Lion Royal Tourisme, Sri Lankan travel agency organizing tours and holidays in Sri Lanka and Maldives

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Discover Sri Lanka

Location: 40km Southeast to the Indian Sub Continent
Area: 65600 km2
Population: 19 million
Climate: Tropical, Low country 24.4°c - 31.7°c
Hill Country: 17.1°c - 26.3°c
Annual Rain fall: 1991mm
Capital: Sri Jayawardenapura
Commercial Capital: Colombo
Population: 19.5 Million
Density: 310
Ethnic groups: Singhalese 74%, Sri Lankan Tamils 12.6%, Indian Tamils 5.5% Moors 7.1% Others 0.8%
Languages: Sinhala, Tamil and English
Religion: 69% Buddhist, 15% Hindu, 8% Muslim, 8% Christian
Life Expectancy: Men 70Yrs / Women 75Yrs
Economy: Agriculture (Rice, Tea, Rubber, Coconut & Spices)
Textiles, Tourism, Fishing & Mining
Employment: Agriculture 34.1%, Industry 21.4%, Services 44.5%
Literacy Rate: 92%
Per Capita Rate: US$ 1025
Inflation rate: 9.5%

Practical information

International dialing code: +94
Time: 6 hours ahead of Greenwich
Electricity: 230V
Currency: Rupees $ £ € and credit cards are accepted in Reputed establishments) Banks are open from 08.30 to 14.30Hrs
Credit cards accepted.
What to wear: Light cotton dresses, & light weight suits
Visiting religious sites: When visiting Buddhist & Hindu Temples, Visitors are expected to be dressed in proper attire. Skirts or long trousers - Shorts & swimwear are Not allowed. Remove hats and shoes before Entering Hindu & Buddhist temples.

IMPORTANT:

The Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka launched a system of visa to enter the territory of Sri Lanka.
To obtain your visa, thank you for visiting www.eta.gov.lk.

Location and Physical Features

Sri Lanka, an island in the Indian Ocean is located to the south of the Indian subcontinent. It lies between 5O 55’ and 9O 55’ north of the equator and between the eastern longitudes 79O 42’ and 81O 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 27OC.

History

Recent excavations show that even during the Neolithic Age, there were food gatherers and rice cultivators in Sri Lanka. Very little is known of this period; documented history began with the arrival of the Aryans from North India. The Aryans introduced the use of iron and an advanced form of agriculture and irrigation. They also introduced the art of government. Of the Aryan settlements, Anuradhapura grew into a powerful kingdom under the rule of king Pandukabhaya. According to traditional history he is accepted as the founder of Anuradhapura.

During the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa, a descendent of Pandukabhaya, Buddhism was introduced in 247 B.C. by Arahat Mahinda, the son of Emperor Asoka of India. This is the most important event in Sri Lankan history as it set the country on the road to cultural greatness. As a new civilisation flourished Sri Lanka became rich and prosperous.

In the mid 2nd century B.C. a large part of north Sri Lanka came under the rule of an invader from South India. From the beginning of the Christian era and up to the end of the 4th century A.D. Sri Lanka was governed by an unbroken dynasty called Lambakarna, which paid great attention to the development of irrigation. A great king of this dynasty, Mahasen (3rd century A.D.) started the construction of large `tanks’ or irrigation reservoirs. Another great `tank’ builder was Dhatusena, who was put to death by his son Kasyapa who made Sigiriya a royal city with his fortress capital on the summit of the rock.

As a result of invasions from South India the kingdom of Anuradhapura fell by the end of the 10th century A.D. Vijayabahu 1 repulsed the invaders and established his capital at Polonnaruwa in the 11th century A.D. Other great kings of Polonnaruwa were Parakrama Bahu the Great and Nissanka Malla both of whom adorned the city with numerous buildings of architectural beauty.

Invasion was intermittent and the capital was moved constantly until the Portuguese arrived in 1505, when the chief city was established at Kotte, in the western lowlands. The Portuguese came to trade in spices but stayed to rule until 1656 in the coastal regions, as did the Dutch thereafter. Dutch rule lasted from 1656 to 1796, in which year they were displaced by the British. During this period the highland Kingdom, with its capital in Kandy, retained its independence despite repeated assaults by foreign powers who ruled the rest of the country. In 1815 the kingdom of Kandy was ceded to the British and thus they established their rule over the whole island. Modern communications, western medical services, education in English, as well as the plantation industry (first coffee then tea, rubber and coconut) developed during British rule. By a process of peaceful, constitutional evolution, Sri Lanka won back her independence in 1948 and is now a sovereign republic, with membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations Organisation.

Demography

Sri Lanka has a population of 18.5 million of whom the majority are Sinhalese (74%). Other ethnic groups are made up of Sri Lankan Tamils (12.6%), Indian Tamils (5.5%), Moors, Malays, Burghers (of Portuguese & Dutch descent) and others (7.9%).

Although Sri Lanka is a multi-religious country, Buddhists constitute the majority with 69.3%. Other religious groups are Hindus 15.5%, Muslims 7.6% and Christians 7.5%. Sri Lanka’s literacy rate of 88.6% is one of the highest in Asia.

Tour suggestion

8 days tour

10 days tour

14 days tour

Tailor made for you personalised

Kingfisher Lodge



Kingfisher Lodge have 12 well-appointed comfortable rooms situated in an undisturbed habitat away from the main road, located to discover all the cultural sites found in the region and national parks of Sigiriya.
Kingfisher Lodge is a nature lover's zone where guests can breathe fresh air of the calm surroundings.

Kassapa Lions Rock



Located in the heart of the cultural triangle, in a quiet village called Didampathaha, over looking Sigiriya, Kassapa Lions Rock offers 31 well appointed luxury chalets to make your stay a comfortable and memorable one.

Coco Royal Beach



Feel the breeze, enjoy the waves, smell the ocean, relax on the golden Beach, mediate at the sun rise...
Come and stay at Coco Royal where hospitality goes beyond waves.

About Lion Royal Tourisme

Lion Royal Limited,
45, Braybrook street,
Colombo 02,
Sri Lanka

Tel : 00 94 114715996
Fax : 00 94 114715997
Skype : lionroyal_tourisme@skype.com

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Awards

Major Inbound Tour Operator 'Sri Lanka Tourism Awards 2011'
Provincial Silver Award 'Sri Lanka Entrepreneur of the year 2012'
National Bronze Award 'Sri Lanka Entrepreneur of the year 2012'
MACO International Business Excellence Award 2012
Emerging Entrepreneur 'Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award 2013'