Sri Lanka

Location

Endless dreaming beaches, blue sea, coconut palm groves flooded with sunshine, pleasant green tea plantations, mysterious temples. Tropical paradise near the equator. 30 kilometers south of India, there is a land of a raindrop shape, approximately 60,000 square kilometers large.

The distance is 430 kilometers between the most northern and southern points and 225 kilometers between the most western and eastern points. The coast is 1,330 kilometers long. And going further to the south, there is nothing but the ocean up to Antarctic.

The Climate

Seasons in Ceylon are determined by two monsoons: the south-west monsoon and the north-east monsoon alternate every 6 months. The sun shines on the southern and western coasts from May to September, on the eastern coast then from November to March. Temperatures during a whole year are between 24° C to 32° C concerning coasts, but one has to expect only 12° C to 20° C temperatures in the mountains.

Wind direction changes in March/April and in October/November, while the sea remains relatively calm. The high season lasts from March to October on the southern and western coasts and from October to April on the eastern coast. However, prices are more convenient and local people are more open to tourists between the high seasons. Many incoming visitors are seeking the famous, kind of an under-a-spell atmosphere there. Clear air carries scintillating reflections of sun rays and evaporating water. It is warm and short rain showers are very refreshing. And the landscape dressed in green is covered by a haze of contemplative silence. Long-lasting rains are only exceptional. You may expect high temperatures with high air humidity on the coast, while the flat inland with rice fields offers dry climate. Weather in mountains with vast forests and tea plantations is very similar to summers in Central Europe - hot days and cold nights.

Flora & Fauna

Ceylon's vegetation is typical of woods, grassy steppes, rice fields, tea plantations, palm groves and untouched rain forests. If coming to a national park, you may find many varieties of apes, crocodiles, wild pigs, stags, peacocks, buffaloes, jackals, bears, turtles, snakes, iguanas, leopards, many bird species and, of course, elephants, as well as many others. Almost everywhere, visitors may also find precious stone mines, particularly in Ratnapura, the city of precious stones. There are many kinds of precious stones in sale:
Moon stones, rubies, topazes, amethysts, zircons, aquamarines, tourmalines, cat eyes, chryzoberylles, alexandrites, garnets, as well as valuable sapphires in cornflower blue color, so typical for Ceylon.

Ethnic groups and religion

74% of almost 19 million inhabitants are Singhalese, 18% Tamils,
7% Moors (Maures) and 1% various other nations. Most of Singhalese are Buddhists, while Tamils are mainly Hindus. Moors, together with a Malaysian minority of approximately 8%, are Moslems, and other 8% including all groups of inhabitants are Christians.

Arts & Craftes

Visitors may find pottery shops, batik works, bone laces, woven baskets and mattresses, forging products of metal, silver and gold with precious stones, enamel paintings, hand made masks of soft kadur wood (mainly from Ambalangoda), and many and many others.

Economy

The largest foreign exchange resources for Ceylon are in textile production with export exceeding 1 billion €uro per year, together with traditional products such as tea, coconuts, rubber, tobacco, wood, paper, leather, sea food, arrack, and obviously tourism, bringing a high number of visitors from the whole world.

Electricity

The main voltage in Sri Lanka amounts to 230 V, 50 Hz. European plugs fit in to the usual scokets.

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