Background

Late in the sixth century B.C., the first Sinhalese came in Sri Lanka, most likely from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in the mid-third century B.C., and the towns of Anuradhapura (kingdom from around 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa grew into powerful civilizations (from about 1070 to 1200). A Tamil kingdom was formed in northern Sri Lanka by a south Indian dynasty in the 14th century. The Portuguese ruled the island’s coastal parts in the 16th century, followed by the Dutch in the 17th century.

The British took control of the island in 1796, it became a crown colony in 1802, and by 1815, it was unified under British authority. In 1948, it gained independence as Ceylon; its name was later changed to Sri Lanka in 1972.

Climate

The tropical climate of Sri Lanka assures consistently warm temperatures, with monthly averages in the lowlands ranging from 72°F (22°C) to 92°F (33°C).
Higher altitudes in the Central Highlands result in cooler temperatures, with monthly averages ranging from 44 °F (7 °C) to 71 °F (21.6 °C).

Fun Facts

1. It is nicknamed Pearl of the Indian Ocean and teardrop of India
2. It’s packed with a large variety of animals
3. Tea is a big business in Sri Lanka
4. It is home of cinnamon
5. You’ll think of England in the town of Nuwara Eliya
6. Adam’s Peak is the most sacred mountain in the country
7. Sri Lanka gave “serendipity” to the English language
8. The Sri Lankan national flag is one of the oldest in the world
9. One of Buddha’s Teeth is housed in a temple in Kandy
10. It is the first country in the world to have a female prime minister
11. It has the highest literacy rate in South Asia
12. It is a place where locals shake their head to agree
13. Not every hotel is for an overnight stay
14. Volleyball is the national sport of Sri Lanka but Cricket is the most famous
15. It is home to the world’s oldest human-planted tree

Facts