SRI LANKA FACTS, the Land of Serendipity
Beyond its ancient ruins, beautiful beaches, and amazing wildlife, the island nation has many other stories to uncover.
- Sri Lanka is nicknamed Pearl of the Indian Ocean and teardrop of India.
- Sri Lanka gave “serendipity” to the English language.
- The Sri Lankan national flag is one of the oldest in the world known as Lion Flag, dating back to 162 BC.
- Sri Lanka has 8 Sites inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage.
These include 6 cultural Cities and 2 natural sites:
(1) Polonnaruwa city; (2) Sigiriya city; (3) Dambulla Golden Temple; (4) Galle old town and its fortifications;
(5) Anuradhapura city; (6) Kandy city;
The natural sites include: (7) Sinharaja Forest Reserve; (8) Sri Lanka Central Highlands.
- Sri Lanka was the first country in the world to democratically elect a woman as the head of government.
- Sri Lanka is home to the oldest tree ever to be planted by a human: Sri Maha Bodhi was planted in 288 BC, which makes it more than 2300 years old.
- Sri Lanka covers an area of 25,332 mi². Its wildlife is incredibly diverse, home to: 123 species of mammals (such as elephants, leopards, and crocodiles), 227 species of birds, 178 species of reptiles, 122 species of amphibians, and many other animal species.
- The national sport isn’t cricket but volleyball.
- Sri Lanka is totally about tea. It was formerly known as Ceylon, a name synonymous with tea: it is the largest exporter of tea in the world, and grow black, green and white
- There’s more than hundreds waterfalls in Sri Lanka. The majority of its electricity is supplied through hydropower plants that tap into the immense energy of these falls.
- Cinnamon originated in Sri Lanka, and found by the Egyptians in 2000 BC. Today, Sri Lanka is still a leading exporter of the world’s cinnamon.
- A sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha, brought from India in the 4th century CE, is still preserved in the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
- Nuwara Eliya, a British-built town located in the hill country, is known for its temperate, cool climate. It used to be the favorite holiday retreat for the British elite.
- Adam’s Peak is the most sacred mountain in the country; it has been a mecca for people of various beliefs in Sri Lanka for over a thousand years.
- It has the highest literacy rate in South Asia (92%).
- Rice and curry is the staple dish in Sri Lanka. It’s often eaten from a banana leaf and with the hands (no cutlery). Rice is the main ingredient of Sri Lankan cuisine.
- It is common for restaurants, cafes, and bars to be named as hotels.