Sri Lanka is one of the places where people tend to visit if they want to experience a mix of cultures and history. The country is also known to be the Pearl of the Indian Ocean due to its location. Other than that, this country has a lot to offer when it comes to ancient events and origins. Sri Lanka is known to be the home of cinnamon. Of course, that’s not the only interesting thing that this country has to show off.
Sri Lanka Facts
1. The other name for this country is the “Teardrop of India”.
India is the neighbor of Sri Lanka and looking at the map, you can mistake it as part of India. Of course, things are different between the two countries especially when it comes to beliefs and culture. Besides, India is a lot larger than Sri Lanka. This name is also given to the country because it’s located south of the large continent, an interesting fact about Sri Lanka.
2. Sri Lanka has the famous Adam’s Bridge.
Adam’s bridge is not just a normal bridge as you might expect. It’s a natural formation that somehow makes a connection from the country to India and it comes with a folktale about monkeys and rams. It is assumed that Sri Lanka was once part of India’s landmass. However, studies show that Sri Lanka was a piece of land that’s connected with Antarctica millions of years ago. It’s truly an amazing discovery.
3. This is where Adam’s Peak is located.
If you take a look at Adam’s Peak, you might just think that it’s just another mountain. However, it’s a place where religions and cultures intertwined. Normally, the locals would tell you that it’s a place that’s associated with Buddha. Some would associate it with their Muslim beliefs. On other days, you’ll see Christians revering it. That’s why it’s known to be the sacred mountain in Sri Lanka. Fortunately, there’s no dispute when it comes to the different religions worshipping Adam’s Peak.
4. Anuradhapura is the place where you’ll see the oldest tree planted by man.
Trees grow very old and strong. However, it’s hard to determine how old they are most of the time. Thankfully, Sri Lanka is where you’ll find a planted tree that’s over 2,000 years old. It may sound unbelievable, but this tree has been tended to ever since it’s been planted, an interesting Sri Lanka fact. Thanks to that, it’s now a famous site to visit in the country.
5. The country of Sri Lanka is one of the largest producers and exporters of tea.
Tea has always been a beverage that’s in demand all over the world. However, the environment of this country has proven to be one of the best. This is where the famous Lipton Tea originated, a fun fact about Sri Lanka. Needless to say, tea from Sri Lank is always top quality.
6. Most people in this country are devoted to Buddhism.
As you may already know, Buddhism is a belief that’s common in Asian countries. However, the intensity of this religion is different in Sri Lanka. Even though there are Muslims and Christians in the country, a lot of people respect Buddhism. Also, there’s an incident before that sparked protests when an artist featured the statue of Buddha in one of their music videos in a disrespectful manner. That’s why every visitor must know how to be respectful around religious relics and items in the country. Being in the Temple of the Tooth means extra respectfulness since it’s considered as a sacred site for Buddhists.
7. The diverse wildlife in this country is amazing!
If you’ve ever been to a zoo, you must have enjoyed your time seeing new animals. However, being in Sri Lanka is a lot better than being in a zoo. Here, they take care of animals and let them roam in sanctuaries where they are safe and free. Hundreds of different species of birds and butterflies are also in Sri Lanka. They even recorded the number of species when it comes to spiders, an interesting Sri Lanka fact. Tarantulas included!
8. Sri Lanka is the place where you have the chance to see elephants and blue whales.
Blue whales and elephants are considered to be the largest mammals alive on earth. With the country taking care of its wildlife, seeing these giants flourishing is truly marvelous. Also, seeing them up close is a lot more interesting than the vids.
9. Malaria has been defeated in this country.
With Sri Lanka being home to different animal species, it couldn’t be avoided that mosquitoes were also at large. This country was considered to be among the list of countries with high cases of Malaria. However, it’s thanks to great efforts that this disease is a thing of the past for Sri Lanka. At least now, people won’t need to stuff themselves with malaria pills whenever they have to go out.
10. The flag of Sri Lanka is rather complex.
When you see a country flag, it will probably have some lines and a color or two. However, that’s not the case with the flag of this country, a fun Sri Lanka fact. If you look at the lion of Sri Lanka’s flag, there are already a few things that it signifies. First off, it has to be a golden lion. That’s because the golden lion is the original symbol for the flag of Ceylon which is originally Sri Lanka. Next, you’ll see the lion holding a sword and it means authority. The pipul leaves in the flag are also there to recognize the Buddhists. The orange stripe is for Hindus and the green one is for Muslims. The Sinhalese people are also represented in the flag through the maroon color.
Conclusion
As you can see, Sri Lanka is full of history and culture. With a lot of religions and beliefs conflicting with each other, it’s surprising how this country managed to become one of the places without a major religious conflict. Seeing this country is like finding a piece of an ancient relic. If you look hard enough, you’ll see all the colors it’s been dyed with. Thankfully, those colors are what makes Sri Lanka beautiful and rich with history.
I hope that this article on Sri Lanka facts was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Country Facts Page!
