SRI LANKA in Perspective An Orientation Guide © DLIFLC | i SRI LANKA in Perspective An Orientation Guide TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: GEOGRAPHY......................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Geographic Divisions and Topographic Features .................................................................... 1 Knuckles Mountains ......................................................................................................... 2 Hanthana Mountains ......................................................................................................... 2 Sabaragamuwa Mountains ................................................................................................ 2 Climate ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Rivers and Bodies of Water ..................................................................................................... 3 Indian Ocean ..................................................................................................................... 3 Bay of Bengal ................................................................................................................... 3 Palk Bay ............................................................................................................................ 4 Palk Strait ......................................................................................................................... 4 Gulf of Mannar ................................................................................................................. 4 Mahaweli Ganga ............................................................................................................... 4 Major Cities and Population .................................................................................................... 4 Colombo/Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte ............................................................................... 5 Negombo .......................................................................................................................... 5 Kandy ............................................................................................................................... 6 Kalmunai .......................................................................................................................... 6 Galle ................................................................................................................................. 6 Batticaloa .......................................................................................................................... 7 Jaffna ................................................................................................................................ 7 Environmental Issues ............................................................................................................... 7 Natural Hazards ....................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 1 Assessment .............................................................................................................. 9 CHAPTER 2: HISTORY .............................................................................................................. 10 Sinhalese Origin Narrative .................................................................................................... 10 The Ancient Kingdom ........................................................................................................... 10 Medieval Invasions and Social Integration ............................................................................ 11 Early Modern ......................................................................................................................... 12 Colonial Domination ............................................................................................................. 13 Portuguese ...................................................................................................................... 13 Dutch .............................................................................................................................. 14 British ............................................................................................................................. 15 20th Century .......................................................................................................................... 15 Independence .................................................................................................................. 15 Civil War ........................................................................................................................ 17 Recent Events ........................................................................................................................ 18 © DLIFLC | ii SRI LANKA in Perspective An Orientation Guide Conclusion of the Civil War ........................................................................................... 18 Post-war Developments .................................................................................................. 18 Chapter 2 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 20 CHAPTER 3: ECONOMY ........................................................................................................... 21 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 21 Agriculture ............................................................................................................................. 22 Industry .................................................................................................................................. 22 Energy and Natural Resources ............................................................................................... 23 Trade ...................................................................................................................................... 24 Exports ............................................................................................................................ 24 Imports ............................................................................................................................ 24 Tourism .................................................................................................................................. 25 Banking and Finance ............................................................................................................. 26 Standard of Living and Employment Trends ......................................................................... 27 Public vs. Private Sector ........................................................................................................ 28 Future Outlook ....................................................................................................................... 29 Chapter 3 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 31 CHAPTER 4: SOCIETY .............................................................................................................. 32 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 32 Ethnic Groups and Languages ............................................................................................... 32 Sinhalese ......................................................................................................................... 32 Tamils ............................................................................................................................. 32 Moors (Muslims) ............................................................................................................ 33 Burghers ......................................................................................................................... 34 Veddahs .......................................................................................................................... 34 Religion .................................................................................................................................. 35 Buddhism ........................................................................................................................ 35 Hinduism ........................................................................................................................ 36 Islam ............................................................................................................................... 37 Roman Catholicism ........................................................................................................ 38 Cuisine ................................................................................................................................... 39 Traditional Dress ................................................................................................................... 40 Gender Issues ........................................................................................................................