Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Sri Lankan Tamil :,:; known as Ceylon before 1972), is a large island in the south of India, the Indian Ocean, an island nation in South Asia, located about 31 kilometers (19.3 miles) from the the southern coast of India, witnessed acts of violence by the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in the period from 1983 to 2001.
Because of its location in the path of major sea routes, where the link between West Asia and Southeast Asia, and has been the center of Theravada Buddhism since ancient times. Today, the country's multi-religious and ethnic nation with nearly one-third of the population of Buddhist followers and the rest from other religions, especially Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Sinhalese make up the majority of the population in addition to the Tamils, who are concentrated in the north and east of the island, who form the largest ethnic minority. Other communities include Moors and Malaysian Muslims.
The island is famous for its production and export of tea, coffee, rubber, coconut, Sri Lanka gradually move into the modern industrial economy, and its population has the highest per capita income in South Asia. Sri Lanka is also famous for the natural goal of tropical forests, beaches and landscapes of beauty, as well as a rich cultural heritage, making it a world famous tourist destination.
After more than two thousand years of rule by local kingdoms, occupied parts of Sri Lanka were colonized by Portugal and the Netherlands at the beginning of the sixteenth century, before control of the entire country by the British Empire in 1815. During World War II, Sri Lanka was considered as an important base for Allied forces in the war against Japan.
Political nationalist movement in this country in the early last century, which aimed to get political independence, which got it from the British occupation after peaceful negotiations in 1948 originated.
Because of its location in the path of major sea routes, where the link between West Asia and Southeast Asia, and has been the center of Theravada Buddhism since ancient times. Today, the country's multi-religious and ethnic nation with nearly one-third of the population of Buddhist followers and the rest from other religions, especially Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Sinhalese make up the majority of the population in addition to the Tamils, who are concentrated in the north and east of the island, who form the largest ethnic minority. Other communities include Moors and Malaysian Muslims.
The island is famous for its production and export of tea, coffee, rubber, coconut, Sri Lanka gradually move into the modern industrial economy, and its population has the highest per capita income in South Asia. Sri Lanka is also famous for the natural goal of tropical forests, beaches and landscapes of beauty, as well as a rich cultural heritage, making it a world famous tourist destination.
After more than two thousand years of rule by local kingdoms, occupied parts of Sri Lanka were colonized by Portugal and the Netherlands at the beginning of the sixteenth century, before control of the entire country by the British Empire in 1815. During World War II, Sri Lanka was considered as an important base for Allied forces in the war against Japan.
Political nationalist movement in this country in the early last century, which aimed to get political independence, which got it from the British occupation after peaceful negotiations in 1948 originated.
