism also exhibits elements of both Hindu and Islamic traditions. About 69 per cent of the population is Buddhist, 16 per cent is Hindu, 8 per cent is Muslim, and 7 per cent is Christian.
Because Sri Lanka is situated near the equator, the climate is generally hot and humid. The hill and mountain areas, however, are cool, and the humidity is relatively lower in the dry zone. The average annual temperature is 32.2° C (90° F) in the lowlands and 21.1° C (70° F) in the higher mountainous regions.
Precipitation is characterized by wide seasonal and regional variations. The monsoon season in the south-west is from May to September, at which time the rainfall is exceptionally heavy. The hills and the lowlands of the south-western section, which is known as the wet zone, normally have some rainfall throughout the year, but peaks occur in May and June and in October and November. In the northern dry zone the main precipitation of about 1,016 mm (40 in) annually occurs during the monsoon season, which begins in December and lasts until February. Most crops in the dry zone, however, require irrigation.
The natural resources of Sri Lanka are chiefly agricultural, but most of the land is not easily cultivated. The mineral deposits of the country are limited.
Sri Lanka is noted for the beauty and variety of its vegetation. Dense tropical jungles occupy extensive areas in the south-west, and the upper mountain slopes are thickly forested. Many varieties of palm, including the areca, coconut, and palmyra, flourish in the lowlands along the coast. Mangroves and screw pines abound in coastal areas. Numerous varieties of timber trees, notably mahogany and many species of resin-yielding fruit trees, are indigenous to the wet zone. Among the timber trees that are common in the drier sections of the island are ebony and satinwood. Ferns, water hyacinths, orchids, acacias, eucalyptus trees, and cypresses flourish in various regions.
The animal life of Sri Lanka, including many species that may be in danger of extinction, is varied and includes the cheetah, leopard, several species of monkey, and elephant. The island contains numerous species of birds and reptiles.
Deforestation and soil erosion are two major environmental concerns in Sri Lanka. In all, 28 per cent (1995) of the country's total land area is forested. Population pressures threaten those forests though, and large tracts of forest have been cut down for fuel wood or for timber export and have been replaced by farms. This has led to loss of wildlife habitats and to increased soil erosion and degradation. The animal life of Sri Lanka is diverse and includes many species that may be in danger of extinction, such as cheetah, leopard, several species of monkeys, and elephant. A number of threatened species continue to be hunted illegally by poachers.
Other issues are increased pollution and degradation through industrial activities, and freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff. The island's coastal ecosystems suffer from pollution caused by mining activities and the tourist trade, and freshwater resources are being polluted by industrial waste and sewage run-off. Much of Sri Lanka's mangrove forest, an important coastal habitat, has been cut down to make way for farmland and fish cultivation ponds. The government of Sri Lanka has taken action to conserve wildlife, however. Nearly 13.3 per cent (1997) of the land is protected. The Sinharaja Forest Reserve, which protects the largest remaining stand of primary rainforest on the island, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1988.
The government has ratified international environmental agreements on biodiversity, climate change, desertification, endangered species, environmental modification, hazardous wastes, law of the sea, nuclear test ban, ozone layer protection, and wetlands.
In 2002 annual imports cost US$6 billion and exports earned US$5 billion. The chief exports in 1994 were clothing (46 per cent of export earnings), tea (13 per cent), pearls (7 per cent), and rubber (2 per cent), followed by coconut products, graphite, and precious and semi-precious stones. Foodstuffs, mainly rice, flour, and sugar, make up a significant share of imports. Other imports include petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, and transport equipment. Sri Lanka’s chief trading partners are Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, South Korea, and India. The monetary unit of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan rupee of 100 cents (99.60 rupees equalled US$1; early 2005). The bank of issue is the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
According to the Hindu epic, the Ramayana, the land of “Lanka”, which is popularly associated with Sri Lanka, is described as prosperous and highly cultured under the rule of Ravana. No historical evidence exists to support this, however. Sri Lanka was conquered in prehistoric times by Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, in order to reclaim his stolen wife, Sita. The written history of the country begins with the chronicle known as the Mahavamsa. This work was started in the 6th century ad and provides a virtually unbroken narrative up to 1815. The Mahavamsa was compiled by a succession of Buddhist monks. Because it often aims to glorify or to degrade certain periods or reigns, it is not a wholly reliable source despite its wealth of historical material.
(Source: Encarta)
Sri Lanka, officially Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, island republic in the Indian Ocean off the south-eastern coast of India. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar. Lying between the two nations is a chain of tiny islands known as Adam’s Bridge. Sri Lanka is somewhat pear-shaped, with its apex in the north. The greatest length from north to south is about 440 km (273 mi); the greatest width is about 220 km (137 mi). The total area of Sri Lanka is 65,610 sq km (25,332 sq mi). The capital of Sri Lanka is the ancient city of Sri Jayavardhanapura-Kotte; Colombo is the largest city.
Sri Lanka has a population of 20,064,776 (2005 estimate), which yields an estimated overall population density of 310 people per sq km (803 per sq mi).
Buddhism, which was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 3rd century bc, is the prevailing faith. As practised in Sri Lanka, Buddhism also exhibits elements of both Hindu and Islamic traditions. About 69 per cent of the population is Buddhist, 16 per cent is Hindu, 8 per cent is Muslim, and 7 per cent is Christian.
Because Sri Lanka is situated near the equator, the climate is generally hot and humid. The hill and mountain areas, however, are cool, and the humidity is relatively lower in the dry zone. The average annual temperature is 32.2° C (90° F) in the lowlands and 21.1° C (70° F) in the higher mountainous regions.
Precipitation is characterized by wide seasonal and regional variations. The monsoon season in the south-west is from May to September, at which time the rainfall is exceptionally heavy. The hills and the lowlands of the south-western section, which is known as the wet zone, normally have some rainfall throughout the year, but peaks occur in May and June and in October and November. In the northern dry zone the main precipitation of about 1,016 mm (40 in) annually occurs during the monsoon season, which begins in December and lasts until February. Most crops in the dry zone, however, require irrigation.
The natural resources of Sri Lanka are chiefly agricultural, but most of the land is not easily cultivated. The mineral deposits of the country are limited.
Sri Lanka is noted for the beauty and variety of its vegetation. Dense tropical jungles occupy extensive areas in the south-west, and the upper mountain slopes are thickly forested. Many varieties of palm, including the areca, coconut, and palmyra, flourish in the lowlands along the coast. Mangroves and screw pines abound in coastal areas. Numerous varieties of timber trees, notably mahogany and many species of resin-yielding fruit trees, are indigenous to the wet zone. Among the timber trees that are common in the drier sections of the island are ebony and satinwood. Ferns, water hyacinths, orchids, acacias, eucalyptus trees, and cypresses flourish in various regions.
The animal life of Sri Lanka, including many species that may be in danger of extinction, is varied and includes the cheetah, leopard, several species of monkey, and elephant. The island contains numerous species of birds and reptiles.
Deforestation and soil erosion are two major environmental concerns in Sri Lanka. In all, 28 per cent (1995) of the country's total land area is forested. Population pressures threaten those forests though, and large tracts of forest have been cut down for fuel wood or for timber export and have been replaced by farms. This has led to loss of wildlife habitats and to increased soil erosion and degradation. The animal life of Sri Lanka is diverse and includes many species that may be in danger of extinction, such as cheetah, leopard, several species of monkeys, and elephant. A number of threatened species continue to be hunted illegally by poachers.
Other issues are increased pollution and degradation through industrial activities, and freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff. The island's coastal ecosystems suffer from pollution caused by mining activities and the tourist trade, and freshwater resources are being polluted by industrial waste and sewage run-off. Much of Sri Lanka's mangrove forest, an important coastal habitat, has been cut down to make way for farmland and fish cultivation ponds. The government of Sri Lanka has taken action to conserve wildlife, however. Nearly 13.3 per cent (1997) of the land is protected. The Sinharaja Forest Reserve, which protects the largest remaining stand of primary rainforest on the island, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1988.
The government has ratified international environmental agreements on biodiversity, climate change, desertification, endangered species, environmental modification, hazardous wastes, law of the sea, nuclear test ban, ozone layer protection, and wetlands.
In 2002 annual imports cost US$6 billion and exports earned US$5 billion. The chief exports in 1994 were clothing (46 per cent of export earnings), tea (13 per cent), pearls (7 per cent), and rubber (2 per cent), followed by coconut products, graphite, and precious and semi-precious stones. Foodstuffs, mainly rice, flour, and sugar, make up a significant share of imports. Other imports include petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, and transport equipment. Sri Lanka’s chief trading partners are Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, South Korea, and India. The monetary unit of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan rupee of 100 cents (99.60 rupees equalled US$1; early 2005). The bank of issue is the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
According to the Hindu epic, the Ramayana, the land of “Lanka”, which is popularly associated with Sri Lanka, is described as prosperous and highly cultured under the rule of Ravana. No historical evidence exists to support this, however. Sri Lanka was conquered in prehistoric times by Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, in order to reclaim his stolen wife, Sita. The written history of the country begins with the chronicle known as the Mahavamsa. This work was started in the 6th century ad and provides a virtually unbroken narrative up to 1815. The Mahavamsa was compiled by a succession of Buddhist monks. Because it often aims to glorify or to degrade certain periods or reigns, it is not a wholly reliable source despite its wealth of historical material.
(Source: Encarta)
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