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About Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, an island in the Indian Ocean is located to the south of the
Indian subcontinent. It lies between 5° 55' and 9° 55' north of
the equator and between the eastern longitudes 79° 42' and 81° 52'.
The total land area is 65,610 sq. km. and is astonishingly varied. A length
of 445 km. and breadth of 225 km. encompasse beautiful tropical beaches,
verdant vegetation, ancient monuments and a thousand delights to please
all tastes. The relief features of the island consist of a mountainous mass
somewhat south of the centre, with height exceeding 2,500 metres, surrounded
by broad plains. Palm fringed beaches surround the island and the sea temperature
rarely falls below 27°C.
In the lowlands the climate is typically tropical with an average temperature
of 27°C in Colombo. In the higher elevations it can be quite cool with
temperatures going down to 16°C at an altitude of nearly 2,000 metres.
Bright, sunny warm days are the rule and are common even during the height
of the monsoon - climatically Sri Lanka has no off season. The south west
monsoon brings rain mainly from May to July to the western, southern and
central regions of the island, while the north-east monsoon rains occur
in the northern and eastern regions in December and January.
Sinhala,Tamil and English are official languages in Sri Lanka. Sinhala,
a language of Indo-Aryan origin is the language of the majority. English
is widely spoken and understood. Place names and sign-boards on buses and
trains are usually in all three languages. Sri Lanka is a land of religious
freedom and tolerance. Wherever you travel you will come across a Buddhist
Temple or Dagaba, a Hindu Kovil, a Christian Church or a Mosque, each with
its own distinctive architecture. When visiting holy places please conform
to the requirements as regards dress in order not to show disrespect.
Buddhism is the main religion of Sri Lanka where it was officially introduced
in the third century B.C. during the reign of King Devanam Piyatissa by
Venerable Mahinda who was son of Emperor Asoka of India. No sooner than
it was introduced here the new teaching caught up with the inhabitants of
the country so rapidly that within a few months’ time the entire country
became Buddhist. In Sri Lanka it has found its most congenial permanent
home. Buddhism is the practical system of psychological and philosophical
ethics taught to humanity by the Indian prince Siddhartha Gauthama in the
6th century B.C. He was born on the full – moon day of May in the year
623 B.C. as the son of Suddhodana, a provincial ruler of the kingdom of
Kapilavastu in Central India. His teaching has today become a world religion
providing inspiration and guidance to nearly one fourth of the world’s
population. He lived the house – hold life for twenty-nine years, the
last thirteen years of which constituted his married life with princes Yasodhara.
As a royal prince born with the silver spoon in the month he led a luxurious
life. However, he had been a very contemplative person from his young days
and this nature of his did not make him happy amidst his royal luxury. To
him such enjoyment did not make any appeal because he saw that it was fleeting
and temporary and as such, in the ultimate analysis, life is painful. All
so-called pleasures are delusive. Amidst comfort and prosperity he realized
the university of sorrow inherent in human existence.
Despite all the efforts of man to achieve happiness in this world, human
suffering stares in the face of all living beings. Search after worldly
pleasures available to him and donning the simple garb of an ascetic, alone
and penniless, he wandered forth from home to homelessness in search of
Truth and Peace, which to him appeared as an attainable objective.
Initially, he went to all the distinguished teachers at the time all of
whom failed to meet his demands. He was determined to find it for himself.
This was followed by six years of painful austerities which too proved futile.
However, by directing the searchlight inward, followed by a severe mental
and an emotional struggle, he ultimately achieved his cherished goal on
the full moon day of May 588 B.C. under the Bodhi Tree at Buddhagaya in
India.
About Sri Lanka - Reservation Form
