| Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo
| Island nation in the Indian Ocean, east of the southern tip of India. The island was formerly known in English as Ceylon. In the past it was also called Serendib by Muslim traders -- this is the source of the word "serendipity" in English.
The majority language on the island is Sinhalese; most people who speak Sinhalese are Buddhist.
There's an armed independence movement (LiberationTigersOfTamilEelam) in the north and east that until recently was trying to create a separate country, TamilEelam (the largest minority language on the island is Tamil). Most of those who speak Tamil are Hindu; a significant minority are Muslim. As of 2002, peace talks are imminent to negotiate a one-country solution with sufficient rights and autonomy.
Not surprisingly, the situation is complicated. See LankaLinks for news and background links. | People and Culture
The population, estimated at more than 16.8 million in 1989, has a diverse ethnic composition. About three quarters of the people are Sinhalese, 18 percent are Tamils, and 7 percent are Muslims of Arab descent. Smaller ethnic groups include Malays, Burghers, and Veddas, tribal people who are the original inhabitants of the island. Sri Lanka's major cities with populations of more than 100,000 are Colombo, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Moratuwa, Jaffna, Kandy, and Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte.
The Sinhalese came from northern India in about 540 BC. (2,540 years ago) They speak Sinhalese and live primarily in the southwest. Ninety percent of them are Buddhists.
The Tamils are divided into two distinct groups. The Sri Lankan Tamils, whose roots on the island date back nearly 2,000 years, are concentrated in the northern and eastern coastal regions--particularly around Jaffna. The Indian Tamils were brought from southern India in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to work as laborers on the large agricultural estates in the south-central hill country. Both groups practice the Hindu religion and speak the Tamil language.
Both Sinhalese and Tamil are official languages. The Burghers are largely English speaking. English is used extensively in administration and education.
Sri Lanka's literacy rate of about 86 percent compares favorably to that of most South Asian countries. Schooling is free and compulsory from ages 5 to 13. Free secondary and college and university education is also available.
Buddhism, which came to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC, is the predominant religion and the foundation of Sinhalese culture. Kandy, the ancient capital, is located in the foothills of the hill country and is the center of traditional culture. Here Sri Lanka's most prized possession, the sacred tooth of Buddha, is enshrined in the Temple of the Tooth.
The government-supported health system provides free medical care. A successful family planning pro-gram has lowered birthrates significantly. Sri Lankans have a low incidence of major endemic and infectious diseases. The infant mortality rate in 1991 was 25 per 1,000 live births, one of the lowest in Asia.
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