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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka. Land and Climate. The island nation of Sri Lanka sits fewer than 20 miles off the coast of India. Covering 25,332 square miles, it is slightly larger than West Virginia. About 32 percent of the land is forested (down from 80 percent due to deforestation).

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Sri Lanka

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  1. Sri Lanka

  2. Land and Climate • The island nation of Sri Lanka sits fewer than 20 miles off the coast of India. • Covering 25,332 square miles, it is slightly larger than West Virginia. • About 32 percent of the land is forested (down from 80 percent due to deforestation). • The nation's south-central region is mountainous. Tea, rubber, and coconut plantations dominate the central mountains, although terraced rice paddies are not uncommon. • Sri Lanka has a tropical climate; temperatures average 80°F (27°C) year-round.

  3. Population • Sri Lanka's population of 21.5 million is growing by 0.86 percent annually. • Colombo, the capital and largest city, has two million inhabitants. • The ethnic Sinhalese constitute 74 percent of the population and are concentrated in the southwest. • The Tamils are divided into two groups: • the Ceylon (also called Sri Lankan) • Tamils (4 percent), whose ancestors lived on the island for centuries • The Indian Tamils (5 percent), whose ancestors were imported during the British colonial era. • About 300,000 Tamils live outside of Sri Lanka; many are refugees either in India or the West. • Tamils live in the north, south-central, and east areas.

  4. Language • The nation's official languages are Sinhala and Tamil. • The constitution also designates English as a “link language,” or unifying language. It is widely spoken and is the primary language of commerce. • Sinhala is the primary official language.

  5. Religion • Sri Lanka has been a stronghold of Theravada Buddhism, the more conservative branch of the religion. • Buddhism is practiced by nearly 70 percent of the population. • About 7 percent of Sri Lankans (mostly Tamils) are Hindus. • Some Buddhists also honor various Hindu deities.

  6. Personal Appearance • Sri Lankans take great pride in their appearance; it is rare to see a person not wearing clean and pressed clothes when away from home. • Although the youth and people in cities wear Western-style clothing, traditional forms of dress remain popular.

  7. Traditional Attire for Women • Women may wear a tight blouse and a saree, a wraparound dress that reaches to the ankles. • Women also wear a redda (a wraparound skirt that is tucked at the waist) with a hatte (blouse) that leaves the midriff bare.

  8. Traditional Attire for Men • Traditional attire for men may include loose-fitting trousers combined with a long shirt that reaches to mid-thigh. • The shirt has long, loose sleeves and buttons to the neck. • Men might also wear a sarong that reaches to the ankles.

  9. Family • The extended family is important in society. Even if a nuclear family has its own household, it often will live very close to relatives. • The husband dominates the family, but the wife manages the household and influences all family matters. • Women have economic and political opportunities outside the home but are expected to maintain all household responsibilities as well. • Women do not go out alone after dark.

  10. The Elderly • Parents expect to provide their children with all basic needs, even into adulthood. • The elderly receive deep respect, and younger family members often yield to their advice and counsel. • Children are expected to care for their elderly parents when necessary.

  11. Housing • For the upper and middle classes in urban areas, cement and brick are the most common building materials. • However, most Sri Lankans live in three- to five-room houses made of cinderblock or a mixture of clay and sand. • High roofs help keep rooms cool. • Indoor or attached bathrooms are common in cities, but many villagers still have an outhouse and bathe using water from a well or stream. • The electricity network now reaches most Sri Lankans, however, in some isolated villages, car batteries, solar panels, and household generators power homes.

  12. Dating and Marriage • Dating in the Western sense is not common in Sri Lanka. • Boys and girls get to know each other mostly through school, but interacting in groups is becoming more acceptable. • If a young couple begins a serious relationship, they are expected to eventually marry. • Such couples do go out to parks and so forth, but not always with the knowledge of their parents. • More and more people are choosing their own mates, especially in urban areas, but arranged marriages are still common.. Marriage between members of different ethnic groups is socially unacceptable.

  13. Recreation • Cricket is the most popular sport in Sri Lanka, followed by soccer, table tennis, volleyball.

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