Sri Lanka

Amazing Sri Lanka - About unforgettable Ceylon..! One day after visiting here, will never forget those endless golden sandy beaches, cozy resort towns and friendly Lankans hotel where warm tropical evenings, and romantic events of recent days, coconut palms barely rustle their dark green leaves, ocean shines and sparkles in the rays of the rising sun. As you walk along the edge of the surf, leaving a clean golden sands the traces ... Memory depicts scenes seen, the ancient city lost in the jungle, the ruins of palaces and temples, the last inhabitants of which, long-tailed monkeys, graciously posed in front of the camera lens . There is hardly in the world is one country where this is not a greater portion of land in the middle of the ocean, you can see so much extraordinary, wonderful, from the history of the people and nature of the island ...

PREPARING FOR TRIP

Travel to Sri Lanka is an information resource which is for the support of tourists who planning a trip to Sri Lanka. In the "Tour-inform" has published useful tourist information to prepare for the journey. In the "Hotels" you can choose the hotel for a beach holiday and overnight stays during the excursion program. The "Attractions" contains information about the monuments of history and nature of the island, resorts and various kinds of outdoor activities. In the section "Excursions" there is a description of the most interesting, different duration & excursion programs. In addition to sections of the portal published reviews, useful articles, historical information about the epoch of colonial Ceylon, news, prices in the country, weather conditions , prices for tours, information about air travel, the host company and a lot of other useful information that will help orient in the choice of the tour program, travel period and the corresponding this period stretch of coastline with the sunny weather and calm clear ocean. To discuss the details of your trip there is a "Forum", in which any current questions can be asked. We hope that Travellanka.ru portal will be useful to you and allow rational to spend the time to prepare for the long-awaited journey.

CLOTHES

We recommend wearing light cotton or linen clothes, sandals and a hat. The local shops have it all in a large variety and decent quality. Holidays in Sri Lanka is quite democratic, and does not impose strict requirements to clothes, but out of respect for the holy places, to visit the temples should be in clothing that covers the knees, shoulders and back when entering any temple you must take off your shoes and a hat. Women are not allowed to sunbathe on the beach in "topless". Some hotels are also not allowed to enter the restaurant in shorts, flip flops and bathing suits.

HEALTH STANDARDS

Sri Lanka -Suitable drinking boiled water is delivered to your room, usually once a day (bottled in flasks). But it is better to use bottled water (free of charge in hotels, as well as there are for sale in any shop) and other drinks factory production. The hotel restaurant offers both European dishes and national cuisine. Most of the local dishes are very sharp, prepared with all sorts of spices. Abuse of the local cuisine can lead to disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Try not to eat in the shady areas, although on the coast there are plenty of decent cafes offering seafood and other exotic dishes from turtles, lizards, crocodiles, snakes and monkeys. Observe good personal hygiene: wash your hands with soap before eating and after walking, when visiting temples - use disposable socks & bring wipes. Be sure to stock up on sunscreen. When traveling to Sri Lanka vaccination is not required. In the evening, in areas such as Sigiriya, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, it is recommended to use repellents. You should also beware of mosquito bites and other insects when visiting national parks. Also observe caution when consuming fruits.

RESORTS

Sri Lanka resorts spread along the western, south-western, southern, eastern and north-eastern coast of the island. Choosing the coast need to immediately determine how much time you are willing to spend on the shuttle from the airport to the hotel. It should be noted that the further from Colombo to the north or south, the ocean water is transparent. Weather in the resorts subjects to seasonal changes. To select the coast for a certain period of rest, be sure to visit the section: the beaches of Sri Lanka

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

Sri Lanka - arrival in the country must be declared valuable equipment and jewelry. Permitted currency importation, which is the equivalent of the amount is not more than 10 000 $ US 1.5 liters. Alcoholic drinks, 2 bottles of wine, a small amount of souvenirs and 250 ml. perfume in an amount not to exceed US $ 250. All tobacco products imported into the country are subject to customs duties (approximately Rs 7 for every imported cigarettes and 1,300 rupees per kilogram of tobacco or cigars). Strictly prohibits the importation of drugs, firearms and stabbing weapons, ammunition, explosives and gold. When leaving the country, customs clearance is required for all baggage (hand-made). A person can export of 6 kg ceylon tea out of the country & export of antiques is banded, rare books, manuscripts on palm leaves, rough gemstones, animals, plants (over 450 species) are also banded to export.

TIP

Tipping in restaurants - The hotel bills, bars and restaurants is already included VAT tax. Tipping drivers and porters with $ 1-2, is enough depending on the amount of luggage. For the guide who accompany you - in the range of $ 20 per group per day sightseeing. It can be reserved if only meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel - USD 5-8 per group (all of Sri Lanka tour guides work mainly for the tip). The theme of the tips covered in more details by tourists, who has visited the island, in the tourist section reviews

INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE

You can call the international phone directly from your hotel room; the call cost is much cheaper, if you use the international phone the automatic machine. Phone cards are available in stores, shops and petrol stations. The minimum cost of the card - 100 rupees. In addition, upon arrival at the Colombo international airport, you will be able to purchase a SIM card from a local mobile operator - Mobitel (National Mobile Provider of Sri Lanka). Cards will issue on your passport, Card Cost - Rs 1,000, half of which is transferred to your account. Cost per minute conversation with Russia is Rs.11 - Rs 8 in the country.

THE INTERNET

Popular resorts of Sri Lanka have Wi-Fi Internet. Wi-Fi is currently right in the rooms of most hotels, often free of charge, and in remote small hotel - the connection is on the reception or in the bars. The cost of a paid Wi-Fi is Rs 200 per hour, with an average speed of 3.6 Mb/ sec. At the reception you can buy a card for 100, 200, 400 rupees. In addition, there is a convenient connection to the Internet - through a USB-modem, which allows using the Internet anywhere in the island. Connection speeds up to 7.2 Mb / s. Buy USB-modem, together with the SIM card, you can have the mobile operators - Mobitel and Dialog-GSM (Sri Lanka's National Providers).The cost of USB-modem - 16,000 rupees, the cost of traffic - 1500 rupees per month.

 

ROADS

Roads on the island with good coverage, but often narrow, with left-hand traffic. On weekdays, from 08:00 to 21:00, in Colombo and the suburbs, traffic jams can be seen. The speed limit for cars and motorcycles 56 km / h - in built-up areas and 72 km / h - on motorways. Traffic rules are not respected. For self-crossings in the country, you can rent a car, but for your safety we recommend to book a taxi. The approximate cost for 1 km - 40 rupees. You can also use the services of rickshaws (tuk-tuk), but we recommend pre-negotiating the price of the fare (average of 20 rupees per kilometer).

PHOTO AND VIDEO SHOOTING

It is considered impolite to be photographed standing back against the Buddha statues, do not take pictures of government agencies, banks, police, as well as various military facilities. If you want to take pictures of the local people, you first need to get their permission (30 - 50 rupees), especially Buddhist monks.

VISA AND PASSPORT CONTROLS

Sri Lanka introduced visa (e-registration) for all arriving in the country. Visa fee-$ 35. At passport control, you must submit the following documents: passport valid for six months after the end of the trip, migration card (issued in the plane and on the border), a travel voucher and a return air ticket, with the specified date of departure.

BEST HOLIDAY PERIOD

Holidays in Sri Lanka has season character. As the weather on the coasts of the island depends on monsoon periods, from November to April for the rest is better to choose hotels in the south-west coast, and from May to October, hotels in the north-eastern coast of the island. From the monsoon period is directly related and the condition of the ocean. See more

ABOUT COUNTRY

Sri Lanka is a country of ancient culture, carried through the ages, retaining its identity, despite numerous wars and the colonial period. Translated from Sanskrit as "Blessed Land", Sri Lanka attracts travelers from all over the world, thanks to a huge historical heritage, preserved from previous eras, in the form of ancient cities, Buddhist and Hindu temples, numerous sacred places and monasteries. Throughout the centuries, ancient capitals appeared and collapsed in wars, cave temples, reservoirs and ancient reserves were created, Sinhalese civilization faded and blossomed again, fragments and huge monuments of which the Sri Lankans preserved and brought to our days.

The country began to be called Sri Lanka from May 22, 1972. Initially, the indigenous population called the island of Lanka (Lanka), meaning in Sinhalese "land". Then the island was known as Taprobe, and later, with the development of trade, was renamed Serendip - an island of precious stones. At the time of colonization, the island also changed its name. Under the Portuguese (16th-17th centuries), the island was called Ceilao, with the Dutch (17-18th centuries) - Ceylan, with the English (19-20th centuries) - the island of Ceylon (Ceylon). Finally, since 1972, the island has received the modern name of Sri Lanka, in which the word "Sri" means blessed, auspicious, free and with independence is often treated as "Free land."

NATIONAL FLAG

The national flag of Sri Lanka is the old Royal flag, symbolizing the history of the nation, courage, sovereignty and independence, unity and equality of the people of Sri Lanka. The national flag and national anthem are an important part of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The flag depicts a golden lion symbolizing the indigenous inhabitants of the island - the Sinhalese. The Indian word "synha" means "lion". In the right paw the lion holds a sword - "castan", it symbolizes courage. A red flag background means humility. The yellow strip is a symbol of Buddhist monasticism. Leaves in the corners of the red field denote four Buddhist concepts: love, compassion, mutual understanding and self-control. Vertical stripes at the shaft indicate: green - Muslims, orange - Tamil people. In modern form, the flag was approved in September 1978.

EMBLEM

Emblem of Sri Lanka in its current form has the following symbols: the Sinhalese lion with a sword in the right paw, the dharma wheel is a symbol of the commonwealth of nations, two circles in the lower part symbolize the night (moon) and the day (sun), between them two sheaves of rice with a Buddhist cup in the middle, symbolize the involvement of the island's territory in Buddhism. In its modern form, the coat of arms was approved in May 1971.

NATIONAL FLOWER

As the national flower of Sri Lanka in 1986 was chosen a blue lily (lotus flower), symbolizing purity, truth and self-control. The process of the appearance of a flower from a bog quagmire symbolizes suffering, vices and their overcoming. The stem symbolizes the relationship of man with his roots. A blossoming flower symbolizes the result of the influence of the Buddha's teachings on the process of growth. For Lankans, the lotus flower is a symbol of purity and perfection.

STATE DEVICE

The Social Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka is an independent South Asian state, with a wide autonomy of provinces (total 8 provinces), governed by local governments and governors. Since 1978, the country has a constitution. Legislative power belongs to the parliament, whose members are elected by popular vote for a period of 5 years. The executive power is in the hands of the president, who is the head of state, government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces and is elected by direct vote for a period of 6 years. The president, with the approval of the parliament, appoints the prime minister and has the right to dismiss the prime minister and cabinet ministers, as well as the right to dissolve the parliament at any time and to appoint new elections. Citizens who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote.

LOCATION

Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean, located 48 km southeast of the Indian subcontinent, between 5° 55 'and 9° 55' north of the equator and between 79° 42 'and 81° 52' east longitude, separated from India Polksky strait. The total area is 65610 square kilometers. The island has a surprisingly diverse terrain, fauna and lush vegetation. Having 445 km from north to south and 225 km from west to east, with a coastline length of 1620 km, the island is surrounded by beautiful tropical beaches. From the geographical features, it should be noted the central plateau, stretching about the central part of the island to its southern part and at the highest points, the mountain peaks leaving for the clouds to a height of 2500 m. The highest points of the island are Mount Pidurutalagala, 2524 m high, the majestic Peak of Adam (Mount Sri Pada) - 2,243 m, Gombania - 1,900 m, Knuckles - 1,852 m, Dumbaragala - 1633 m, Kalupakhan - 1618 m, Dotalugala - 1564 m, Kobonegalala 1544 m. The largest river of Sri Lanka is the Mahaveli Ganges, its length is 335 km. Many rivers are partially navigable.

 

WEATHER AND MASSONAL PERIODS

In the lowlands of Sri Lanka, the equatorial climate prevails. The average temperature in Colombo is 27 ° C, and at an altitude of 2000 m it drops to 16° C. The bright sun is almost daily occurrence, both on the coast and in the interior of the island, including monsoon periods, which are characterized by the greatest cloudiness. In Sri Lanka there are no periods unsuitable for beach holidays or travel around the country. The south-west monsoon, from May to July, brings more rain to the western and southern parts of the country, and the northeastern monsoon rains begin in December and last until February, bringing rainy weather to the northeast and east coast.

LANGUAGE AND RELIGION

Sinhal, Tamil and English are the official languages of Sri Lanka. Sinhalese of Indo-Aryan origin is the language of the majority. It is widely distributed, as indeed the English language is understandable for most of the country's population. The names of places, road signs and inscriptions in trains are found in all three languages. Sri Lanka is a country that enjoys freedom of religion. Wherever you go, you can see a Buddhist and Hindu temple, a Christian church and a mosque, next to any architectural structures. When entering the sacred places, you must observe the rules and requirements for clothing, so as not to hurt the feelings of believers.

BUDDHISM

Buddhism is the leading religion of Sri Lanka. It was officially recognized in the country in the third century. He was brought to Sri Lanka by Mihind Mach, the son of Ashoka, the High Commissioner of India. As soon as this new religion was brought to Sri Lanka, the whole country began to profess Buddhism. Sri Lanka was a fertile soil for rooting among the people. Buddhism is a practical way of life, consisting of psychological and philosophical doctrines that preached to humanity Siddhartha Gautama Buddha in the VI century BC. He was the son of Suddhodana, the provincial ruler of the Kapilavastu kingdom in central India. His teaching has become a world religion, which inspires almost a quarter of the world's population.

ETHNIC COMPOSITION

The population of the country is 18.5 million people. Most of them are Sinhalese (74%), 18% - Indian Tamils, 7.5% Muslims and burgers (descendants of Portuguese and Dutch), 0.5% account for other nationalities. Although Sri Lanka is a multi-confessional country, the majority are Buddhists (69.3%). Other religious groups include Hindus (15.5%), Muslims (7.6%) and Christians (7.5%). The literacy rate of Sri Lanka at 88.6% is the highest in Asia. The population density in the country is about 270 people per 1 sq. Km.

ECONOMY

Sri Lanka is mainly an agricultural country. Rice is the main culture. Tea, rubber and coconut are also important crops, with tea being the leading article on foreign exchange inflows. In addition, other important crops are grown, including cocoa, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, pepper and cloves. Some tropical fruits and vegetables are also exported abroad. Over the past three decades, tourism has become an important industry. The range of export goods, such as oil products, leather goods, ready-made clothing and electronic equipment, has expanded.

The production of tea is important for Sri Lanka. The island produces 9-11% of the world's tea. More than half a million people work on tea plantations. Most of the tea produced is exported. Sri Lanka takes the leading place in the world for the export of tea. Another important export culture is the rubberback of Hevea. As in the production of tea, the bulk of rubber is given by large plantations. With such plantations, factories are located that process the assembled latex and produce sheet rubber. The third export culture is coconut. Sri Lanka exports a large amount of copra, coconut oil and dried coconut milk. Of the other types of agricultural products that are exported, spices play an important part. Recently, exports of manufactured goods have increased. Of these, the most significant part is made up of light industry goods. An important item of income is precious stones.

MEDICINE

Sri Lanka is a country with a highly developed system of conservation. The city towers are equipped with high-quality equipment and well-trained specialists. The level of medical care is equal to the average European level. For citizens of Sri Lanka, medical services are provided free of charge. At the same time, there is a paid, rather expensive, medicine on the European model. In addition, the island has developed a popular Ayurvedic medicine, which has many centers and an Ayurvedic institute in Colombo. Large hospitals and polyclinics are located in all the main cities of the country, in rural areas, as a rule, there are only points of first aid. First aid in the village is almost not developed. For non-residents (citizens temporarily staying in the country), medicine is paid, without insurance pole or cash payment, only the first emergency aid is provided. In Colombo there is a national hospital in which medical services are rendered to all who need it round the clock.

 

EDUCATION

The widespread development of schools has led to the fact that the level of literacy of the population of Sri Lanka is one of the first places in Asia. In public schools, education is free, including university education, compulsory education for ages from 5 to 14 years. Schools in Sri Lanka are state-owned, there are also private and international ones. In the cities, education is separate, in the countryside - joint. Schoolboys are always neat, dressed in a white uniform. Schools are divided according to religious criteria: Buddhist, Tamil, Muslim and Christian. Education in schools is divided into three levels: primary, secondary and higher. As a result of graduating from high school, graduates have the opportunity to enter one of the universities without an entrance exam.

TRANSPORT

The main types of public transport in Sri Lanka are trains and buses. For moving to small distances in cities and towns there is an inexpensive local taxi - a three-wheeled motor scooter tuk-tuk. Excellent bus service, with a large number of routes, allowing you to reach any point of the island. Transportation is carried out by the state bus company CTB and small private companies PBC. There is a well-developed railway connection between many cities of the country. Trains leave from the central train station in Colombo and go on schedule to the following cities: Negombo, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Halle, Mataru, Kandi, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Nuwara Eliya, Batticaloa, Bandarawela.

HOLIDAYS

In Sri Lanka, five working days a week. Weekend days, except Saturdays and Sundays, are the days of the full moon, Poya Day, intended for meditation. There are state, such as Independence Day, and religious, such as Tai Pongal or Esala Peraxera, holidays. The dates of most religious holidays are determined annually by the lunar calendar.

MORALS & CUSTOMS

The morals and customs of the Sri Lankan society developed over the course of the centuries-old history of the island. A major influence on their formation was provided by the main religions, especially Buddhism. The rules of politeness are the same as in other countries of the world, but some features should be noted. The locals are very welcoming, friendly and ready to help you in any difficult situation. However, the traditional feature of the local poor was begging for a long time, which eventually turned into a profession. Professional beggars can be found at shops, in tourist places, at the entrance to the operating temples.

MASS MEDIA

Television appeared in Sri Lanka in 1979. Currently, there are many public and private channels. The programs are conducted in Sinhalese, Tamil and English. Some broadcasts are broadcast via Facebook and YouTube channels. In the FM-band there is a state broadcasting company of Sri Lanka and a number of private radio stations. Many radio companies broadcast in English. Newspapers and magazines are published in Sinhalese, Tamil and English. Daily newspapers in English - Daily News, Evening Observer, The Island, FT Daily Be Empowered. There are many news Internet resources, both in Sinhalese and in English.

HISTORY

Recent excavations show that during the Neolithic period in Sri Lanka, food was collected and rice was cultivated. However, very little is known about this phase of the development of society. Written history begins with the arrival of the Aryans from Northern India. The Aryans began using iron and advanced methods of farming, including irrigation of fields. They also created methods of governing the country. From the Aryan settlements, the first - Anuradhapura, became a powerful kingdom under the authority of King Pandukabhai. According to traditional history, he is the founder of Anuradhapura. In the reign of King Devanampotissa, descendant of Pandukabhai, In 247, Buddhism was brought to Sri Lanka. This is a very important event in the history of the country. With this new spiritual wave of civilization, Sri Lanka has become a prosperous country.

 

ANIMAL

Territories of national parks and reserves preserve the unique animal life of Sri Lanka. The island has about 450 species of birds, of which 251 species are permanent inhabitants of the island, and 24 of them are found only in Sri Lanka. Of the 86 animal species, elephants occupy the most significant place. At the beginning of the 19th century, the island was home to more than 30,000 elephants. Elephants are now no more than 6,000 individuals. Destruction of the habitat has led to a decline in numbers, but large herds of elephants have remained in the national parks Yala and Udavalave. Not often you can meet a leopard, although the park Vilpato is proud of a large number of wild cats. The following species of wild animals are inhabited on an island: wild boars, jackals, buffaloes, several species of deer, bears, crocodiles, wild creatures, foxes and monkeys. About 50 species of freshwater fish live in water bodies, 38 amphibian species. The island has 75 species of reptiles, including two species of crocodiles, a water monitor and a monitor. On land you can meet a star tortoise, on the sea - five species of sea turtles protected by law. Sri Lanka - this is an open space and great opportunities for researchers and nature lovers.

PLANTS

The huge rainforest trees of the wet zone contrast with the palms of the arid zones of the north and east. About 3,000 plant species are found on the island, of which 25% are flowering; 750 species of herbs, about 150 species of orchids and ferns. Pine forests on the slopes of the mountains are replaced by vast groves of coconut palms stretching along the south-west coast. In the treeless areas of the intermontane valleys, called "Patanas", sphagnum mosses, falconry and rhododendrons are growing. About 45% of forest plants belong to the category of rare species. Of the large species of trees you can find polyanthus, satin, ebony, teak and sandalwood. In Sri Lanka, there are many useful plants used for food. Among them, cinnamon, chili, nutmeg, pepper, turmeric, citronella, vanilla, cloves. The plantations grow numerous types of fruits: mangoes, papayas, pineapples, bananas, passion fruit, avocado, rambutans, mangosteen, durian and many others. The island cultivates agricultural crops: tea, rice, sugar cane, tobacco, coffee and coconuts.