Country Description
A tiny island it may be, but Sri Lanka, or the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, is surprisingly multi-faceted. Abounding with rich, natural wonders and ancient archaeological masterpieces, the island gradually unravels a myriad of charms, its people not being the least of these. Its diversity in ethnicity, climate, culture, wildlife and landscape continue to woo travelers as they have done through the ages. A favorable location at the southern tip of India, intercepting the old, international trade routes meant the island was invaded many times over.
Colombo, the commercial and banking capital, lies on the west coast and was established by British colonists. Jayewardenepura is the political capital and lies a few kilometers west of Colombo. The ruins of ancient royal capitals and an advanced ancient civilization can be seen elsewhere, especially to the north. The legacy of a colonized past is also evident, e.g. from the Portuguese, Dutch and British periods.
The current population of just over 19 million, mostly rural people, consists of 74% Sinhalese, 18% Tamil, 7% Moors and approximately 1% others. Traditionally, the economy was agriculture-based with the main exports being spices, rubber, tea and coconut. Today, the manufacturing industries have taken the lead with the export of garments being the highest foreign exchange earner.
Annual average temperature
City
|
Jan-April
|
May-August
|
Sept-Dec
|
Max
|
Min
|
Max
|
Min
|
Max
|
Min |
Colombo
|
30°C
|
22°C
|
30°C
|
24°C
|
29°C
|
22°C
|
Kandy
|
31°C
|
17°C
|
29°C
|
21°C
|
28°C
|
18°C
|
Nuwara Eliya
|
21°C
|
14°C
|
18°C
|
16°C
|
18°C
|
15°C
|
Trincomalee
|
32°C
|
24°C
|
33°C
|
25°C
|
33°C
|
23°C
|
Climate and Weather
Due to its proximity to the equator Sri Lanka has a tropical climate which varies from the coastal plains to the central highlands though there are no marked seasons. There are two major monsoon periods and two inter-monsoon periods during which there are regular, heavy daily downpours. At other times, the weather is generally hot and humid in the south west and hot and dry elsewhere.
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