BASIC DETAILS OF SRI LANKA

Total Population : 21 Million

Total area of the Island: 65,610 km2

Major Ethnic Group : Sinhalese (74%)

Minor Ethnic Groups : Tamil (18%), Muslim (7%), Burgher (1%)

Religions : Buddhism(70.2%%), Hinduism (12.6%),

Christianity (%), Islam (9.7%)

Currency : Srilankan Ruppees (1CNY = Rs 24.78)

GDP per Capita : USD 3,139

Literacy Rate : 92%

Main Exports : Tea, Rubber, Coconut, Spices, Gems, Fish,

Ready Made Garments
 HISTORY OF SRI LANKA
 First settlers were led by an Indian prince Vijaya - 500 BC, but as per the history of Buddhism,
there were well developed two tribes in Sri Lanka before 2,600 years from today, which has
identified recently with evidence.
 Theravada Buddhism was introduced in 260 BC by the priest Mahinda, who was the son of king
Ashoka, India.
 Kings patronized the Buddhism and paddy cultivation, and created the world best irrigation
tanks/dams network system in Sri Lanka.
 First capital Sri Lankan kingdom -Anuradhapura
 King Mahensa was the first king who started building large reservoirs and irrigation canals. The
network of reservoirs and canals gradually became bigger and more complex.
 The next powerful ruler, King Parakramabahu ( 1123 - 1186) built the biggest irrigation tank of Sri
Lanka in that era called Parakrama Samudra and harvested the country with rice.
Consequently, exported Rice as a large scale business and traded with India, China, Persia,
Egypt and Ethiopia.
 13th century - Sri Lankan power declined, Irrigation system began to breakdown.
 PORTUGUESE COLONIALISM IN SRI LANKA – 1505 to 1640.
 DUTCH COLONIALISM IN SRI LANK - 1636 to 1815.
 BRITISH COLONIALISM IN SRI LANKA (CEYLON) - 1815 to 4 February 1948.
 ANURADHAPURA KINGDOM POLONNARUWA KINGDOM

AUKANA STATUE
SIGIRIYA PALACE

DUEL POND Anuradhapura SANDAKARA PAHANA TISSA WEWA & RUWANMELI SEYA
TRADITIONS OF SRI LANKA
Sri Lankan culture has long been influenced by
the heritage of Theravada Buddhism passed on
from India.
 January - Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day (In honour of Lord Buddha's first visit to Sri Lanka)

 4 February - National Day

 February - Navam Full Moon Poya Day (The Buddha proclaims for the first time a code of
fundamental ethical precepts for the monks)

 March - Medin Full Moon Poya Day (Commemorates the visit of The Buddha to his home to
preach to his father King Suddhodana and other relatives)

 April 13 - Day prior to Sinhalese and Tamil New Year Day (the month of Bak) when the sun
moves from the Meena Rashiya (House of Pisces) to the Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries) Sri
Lankans begin celebrating their National New Year

 April 14 - Sinhalese and Tamil New Year Day

 April - Bak Full Moon Poya Day (commemorates the second visit of The Buddha to Sri Lanka)

 May - Wesak Full Moon Poya Day (The Buddhist calendar begins)

 June - Poson FullMoon Poya Day (Commemorates the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka)

 July - Esala Full Moon Poya Day (Commemorates the deliverance of the first sermon to the five
ascetics and setting in motion the Wheel of the Dhamma by Buddha)

 August - Nikini Full Moon Poya Day (conducting of the first Dhamma Sangayana (Convocation
by Buddha)

 September - Binara Full Moon Poya Day (Commemorates The Buddha's visit to heaven to
preach to his mother and celestial multitude)

 October - Vap Full Moon Poya Day (King Devanampiyatissa of Sri Lanka sending envoys to
King Asoka requesting him to send his daughter Arahat Sanghamitta Theri to Sri Lanka to
establish the Bhikkhuni Sasana (Order of Nuns)

 November - Full Moon Poya Day (Celebrates the obtaining of Vivarana (the assurance of
becoming a Buddha)

 December - Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day (Sanghamitta Theri established the Bhikkhuni
Sasana (the Order of Nuns)
Cuisine
 Main Food – Rice and Curry (curry refers to a range
of dishes. Mostly vegetables and even fruit curries).
Curries are cooked in Coconut milk and Coconut oil
with a lot of various spices.
 Influenced by - Southern India (Mainly), Indonesia,
Netherlands. Rice and.
 Side-dishes - pickles, chutneys and "sambols" (too
hot). Sri Lankans eat "mallung", chopped leaves
mixed with grated coconut and red onions.
Spices
 Sri Lanka has long been renowned for
its spices. The best known is cinnamon
which is native to Sri Lanka. In the 15th
and 16th centuries, spice and ivory
traders from all over the world
brought their native cuisines to the CLOVES TURMERIC CURRY LEAVES
island, resulting in a rich diversity of
cooking styles and techniques.

 Sri Lankan cuisine is known to be

among the world's spiciest, due to the
high use of different varieties of chili
peppers referred to different types of NUTMEG & MACE
Green chili and capsicum. VANILA GINGER
 The maximum number of spices that
can be combined safely is said to be
around 20.

LEMMON GRASS CARDAMOM PEPPER

CHILI

CINNAMON
TEA CULTURE
 Black Tea is the most common drink in Sri Lanka.
 Sri Lankans drink at least three cups a day and served guests arrives,
it is served at festivals and gatherings or ordinarily consumed with
breakfast.
 Sri Lanka is the world's fourth-largest producer of tea. In 1995, it was
the world's leading exporter of tea with 23% of the total world
export. Now the world best quality tea is produced by Kenya and
the Sri Lanka is at the second position.
NEW YEAR
 A very large cultural event
celebrated on 13, 14 of April, when
the sun moves from the Meena
Rashiya (House of Pisces) to the
Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries).
Unusually, both the end of one year
and the beginning of the next
occur not at midnight but at
separate times determined by
astrologers with a period of some
hours between (the "nona gathe" or
neutral period) being a time where
one is expected to refrain from all
types of work and instead engage
solely in religious activities. During
the New Year festival, people will
often dress in traditional outfits of a
specific color given by astrologers.
 Marks the end of the harvest season
 Other Countries, who celebrate the
same festival - Bangladesh,
Burma, Cambodia, Dais, Laos, South
India, Thailand
 Important – Auspicious Time,
Direction and
Color, New Year rituals, New Year
Food
NEW YEAR RITUALS
NEW YEAR FOOD
NEW YEAR GAMES
RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS
 The festival commemorates the birth,
enlightenment (Buddhahood), and death
(Parinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha.
 is a holiday traditionally observed by
Buddhists on different days in Sri Lanka, India,
Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia,
Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Philippines,
China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea,
Taiwan and Vietnam.
 Festivals at this time in the Buddhist world are
a centuries-old tradition. So the celebration
starts on the Full Moon Day of May.
ESALA FEESTIVAL – DALANDA PERAHERA
 The Kandy Esala Perahera (the Esala
procession of Kandy) also known as
The Festival of the Tooth is a grand
festival celebrated with elegant
costumes and is held in July and
August in Kandy, Sri Lanka. This
historical procession is held annually
to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth
Relic of Lord Buddha, which is
housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa
in Kandy.

 The festival ends with the traditional

(diya-kepeema ritual) water cutting
ceremony which is held at the
Mahaweli River at Getambe, Kandy.

 The Esala Perahera - date back to

the 3rd century BC - A ritual enacted
to request the gods for rainfall.
Srilankan Dancing - 3 main styles of classical dance

Kandyan dance of the Hill Country Low country dance of the southern plains

Kandyan Drum Sabaragamuwa dance of the middle country Low Country Drum
Folk Dance of Sri Lanka
 Traditional Outfits of Sri Lanka
Traditional Dress for Women

OSARIYA – Hilly Areas SAREE – Low Country Southern Areas

Traditional Dress for Men
Wedding Outfits
THANK YOU