DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA
"SRI LANKA"
LAND OF THE JEWELS.ISLE OF SORROW.PEARL OF INDIAN OCEAN
BASIC FACTS
A. COUNTRY
FORMERLY KNOWN AS : CEYLON
CAPITAL : COLOMBO
CURRENCY : SRI LANKAN RUPPEE
IMPORTANT CITIES : SRI JAYEWARDEYAPURA, KOTTE, COLOMBO, KANDY, DEHIWALA, GALLE & JAFFNA
HIGHEST POINT : PIDURUTALAGALA
NATIONAL FLAG : LION FLAG
NATIONAL FLOWER : BLUE WATER LILY
NATIONAL ANTHEM : "SRI LANKA MATHA"
NATIONAL DANCE : KANDYAN DANCE
B. PEOPLE
POPULATION : 20 M
-MAJORITY : SINHALESE (75%) - THERAVADA BUDDHISTS
-MINORITY : TAMIL (18%) - HINDUS
-OTHERS : MUSLIM MOORS (7%), BURGHERS (DESCENDANTS OF THE DUTCH & PORTUGUESE) & OTHERS (1%)
LITERACY PERCENTAGE : 90-92%
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE : SINHALESE
-OTHER LANGUAGES : TAMIL, ENGLISH
OFFICIAL RELIGION : BUDDHISM
-OTHER RELIGIONS : HINDUISM, CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM
PRODUCTS : WORLD'S TOP PRODUCER OF GRAPHITE & LIMESTORE
-ALSO : RUBIES & SAPPHIRES & OTHER GEMS, TEA, RUBBER, COCONUT
GEOGRAPHY
GEOGRAPHICAL SHAPE : PEAR-SHAPED ISLAND IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
TOTAL LAND AREA : 66 K SQ KM
LOCAL DIVISIONS : 9 PROVINCES, 25 DISTRICTS
LAND BOUNDARIES : INDIA
-FAR NEIGHBORS : MYANMAR, THAILAND, MALAYSIA
CLIMATE : GENERALLY WARM & SUBTROPICAL
TERRAIN : 4/5 FLAT & GENTLY ROLLING, 2/3 JUNGLE
BETYADIDNTKNOWTHISHUH???
* WHAT'S IN THE NAME ?
-ORIGINAL NAME WAS GIVEN BY ARYANS IN THE EPIC POEM RAMAYANA
-ARABS CALLED IT SERENDIB WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY SERENDIPITY IN ENGLISH
-CALLED CEYLON AFTER ITS INDEPENDENCE
-THEN SRI LANKA (RESPLENDENT ISLAND) BY THE 1972 CONSTITUTION
* TAKE A CLOSER PEEK AT THIS.
-ADAM'S PEAK IS THE MOST SACRED MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD BECAUSE :
- MUSLIMS BELIEVE THAT THE FOOTPRINT WAS ADAM'S
- CHRISTIANS BELIEVE IT BELONGS TO ST. THOMAS
- BUDDHISTS BELIEVE IT BELONGS TO BUDDHA
- HINDUS BELIEVE IT BELONGS TO SHIVA
* THE TOOTHFAIRY TALE.
- BUDDHA'S TOOTH IS SAID TO BE ENSHRINED IN KANDY
* DESPERATE HOUSESTRIKES
- THE COUNTRY IS SADLY FACING PROBLEMS CURRENTLY & EVER SINCE HISTORY BEGAN SUCH AS : CIVIL WARS, HIGH-DEFENSE SPENDING & STAGNATED ECONOMY
* THE SAD SAD EQUATION.
- ONE OF THE WORLD'S LOVELIEST PLACES + CIVIL WAR (TAMIL VS SINHALESE) = ISLE OF SORROWS
HISTORY
A. ANCIENT HISTORY
20 CENTURIES AGO - WHERE THE FEUD DATES BACK
A. SINHALESE
- ARYANS FROM INDIA - WHO CAME 2400 YEARS AGO
- PRINCE VIJAYA - INDIAN PRINCE - LANDED IN NORTH SRI LANKA IN 543 BC
- FIRST KING OF SRI LANKA
- ESTABLISHED THE SINGHALA KINGDOM (LION RACE)
-IN HONOR OF SINGHA, HIS FATHER
- BUDDHISM SPREADT IN THE 3RD CENTURY
B. TAMIL
- DRAVIDIANS
- 12TH CENTURY - PARAKRAMA THE GREAT - HAD A BRIEF BUT GLORIOUS REIGN
* STUPID 2000 YEAR-OLD-NIGHTMARE OF THE SINHALESE - TAMILS WILL DRIVE THEM OUT TO SEA
B. EUROPEAN COLONIZATIONS
1. PORTUGUESE
- LED BY LORENZO DE ALMEIDA IN 1505
- TOOK HOLD OF KANDY & KOTTE (SINHALESE) & JAFFNA (TAMILS)
*PORTUGUESE FORCED TO SAY BYEBYE BECAUSE OF THE DUTCH.
2. DUTCH
- 1656
- HOLLAND WAS COLONIAL POWER UNTIL 1796
- SURRENDERED WITHOUT A FIGHT TO
3. BRIT*ISH
- 1796 - 1947 (ONE CENTURY AND A HALF)
- UNITED RACIAL GROUPS UNDER ONE GOVERNMENT SYSTEM *AND MADE THEM ALL WORK IN THE TEA
PLANTATIONS - SINHALESE & TAMILS OF ANCIENT SRI LANKA & TAMILS OF THE BRITS
- ENGLISH BECAME NEW COMMON LANGUAGE
- INFRASTRUCTURES : ROADS, RAILWAYS, SCHOOLS, WESTERNIZED IN SHORT
- 1915 - INDEPENDENCE RIOTS
- 3 GROUPS UNITED
- FORGED "CEYLON NATIONAL CONGRESS" - FIRST LOCAL POLITICAL PARTY
- TAMILS BOYCOTTED THE 1931 ELECTIONS - MADE OWN ORGANIZATION
- AFTER WWII
- STEPHEN SENANAYAKE (SRI LANKAN INDEPENDENCE FATHER*DADDY)
*SUCCEEDED BY SON : DUDLEY SENANAYAKE - DIED IN 1953 BECAUSE OF ILLNESS
*SUCCEEDED BY RELATIVE BY MARRIAGE : JOHN KOTEWALA
- PRICES TUMBLED
- DISCONTENT IN 1956 U.N. PARTY
- SOLOMON BANDARANAIKE
- LED FREEDOM STRUGGLE
- FIRST PRIME MINISTER (AFTER INDEPENDENCE)
- FEB. 4, 1948
- INDEPENDENCE "LASTED" UNTIL 1952
- *BALIK BAGAY (3 RACIAL GROUPS)
C. AFTER INDEPENDENCE
1. SOLOMON BANDARNAIKE
- SINHALESE-DOMINATED PARLIAMENT
- MADE SINHALA THE OFFICIAL TONGUE
* AND OTHER MEASURES TO ENSURE VAIN MAJORITY
- THIS ANGERS THE TAMILS
- ASSASINATED BY *IDIOTIC PRIEST IN 1959
- SUCCEEDED BY HIS WIDOWED WIFE
2. SIRIMARO BANDARNAIKE
- 1972 - ANNOUNCES STATE OF EMERGENCY
- NEW CONSTITUTION CALLING THE COUNTRY "SRI LANKA"
- GROWN UNPOPULAR DUE TO SUPPRESSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
3. JAYEWARDENE
- 1977 - NEW CONSTITUTION
- PRESIDENTIAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT
- PEACE-LOVING
- TAMILS WANTED SEPERATE STATE
- RETIRED ON 1988
4. RANASINGHE PREMADASA
- "BALLOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE TRIUMPHED OUR BULLETS OF BRUTALITY"
-PREMADASA'S STATEMENT AFTER WINNING THE ELECTION
-ASSASSINATED ON 1993
5. CHANDRIKA BANDARNAIKE
- 1994 PRESIDENT
- MADE HER MOTHER, SIRIMARO, PRIME MINISTER
- DIED IN 2000
D. MODERN TIMES
1. DEC. 2004 - TSUNAMI
- DEATH RATES RANK SECOND AFTER INDONESIA'S
CONTRIBUTIONS
1. JEWELS - SRI LANKAN KORU
- HAS THE WORLD'S LARGEST & SECOND & THIRD LARGEST SAPPHIRES IN THE WORLD
2. OTHER PRODUCTS
TICKLING ITCHY FEET
A. ANCIENT CITIES
1. DALADA MALIGAWA, KANDY
- TEMPLE OF SACRED TOOTH RELIC OF BUDDHA
(Brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th c. A.D., the sacred relic has ever since been the symbol of sovereignty for its rulers and always enshrined in great splendour. Kandy?s Dalada Maligawa is a magnificent shrine, with decorative walls, moat, turrets, golden roof and fine wood-work and its 16th ? 19th century ambience vividly alive. Three religious services (pooja) with traditional music, held daily at dawn, mid-day and in the evening, can be viewed by visitors)
2. KELANIYA TEMPLE, GAMPAHA DISTRICT, 7 KM FROM COLOMBO
- TEMPLE CONSECRATED TO BUDDHA
(This temple, consecrated during the third and final visit of Lord Buddha to Sri Lanka, eight years after gaining enlightenment, is situated 7 miles from Colombo in Gampaha District on the banks of the Kelaniya River. Its history goes back nearly 2,563 years. The Mahawansa records that the original Dagoba at Kelaniya enshrined a gem-studded throne on which the Buddha sat and preached. The temple is also famous for its image of the reclining Buddha and paintings which depict important events in the life of the Buddha, in the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, also incidents from the Jataka tales. lt is the venue of the annual Duruthu Perahera held in the month of January)
3. ADAM'S PEAK, HATTON TOWN
- FOOTPRINT OF BUDDHA
(It is believed that Lord Buddha during his third visit to Sri Lanka placed his footprint on the summit of this sacred mountain. So, the name Sri Pada the sacred footprint. This mountain is also known as Samantakuta, Sumanakuta, Samanalakanda, Samanhela, Samangira, Medumhelaya etc. The Christians call the mountain Adam's Peak, derived from the Portuguese Pico de Adam (Peak of Adam). It is 7,360 feet in height and is the forth highest mountain in the country and has several approaches, the main ones being through the Hatton town and Ratnapura District. Annually, from December to April, devotees climb the mountain to pay obeisance)
QUESTIONS
1. WHY IS SRI JAYEWARDENEPURA AND GALLE CONSIDERED IMPORATANT CITIES?
A.SRI JAYEWARDENEPURA-IT IS THE NEW KOTTE.
-IT IS THE JUDUCIAL AND LEGISLATIVE CAPITAL IF THE COUNTRY.
B.GALLE-IT IS WHERE MOST OF THE TEA PLANTATIONS OF THE COUNTRY ARE FOUND.
-ALSO EXPORTS RUBBER, TEA, AND COCONUT, ETC.
C. JAFFNA- IT WAS WHERE THE PORTUGUES AND DUTCH LANDED AND THEREFORE CONSIDERED AN
IMPORTANT PORT IN HISTORY DAYS
2. WHAT ARE THERAVADA BUDDHISTS?
-Theravada (Pali: thera "elders" + vada "word, doctrine"), the "Doctrine of the Elders," is the name for the school of Buddhism that draws its scriptural inspiration from the Pali Canon, or Tipitaka, which scholars generally accept as the oldest record of the Buddha's teachings. For many centuries, Theravada has been the predominant religion of Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand; today Theravada Buddhists number over 100 million world-wide. In recent decades Theravada has begun to take root in the West ? primarily in Europe, Australia and the USA.
3. BACKGROUND OF RAMAYANA.
- A MAN RAMA, IS PORTRAYED AS THE HERO HERE AND THE REINCARNATION OF LORD VISHNU. HE RESCUES HIS WIFE SITA, THE REINCARNATION ALSO OF THE GODDESS LAKSHMI, THE WIFE OF VISHNU, FROM RAVANA, THE DEMON KING. HE IMPRISONS HER IN LANKA, WHAT IS NOW BELIEVED THE MODERN SRI LANKA. RAVANA RECEIVED A BOON FROM BRAHMA WHO PROMISED HIM THAT HE WOULD NOT MEET DEATH CAUSED BY GODS,SPIRITS,NOR DEMONS UNLESS HE MADE 10,000 YEARS OF SACRIFICE TO HIM. AFTER THAT, HE GETS BORED AND ABDUCTS PRETTY WIVES. RAMA WAS BORN A HUMAN TO KILL HIM.
5. IS JAYEWARDENE A GIRL OR A BOY?
-JUNIUS RICHARD JAYEWARDENE IS INDEED A BOY.
6. IS PINDURUTALAGAL A MOUNTAIN?
-LITERALLY STRAW PLATEAU ROCK
-MOUNTAIN/MT. PEDRO
7. WHAT'S A KANDYAN DANCE?
-UP COUNTRY DANCE IN HONOR OF THE GOD KOHOMBA
-GOD OF MARGOSA TREE
-MOST EXPENSIVE FOR EMBALMING
-DOWN COUNTRY DANCE PLEASE YAKKAS OR DEVIL AND DEMONS FOR WELL-BEING
9. WHAT'S THE ORIGINAL NAME GIVEN BY THE ARYANS TO SRI LANKA?
-LANKA, AS THE PRISON OF SITA IN RAMAYANA
10. WHY DID JAYEWARDENE RETIRE?
-PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE CIVIL WAR THAT BROKE OUT IN THE LATE 70'S
12. WHAT DOES THE WORD "CEYLON" MEAN IF "SRI LANKA" MEANS RESPLENDENT ISLAND?
13. WHAT DOES "MATHA" MEAN IN SRI LANKA MATHA?
14. WHO IS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF SRI LANKA?
-MAHINDA RAJAPAKSE
15. WHO IS THE CURRENT PRIME MINISTER OF SRI LANKA?
-RATNASIRI WICKREMANAYAKE
16. TYPE OF GOVERNMENT?
-DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA
