Fact on Sri Lanka

Some facts about Sri Lanka

“Few sites to get some hard facts about Sri Lanka”

Lonely Planet Destination Guide—Sri Lanka

Heritage

Sri Lanka is a country in south Asia, which boasts of a rich cultural heritage spanning over 2500 years. This had been enriched by much other culture, especially from India. Many a kingdom that was established in ancient Sri Lanka, along with various cultural influxes from India has influenced in shaping the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. Inarguably the factor, which has played the lead part in contributing to the culture along with everything traditional, is the presence of Buddhism. Ancient rulers of Sri Lanka built monuments established institutions to honor the philosophy of Buddhism. In turn this led to lesser folks following the principles advocated by Buddhism en masse. This could be described as a way of life, a pattern of thinking, which led to a self-sufficient society that engaged in agriculture as the means of living. To support agriculture an advanced irrigation system was constructed. These people pursued matters aesthetic such as dancing, music, painting, sculpting and literature in spare time. This led to the development of quaint traditional customs that are so peculiar to Sri Lanka. The concept of "Wewai Dagobai" (Wewai = Reservoir, Dagobai = A Buddhist shrine) arose from the above, establishing the links between Buddhism, culture and irrigation.

“Checkout these sites to get a greater idea of Sri Lankan culture: you will be happy you checked them out plus you will be amazed by the diversity that exist in this island in every aspect.”

SRI LANKA - HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

Sri Lanka Culture - Sri Lanka Explorer

The unnecessary and wasteful war in Sri Lanka

“I was first going to copy and paste an excerpt from another web site regarding the war in Sri lanka. However after thinking for a bit I decided to include here what I have come to understand about this war from what I have read in News articles and other analysis over the past few years. “

First of all the war in Sri Lanka is not a “civil war” nor is it a “Ethnic war” these are terms that were coined with the idea of giving a political dimension to a war against a terrorist organization by the name of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

That said it should also be said, at the time this conflict initially got started—many attribute this to the 1983 riots which got started as a result of killing thirteen Sinhalese soldiers in the north by the LTTE— there was a certain amount of unjustness shown towards minority Tamil Sri Lankans by the majority Sinhalese Sri Lankans. However it was due to the political greed of both Sinhalese and Tamil politicians as well as some political forces from neighboring countries that made sure that those differences between the majority and minority country people will extend into a war that would last for two decades.

The reason that the LTTE organization will never become freedom fighters it claims to be is because of the barbaric activities it has carried out against all Sri Lankans. A point for them would be those barbaric killings were common to all: civilians, government forces, men and woman, all ages, all religions, all races and also for nationalities other than Sri Lankans—so no discrimination. Another reason that they are foremost terrorist is due to the unjust demand they are making. The LTTE with its distorted view of Sri Lankan history is demanding 1/3rd of the land mass and 60% of the ocean area for itself to rule. When I say “itself to rule” this will not be the democratic rule many Sri Lankans that initially supported the LTTE hoped for. As proven again and again it would be a rule similar to that excreted by the Taliban organization, a rule under which there would be no dignity. The picture above taken from the official Elam web site shows in pink (probably blood red was not supported by the browser) the area the LTTE is demanding to crate a separate state.

The unfairness and biasness of this demand is evident to any Sri Lankan who knows the ground situation in Sri Lanka in year 2005. For instance except for the LTTE controlled North and East parts of the country in all the other parts of the country there are people from all races coexisting with each other. The capital of Sri Lanka it self holds a sizable population of different minorities who are living successful and prosperous lives.

Yet again I will not say that every thing is perfect. Is every thing perfect in many other countries that have a ethnic majority and a ethnic minority: USA, FRANCE, UK, India? However these are problems that can and should be solved with out trying to crate a separate state.

During the past three years of cease fire the Sri Lankan state had given many concession to get the terrorist LTTE organization into the political stream. These might not be as concrete as some would like them to be such as removing the High Security Zones in the North. But what to do when only one party is making concessions and the other party is not making any plus it is killing all political opponents as it gets the chance.

“I would have like to write more on this issue but I wanted to keep this short and I am sure I did express what I think is going on. Was I bias: will I probably should have mentioned the undemocratic nature that existed 20 years ago but then again it is not there any more so why not move on”

For a small island, Sri Lanka has many nicknames: Serendib, Ceylon, Teardrop of India, Resplendent Isle, Island of Dharma, Pearl of the Orient. This colourful collection reveals its richness and beauty, and the intensity of the affection it evokes in its visitors.

Sri Lanka is one of a kind island when considering its variation of geographical and weather patterns within a small distance. Also the colorful nature, the different customs, the wonderful festivals and the tasteful food of the ever smiling Sri Lankans differently heighten the charm of this island.