About Sri lanka

1. Sri Lanka

2. Sri Lanka

3. Sri Lanka Map

4. Background
The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th
century B.C. probably from northern India. Buddhism was
introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great
civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura
(kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and
Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th
century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil
kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the
island were controlled by the Portuguese in the 16th
century and by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island
was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in
1802, and was united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon,
it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to
Sri Lanka in 1972.

5. Geography
• Location : Southern Asia, island in the Indian
Ocean, south of India
• Area : total: 65,610 sq km; land: 64,630 sq km;
water: 980 sq km
• Natural Resources : limestone, graphite,
mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay,
hydropower

6. People
• Population : 21,324,791
• Ethnic Groups : Sinhalese 74%, Sri Lankan
Tamils 10%, Sri Lankan Moors 7%, Indian
Tamils 6% and others 3%.
• Religions : Buddhist 70%, Hindu 9%, Muslim
8%, Christian 7% and others 6%.
• Languages : Sinhala, Tamil, English.

7. National Flag

8. National Flag
Symbol Represents
The lion The Sinhalese ethnicity and the strength
of the nation.
The bo leaves Buddhism and its influence on the nation.
They also stand for the four virtues of
Kindness, Friendliness, Happiness and
Equanimity.
The sword of the lion The sovereignty of the nation
The curly hair on the lion's head Religious observance, wisdom and
meditation
The beard of the lion Purity of words
The handle of the sword The elements of water, fire, air and earth
The nose of the lion Intelligence
The vertical orange stripe The Tamil ethnicity
The vertical green stripe The Muslim faith and Moor ethnicity

9. National Flag
Symbol Represents
The yellow border round the flag People from other cultures living in Sri
Lanka
The crimson background Other minor religions and ethnic groups,
Portuguese/Dutch Burghers. Also refers
to the rich colonial heritage and
background of the country.
The two front paws of the lion Purity in handling wealth.

10. Beauty of Sri Lanka

11. Beauty of Sri Lanka

12. Beauty of Sri Lanka

13. Beauty of Sri Lanka

14. Beauty of Sri Lanka

15. Beauty of Sri Lanka

16. Beauty of Sri Lanka

17. Beauty of Sri Lanka

18. Beauty of Sri Lanka

19. Beauty of Sri Lanka

20. Culture of Sri Lanka

21. Culture of Sri Lanka

22. Sri Lanka Tourism

23. Sri Lanka Tourism
• The New York Times recently Ranked Sri Lanka
as No 1 of the 31 places to visit in 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/travel/10pl
• Official Website Sri Lanka Tourism
http://www.srilanka.travel/

24. Presenter
Channa R. De Silva, PhD
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and
Bio5 Institute
University of Arizona.

25. Thank You
This Presentation
is
a production of
Association of Sri Lankan’s
at the
University of Arizona (ASLUA)