GENERAL INFORMATION
TRAVEL IDEAS
- Colombo, 3 days
- Sri Lanka Highlights Tour, 6 days
FAR EAST REZ CENTRE
Since you will probably be visiting more than just one country in the Far East, take advantage of our experience and contacts in the whole area. We can also help you with the best airfares. Have your agent contact us or fill out the information request form.
Sri Lanka
COUNTRY QUICKFACTS
Sri Lanka is a beautiful island country in the Indian Ocean and lies about 32 kilometres off the south east coast of India. Its official name is the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and was formerly called Ceylon.
Occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and the Dutch in the 17th century, the island was ceded to the British in 1802. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was subsequently changed in 1972.
Sri Lanka lies between a chain of tiny islands known as Adam's Bridge and is somewhat pear-shaped. The total area of the country is 65,610 km² (25,332 sq mi). Colombo is the commercial capital and the largest city.
It has an irregular surface with low-lying coastal plains running inland from the northern and eastern shores. The central and southern areas slope into hills and mountains. The highest peak is Pidurutalagala (2524m/8281ft).
Sri Lanka was part of the Empire of Asoka during the 3rd century, during which time the population was converted to Buddhism. The Sinhalese inhabitants later moved their capital to Polonnaruva in the south of the island to escape from repeated Tamil invasions during the 11th and 12th centuries.
The first Europeans to arrive were the Portuguese, quickly supplanted by the Dutch in the 17th century. In 1796 Sri Lanka (as Ceylon) was acquired from the Dutch by the British.
Initially, administration of the island was shared between the East India Company and the Crown, but the latter assumed full control in 1802. Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) eventually won independence in 1948.
