E-Network Healing Initiative Leadership Linkage (HILL) - A Student Linkage Magazine COUNTRY- Sri Lanka KENSRI Editor: Harsha gowda Country Editor: Country Asst. Editor IDENTITY OF COUNTRY – Symbols & significance Nation al Flag National Animal : Lion N ational Bird: cock National Sport: volleyball National Emblem National Flower: bluewaterlily National Tree: ironwood Currency Coin Stamp Official language: Sinhala Current issue Capital: Colombo Government: semi-presidential system A new era has dawned in Sri Lanka. Population: 22,351,180 Peace has been consolidated after a bloody 30-year civil conflict. The country’s 67-year old democracy has been reinforced after a dramatic, peaceful and people-led political transition in January 2015.We’re prioritizing business- friendly policies so that we can take advantage of today’s peace to build a thriving Mu sic with a cause Art Sports Leader Maithripala Sirisena Environmental Sust ainability • The solid waste presently collected by the municipal councils is generally dumped openly without proper management. The municipal waste collection which was about 2,560 tons per day in 2000 is projected to increase to about 2,885 tons per day by year 2010 and therefore the environmental problems associated with it will intensify. • Recurrent disasters, mainly landslides, floods and drought, have caused losses to human life, property and the environment and have often eroded d evelopment gains. Though considered as “natural” disasters it is known that improper land use and other human activities are predisposing factors. Learning from the past and present for the future The island was divided into numerous kingdoms over the following centuries, intermittently (between AD 993–1077) united under Chola rule. Sri Lanka was ruled by 181 monarchs from the Anuradhapura to Kandy periods. From the 16th century, some coastal areas of the country were also controlled by the Portuguese, Dutch and British. Between 1597 and 1658, a substantial part of the island was under Portuguese rule. The Portuguese lost their possessions in Ceylon due to Dutch intervention in the Eighty Years' War. Following the Kandyan Wars, the island was united under British rule in 1815. Armed uprisings against the British took place in the 1818 Uva Rebellion and the 1848 Matale Rebellion. I ndependence was finally granted in 1948 but the country remained a Dominion of the British Empire until 1972. I n 1972 Sri Lanka assumed the status of a Republic. A constitution was introduced in 1978 which made the Executive President the head of state. The Sri Lankan Civil War began in 1983, including an armed youth uprising in 1987–1989, with the 25- year-long civil war ending in 2009 .