Sri Lanka has a population of 18.5 million of whom the majority are Sinhalese. Other ethnic groups are made up of Sri Lankan Tamils, Indian Tamils, Moors, Malays, Burghers (of Portuguese & Dutch descent) and others .Although a multi-religious country, Buddhists constitute the majority. Other religious groups are Hindus, Muslims and Christians Sri Lanka's literacy rate of 88.6% is one of the highest in Asia.
The climate of Sri Lanka is typically tropical with an average temperature of 27°C. In the higher elevations it can be quite cool with temperatures going down to 16°C at an altitude of nearly 2,000 metres. Bright, sunny, warm days are the rule and are common even during the height of the monsoon - climatically Sri Lanka has no off season.
Colombo, the main point of entry, is a bustling metropolis of big businesses and small bazaars; while Kandy – the last royal citadel – is the cultural center and home to the legendary Temple of the Sacred Toot Relic, and the spectacular festivals of the perahera. Galle, the ancient port of Tarshish, is a town within a medieval fortress; while Nuwara Eliya, in the salubrious up-country, nestles amidst picturesque tea gardens and dazzling waterfalls. In the “Rajarata”, or king’s domain, are the ancient cities of Anuradhpura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla and Sigiriya – all treasured
Mainly an agricultural country, the chief crop of Sri Lanka is rice with which the country is almost self-sufficient. Tea, rubber and coconut are also important agricultural crops, with tea being a major foreign exchange earner. Other crops of importance are cocoa and spices. Sri Lanka is also a major exporter of precious and semi-precious stones. In the last three decades tourism has emerged as an important industry.
Antiquities of a priceless heritage over 2,500 years old. The western coastline from Negombo, north of the airport, to Tangalle, in the south shelters a string of magnificent beach resorts and quaint fishing villages. At the many national parks, wild elephant, leopard, bear, and a host of other fauna and flora.
Sri Lanka’s high-literate population, fluent in English and proficient in technology, and trained under a social system which has nurtured free education from kindergarten through university for the last 65 years, is one of the most competent labour markers in the world.
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