Mostly low, flat to rolling plain with mountains in the south-central interior rising to 2,524m at Piduruthalagala. For example at Nuwara Eliya, in the hills of Central Sri Lanka, has a temperature around 5-20☌ throughout the year, whereas Hambanthota, located in the dry zone, has a temperature consistently around 30-35☌. The climate of Sri Lanka changes dramatically from central highlands to the coastal belt. However, the two major rainy seasons are South-West monsoon (May to July) which predominantly affects the west & south coast of sri lanka and North-East monsoon (October to January) predominantly affecting the east coast. Since Sri Lanka is a tropical country, you can expect rain anytime of the year in different parts of the country. In May 2009 government military forces defeated the Tamil Tigers' separatist movement and ended a brutal 26 year-long war that began in 1983, thus opening up a new chapter in its history. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948 the name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. The entire island was ceded to the British in 1815. Partially occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century, the coastal parts island was ceded to the British in 1796, and became a British colony in 1802. Other notable but relatively more recent kingdoms are Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Gampola, Kandy and Jaffna Kingdoms. Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-3rd century BC, and a great civilization developed at such cities as Anuradhapura (kingdom from c. The Aryans arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century BC, probably from northern India and mixed with locals to make Sinhalese ethnic group. And over many centuries Sri Lanka has had many names. One of the most famous is the Ramayana, in which the island, which was referred to as Lanka, was the island fortress of the king Ravana. Sri Lanka has more than 2,550 years of continuous written history by means of the Mahawansha, and was also mentioned in several ancient Indian texts. It is an island country in the Indian Ocean, south of India. Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is in Southern Asia. (1 - 10m) deep in some areas.Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, but Colombo is the commercial capitalīuddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8% (1999)Ģ30V, 50Hz British G type plug most common + fewer (older) installations of D (round pin plug used in India). Today, the bridge is 18 miles (30 km) long, and ranges from 3 - 30ft. Off the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka a chain of limestone shoals, known as Adam's Bridge, separates the Gulf of Mannar from the Palk Strait, and runs along the water to the southeastern coast of India.Īt one point it was completely passable, but Adam's Bridge broke apart in the late 15th century when a cyclone hit the region. Numerous short and narrow rivers rise in the central highland the most significant include the Kala, Kalu, Kirindi and Yan rivers. The country's lowest point is the Indian Ocean at 0 m. (2,518 m), along with Adam's Peak (the country's famous religious site) both rise in the mountains directly east of Colombo. Pidurutalagala, the country's highest point at 8,261 ft. About 40% of the landmass is heavily forested. Intermixed throughout those mountains are numerous deep valleys and gorges. The coastal areas merge into a flat coastal plain, one that gently rises into the foothills of a mountainous region, central and south. km.Īs observed on the physical map above, most of Sri Lanka is low-lying and is ringed by (almost endless) sandy beaches, and small, irregular lagoons.
Sri Lanka is an island country located to the south of the Indian Peninsula in the Indian Ocean and has an area of 65,610 sq.