Sri Lanka the Miracle of Asia

Sri Lanka the Miracle of Asia

Sri Lanka  officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and known as Ceylon before 1972, is an island country in South Asia, located about 31 kilometres (19.3 mi) off the southern coast of India.

As a result of its location in the path of major sea routes, Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia.It has also been a center of the Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times and is one of the few remaining abodes of Buddhism in South Asia as well as being a bastion of Hinduism.The Buddhist community forms the majority of the population; Tamils, who are concentrated in the north and east of the island, form the largest ethnic minority. Other communities include Muslims, Christians, Malays and the indigenous Vedda people.

The country is famous for the production and export of tea, coffee, coconuts, rubber and cinnamon - which is native to the country.The natural beauty of Sri Lanka's tropical forests, beaches and landscape, as well as its rich cultural heritage, make it a world famous tourist destination.The island also boasts the first female Prime Minister in the modern world, Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

After over two thousand years of rule by local kingdoms, parts of Sri Lanka were colonised by Portugal and the Netherlands beginning in the 16th century, before control of the entire country was ceded to the British Empire in 1815.During World War II, Sri Lanka served as an important base for Allied forces in the fight against the Japanese Empire.A nationalist political movement arose in the country in the early 20th century with the aim of obtaining political independence, which was eventually granted by the British after peaceful negotiations in 1948.

Sri Lanka is an island of endless enchantment, a tiny tropical paradise where you could discover almost anything from golden sun-kissed beaches, mist-shrouded mountains, awe-inspiring ancient monuments and sprawling wild life parks to impenetrable rain forests and rushing white waters to get the adrenaline flowing.

Travelers have a right to dream, and in Sri Lanka they would discover their dreams could become a reality....

It is an Island of tranquil hospitality and spellbinding sights and sounds, a culture and heritage inherited over thousands of years, an island of vivid intensity where ancient customs and traditions blend perfectly with modern life.

Where the customs, traditions and religious beliefs brought in over the centuries add not only variety, but also spice to the island life, blending the best from the East and the West.

The Island has an unbroken expanse of beautiful golden beaches from the soft brown sands and warm blue waters of the Indian Ocean on its South and West Coast, to the world renowned beauty of its unspoilt expanses of beach on the East Coast.

No less than seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in Sri Lanka. They include the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, the cave temples at Dambulla dating back to the 1st Century, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy and Sigiriya - the rock fortress in the sky said to be the 8th Wonder of the World.

The Sinharaja tropical rain forest is designated a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and the white-washed seaport of Galle with its impressive Fort is declared the only Living World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka.

Seductive beaches and tempting water sports, magnificent landscapes featuring lazy lagoons, fertile wetlands, ecologically-wondrous types of forest, imposing mountains, bounteous rivers and waterfalls, an abundance of wildlife - much of it endemic - unique ecosystems, inspiring heritage sites from ancient cities to colonial forts, a vibrant culture including fine arts and crafts and grand festivals, and a people of diverse ethnicity and religious persuasion, charming and hospitable.
Contemporary tourist attractions such as luxurious Ayurveda spas and broad-based shopping opportunities have evolved, and Sri Lanka has become one of the world’s most popular destinations to get married and enjoy a honeymoon.

The World renowned space fiction writer Sir Arthur C. Clarke, a resident of Sri Lanka has said : "The Island of Sri Lanka is a small universe containing as many variations of culture, scenery and climate as some countries a dozen times her size....."