SRI LANKA

The island nation of Sri Lanka, which means "blessed land" - a real tourist paradise in the middle of the ocean, where guests can enjoy excellent resorts and endless golden beaches, lush green rain forests and mysterious ancient cities, lost in the jungle. Until1972 
the country was known as Ceylon. Due to its advantageous location at the crossroads of major sea routes, Sri Lanka has long been an important centerconnecting the Western and South-East Asia. Since a
ncient times Sri Lanka was the center of Buddhism in the island remained a lot of unique cultural and historicalmonuments. Most of them are located in the Golden Triangle of Sri Lanka, which includes cities such as Dambulla, Sigiriya and Kandy. Left their mark on the culture of Sri Lanka of its colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch and later the British. The island is home to over 21 million people. The local population is different warmth and hospitality.
GEOGRAPHY
The island of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, about 31 km from the southern coast ofIndia. Total area - 65,610 km2, and stretches from north to south and 445 km from west to east - 225 km. The main part of the island is low, less than 100 m above sea levelplain. In the center of the island - the Central Massif. Its average elevation of 1000 - 2000m above sea level. The highest point of the island: Mount Pidurutalagala height of 2524meters, the mountain height of 2395 m Kirigalpotta most famous mountain - the magnificent Adam Peak (Sri Pada-) high 2243 m in the mountains originate numerous rivers, some of them navigable. The largest - the Mahaweli Ganga and its length is 335 km.
SRI LANKA TODAY
The Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka - an independent state in South Asia.Legislative power is vested in parliament, whose members are elected by popular vote.Executive power is in the hands of the President. The president and parliament are elected for five years. Sri Lanka - a member of such international organizations as UN,Asian Development Bank, Commonwealth, Non-Aligned Movement, the South AsianAssociation for regional aid, etc.
CLIMATE
The climate of Sri Lanka, is tropical, warm and humid. The average annual temperature in the plains of +27 º C. In urban areas is quite hot and humid. On the coast, constantly blowing sea breeze, the temperature is very comfortable - +28-30 º C. The water temperature in the Indian Ocean - about +27 º C. In the mountains, the annual average temperature - 
+23-25 ​​º C. In the alpine resort of Nuwara Eliya, the temperature of the day - +18 º C at night it drops to +10 º C The climate is influenced by two monsoons - the northeast, runs from October to March, brings dry weather. And the southwest monsoon lasts from June to October, brings rain and causes excitement of the ocean.Seasonal weather changes are slim. Rains mostly at night. On the southwest coast of Sri Lanka's dry season lasts from October to May, in the north-east - from April to November. Fall and Spring in Sri Lanka - mezhmussonnye periods at this time are the so-called "zenithal rains": when the sun is at its zenith, there may be short-lived showers.The best time for swimming in the ocean and water sports on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka - the period from October to April, in the north-east - from March to November. It should be noted that, in any season and any Coast always enough sunny days and you can swim in the ocean.
HISTORY
The earliest inhabitants of the island of Sri Lanka - the ancestors of Vedda - belonged to a mixed Australoid-Negroid race.Sinhalese arrived on the island near the VI. BC. Oe. from northern India.In the III. BC. Oe. Buddhism spread on the island.In III-XIII centuries. Mr. Oe. on the island there were major Sinhalese kingdom. The capitals of these states were of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. To this period belong the famous frescoes of Sigiriya rock (Lion Rock) in the center of the island.Tamils ​​on the island is gradually penetrated to the XIII century. There was a large Tamil community in the north and east of the island.After the fall of the dynasty polonnaruvskoy Sinhalese kings capital was transferred several times. By the time of the occupation coast by the Portuguese in the XVI century.she was in Kotte.In the XVII century. Dutch captured the island. However, inland areas and maintained their independence during the period of Dutch rule. The last Sinhalese kingdom with its capital in Kandy, was abolished by the British in 1796 and in 1802 the island became a colony of the British Empire.In 1948 the country gained independence under the name of Ceylon, remaining dominion of Great Britain.In 1972 the country was renamed Sri Lanka, and ceased to be a Dominion, remaining a member of the Commonwealth.The last 20 years the country's history marred by an armed conflict with rebel organization "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam" (LTTE). The armed struggle for the creation of the LTTE in the north-east of the island, populated mostly Tamils, an independent Tamil state of Tamil Eelam began in 1983 in the 1991 Tamil terrorists were killed Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.In 1993, Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa was.In 2005, the President of Sri Lanka was elected a hardline against the rebels Mahinda Rajapakse, who proclaimed the slogan "No negotiations with terrorists," the negotiations reached an impasse. Currently, control of the Tamils ​​in northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka, considering the land as an independent state of Tamil Eelam.
LANGUAGE
The official languages ​​in Sri Lanka - English, Sinhala and Tamil. Sinhala - the language of the most numerous ethnic group in Sri Lanka. Refers to a group of Indo-Aryan Indo-Iranian branch of Indo-European language family. It is spoken by about 16 million people, writing - on the basis of its own Sinhala letters. Tamil - the most southern of the Dravidianlanguages. It is spoken in northern and eastern parts of the island. It is a language with more than 2,300 years of history and literature, writing - on the basis of its own Tamilletters.
CURRENCY
Official currency - rupee. A Sri Lankan rupee = 100 cents. Outstanding bills of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000 rupees, as well as coins of 10, 25, 50 cents and 1, 2, 5, 10rupees.

It is recommended to exchange money at the airport in Colombo (best rate). Check received at the official exchange rates, should be maintained until the end of the trip.Then, leaving Colombo, you can swap back unspent money in the bank at the rate ofpurchase of the airport. Export of local currency is prohibited.
CUISINE OF SRI LANKA
Cuisine of Sri Lanka, like India, which is not surprising, because the countries are separated by a narrow strait Polkskim. Sri Lankans like Indians, eating lots of fish, herbs and spices. In the diet of local residents - rice and curry fish, meat, seafood, poultry, vegetables, legumes and fruits.Cuisine of Sri Lanka has its own characteristics. In many dishes are put coconut and juice and coconut oil and palm nectar (treacle). Very popular umbalakada (umbalakada) - powder of dried fish, it is added to curries for flavor.Very tasty white rice with coconut milk - Kiribati (kiribath). He is on the menu of some restaurants and cut into diamonds, served during various ceremonies. Kiribati, with its mild flavor and is good in itself, and savory snacks, such as a mixture of crushed red pepper, onion, lemon and spices - kata sambol (Katta sambola). With coconut and palm "honey" is a sweet dish of Kiribati, which is called Imbul Kiribath. Another well-known Sri Lankan delicacy - pitta (pittu), a mixture of rice flour, grated coconut and water. He was steamed and served with curry or kata sambol.The traditional bannock - roti (rotti) is made from rice flour and grated coconut, served with curry, savory snacks and bananas.Great influence on local cuisine culinary traditions have peoples who have left their mark in the history of the island. On the table are not uncommon Lankan Arabic, Portuguese, English, Dutch, Chinese, Polynesian, and Malay "motives." For several centuries, Sri Lankans creative "mastered" them into their menus.