2. Sri Lanka is a large, scenically dramatic island off India’s southeast coast, and was known as Ceylon until 1972. With high mountains, intermountain plateaus and steep river gorges, the rugged terrain of the central uplands dominates the island. Europeans began to colonize Sri Lanka in the 16 th Century. Sri Lanka’s nickname is The Subcontinent’s “Tear Drop”

3. Sri Lanka is economically based on large agriculture plantations that grow rice, tea, rubber, and coconuts especially for export. Sri Lanka is 3 rd as the world’s largest tea producing countries. Tourism was growing until the 1980’s when civil wars broke out and tourism collapsed. This destroyed roads, bridges, power systems and many other services. The economy in Sri Lanka still struggles. The Tsunami further damaged their tourism industry. Fishing for sharks, marlin and tuna has been a main activity for some time. Sri Lanka has large plantations devoted to produce cash crops. Among Sri Lanka’s mineral resources are a variety of precious and semi-precious stones including sapphires, rubies, tourmaline and topaz.

4. The Tamil Tigers are anti-government rebels in Sri Lanka. Sinhalese are indo-Aryan people who crossed the strait seperating India and Sri Lanka in the 6 th century B.C. and who created an advanced civilization there, adopting Buddhism. When Sri Lanka gained it’s independence in 1948 the majority Sinhalese stripped 800,000 Tamils of citizenship, the right to vote, and made Sinhala the country’s sole official language. The Tamils are the Dravidian Hindus from Southern India. Buddhist and Hindu temples, Muslim Mosques and Christian churches dot the landscape. Sinhalese Buddhists make up nearly 75% of the population. Most of them live in the Southern, Western and Central parts of the country. Tamils Buddhist Monks

5. Sri Lanka has the lowest birth rate and the lowest infant mortality rate. One of the world’s most famous gems- a star sapphire called the “Star of India” is actually from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is very technologically advanced with the highest number of TV’s and cars in South Asia. Sri Lanka has the highest per capita income in South Asia.