Taprobane, Serendib, Emerald Island and The Teardrop of India - Sri Lanka has earned many endearing monikers for its colorful past. In fact, the word "serendipity" (meaning the faculty to make fortunate discoveries by accident) originated in Sri Lanka in the 18th century, when the English writer Horace Walpole was so smitten by the place that he felt an urge to coin a word worthy of his lucky discovery.
Sri Lanka Culture
Essential Info and more
Sri Lanka's Rich Heritage
A Journey Through Time
Ancient Civilizations
Anuradhapura
4th Century B.C. - 8th Century A.D.
The first major capital city, famous for its flourishing monastic community and tradition of learning. Buddhist monks recorded history as far back as the 6th Century A.D., leaving behind the sacred scriptures of Mahavamsa and Culavamsa.
Polonnaruwa
Center of power until 13th Century
Boasted one of Sri Lanka's largest man-made reservoirs. The irrigation projects by King Parakramabahu I, especially the 5,940-acre Parakrama Samudra, sustained vibrant civilizations for hundreds of years.
Kandy
16th - 19th Century
The third and last great Sri Lankan kingdom. Permanent site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic and the Royal Palace. The tooth relic anointed the city as the country's religious capital, serving as a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists worldwide.
Colonial Era
Portuguese & Dutch Rule (16th - 18th Century)
The early 16th Century saw the arrival of foreign colonial powers with profound impact on the social and religious fabric of the country. The Muslim community crystallized as an identifiable ethnic group, and missionaries brought Christianity. The Portuguese settled in 1505, followed by Dutch spice traders from 1658 to 1796.
British Era (1796 - 1948)
The English introduced plantation agriculture in the mid-19th Century, focusing on tea, rubber and coconuts. This rich plantation infrastructure became a valuable resource to Sri Lanka, even after attaining independence on February 4, 1948. Ceylon became Sri Lanka on May 22, 1972.
Sri Lanka Veddah Community
The earliest inhabitants were the forefathers of the aboriginal Veddas who came prior to the 6th century B.C. Between the 6th and 5th century B.C., a large group of Indo-Aryan people from north India called the Sinhalese arrived, now comprising three-fourths of the population. Tamils from southern India formed the second largest group, arriving between the 3rd century B.C. and A.D. 1200.
Religion
Sacred Traditions
An eyetooth remains the most significant religious symbol in Sri Lanka since Buddhism was first introduced to the Sinhalese in 250 B.C. This sacred tooth relic, believed to have belonged to Buddha, had the legendary power to bring rain to the land, making it the symbol of Sinhalese kingship.
Buddhism
The predominant religion, inherited from India. The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy houses the sacred tooth relic and is one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. Even monks are segregated into three nikayas or sects according to the order of the Buddhist Sangha.
Hinduism
Comes a close second, counting among its devotees both Jaffna Tamils and Indian Tamils. Most Sri Lankan Hindus are Shaivites, who pray only to god Shiva, 'the destroyer', as they believe strongly in the teaching of non-permanence in all life forms.
Islam & Christianity
Muslims are descendants of Arab traders. "Burghers" are offspring of European colonialists who embrace Christianity. Sri Lanka has become a melting pot of believers over the centuries.
Indigenous Communities
Age-old Veddha tribes and a small percentage of gypsies including the Ahikuntakaya snake charmers, Maddiliya monkey trainers and groups specializing in tattoo making.
Arts & Culture
Dance, Music & Traditions
Traditional Dancing
Dance was initiated in Sri Lanka during the 4th century B.C. for the purpose of expelling natural disasters, sickness and greeting people and land. The traditional agricultural lifestyle made people come together, creating a nice atmosphere for dance and music.
Main Dance Styles:
- Kandyan Dancing
- Sabaragamuwa Dancing
- Pahatharata Dancing
- Wanni Dancing
Art & Music
Sri Lankans are artistic people who enjoy music, dance and art in everything they do. The Art, Music and dances were derived from elements of Nature. Temple paintings and carvings used birds, elephants, wild animals, flowers and trees. Colors were made from nature.
Festival Highlights: Elephants are the main attractions of religious festivals, considered divine animals in Buddhism and Hinduism. They parade among dancers and drummers carrying caskets containing sacred relics. These festivals have been conducting for over 2,500 years.
Ayurveda
Ancient Healing
Ayurveda is not just a form of medication that locals swear by, it is a total way of life known to generations of Sri Lankans for over 3,000 years. It is a gentle method of treating the root cause of illness of both mind and body.
What Ayurveda Treats
This holistic therapy utilizes diet, herbs, oils, animal products, yoga and meditation to heal and rejuvenate both body and mind. It makes use of the island's natural resources like herbs, leaves, flowers, barks, roots and berries to cleanse the blood and body of impurities.
Conditions Treated:
- Arthritis
- Migraine
- Exhaustion
- High blood pressure
- Depression
- Cystitis
- Asthma
- Nicotine addiction
- Heroin addiction
Tea & Spices
Ceylon's Golden Treasures
Ceylon Tea Heritage
After the disastrous demise of the coffee industry due to a rotting fungus, Ceylon emerged as a leader in tea production worldwide. A Scotsman named James Taylor dedicated his life to cultivating tea in Ceylon in the 1860s.
"Not often is it that men have heart when their one great industry is withered, to rear up in a few years another as rich to take its place..."
Nuwara Eliya is famous for producing Ceylon tea of the most delicate flavor and aroma, exported worldwide to the UK, Russia, South Africa and the United States.
Spice Trade Legacy
Centuries before tea, the spice trade attracted the Portuguese and Dutch to Sri Lanka, strategically placed on the sea route from India to Southeast Asia and China.
Famous Ceylon Spices:
- Cinnamon (most sought-after worldwide)
- Cardamom
- Cloves
- Nutmeg
- Black Pepper
Ceylon's cinnamon became renowned for its superb ability to improve the palatability of food and add inner warmth to dishes cooked in cold climates.
Sun & Sea
Paradise Beaches
As the shimmering horizon disappears into the distant azure sky, tall gusts of waves surf towards the palm-fringed sandy beaches encircling Sri Lanka. This is paradise, blessed with soft white sand and wide-open vistas of the Indian Ocean.
Kudawella Blowhole
A rare geological formation on rocky Unawatuna beach, shooting huge columns of water high into the air during monsoon season.
Weligama Stilt Fishermen
Famous fishermen sitting for hours patiently on stilts in the ocean - a spectacular and unique sight along the shores.
Hikkaduwa Marine Sanctuary
Perfect for snorkeling or glass bottom boat rides, flourishing with an abundance of corals and tropical fish.
Festivals
Celebrate Sri Lanka
Sinhala & Hindu New Year (Aluth Avuruddha)
Celebrated in April
April is the month of revelry, the most intoxicating of the 12 months, when Lanka prepares to celebrate new beginnings in harmony with mother nature. The Avuruddha is a great national festival which has persisted for no less than 2,000 years.
The sun moving from the House of Pisces to Aries signals the dawning of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The celebration takes seven days, observed countrywide with traditional rituals, firecrackers, the unmistakable call of the koel bird (koha), and the preparation of coconut oil-based sweetmeats.
Thai Pongal
January - Harvest Festival
A harvest festival equivalent to thanksgiving celebrated by Tamils. Pongal means "boiling over" in Tamil. The festival celebrates the resumption of the sun's journey northwards where days get longer.
Celebrated for four days from the last day of Tamil month Maargazhi (December-January) to the third day of Thai (January-February). New clothes are worn and people thank the rain, sun and farm animals that helped in the harvest.
Deepavali (Diwali)
Festival of Lights
A significant festival in Hinduism and an official holiday in Sri Lanka. Celebrants light diyas - cotton-like string wicks inserted in small clay pots filled with coconut oil - to signify victory of good over evil within an individual.
Ramadan
Islamic Month of Fasting
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in excess from dawn until sunset. Fasting teaches patience, modesty and spirituality.
Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. Ramadhan was the month when the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad.
Eid-ul-Fitr
Celebration After Ramadan
Muslims wake early and have a small breakfast (preferably dates) before attending special Eid prayers in congregation at mosques or open areas. People dress in their best clothes.
After prayers, people visit relatives, friends and acquaintances, and some pay visits to graveyards. The celebration includes embracing neighbors and exchanging greetings of "Happy Eid."
Kandy Esala Perahera
July - Sri Lanka's Biggest Festival
Sri Lanka's biggest and most colorful festival watched by millions every year. The procession of the sacred Tooth Relic is conducted annually during July (Asala), constituting the grandest festive ritual of the Dalada Maligava.
Devale processions are held for 5 days, followed by 'Kumbal' and 'Randoli' processions each held for five days ending on the Full Moon day, followed by the Water Cutting ceremony.
Christmas
December 25
Celebrated by the Christian community in Sri Lanka, including Burghers (descendants of European colonialists) and other Christian converts. The festival marks the birth of Jesus Christ with church services, family gatherings, and festive celebrations.
While scholars have debated the actual date, December 25 has been traditionally accepted and celebrated for many centuries as Christmas Day.
Experience Sri Lanka's Rich Heritage
For visitors, Sri Lanka's colorful tapestry of history, religion, architecture, wildlife and food makes it a fascinating place to explore.