Sri Lanka Geography
Sri Lanka is a state in South Asia, on the island of the same name, 31 km from the southeast coast of India. The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (until 1972 – Ceylon) is a state on the island of Ceylon in the Indian Ocean, located southeast of the Hindustan Peninsula. Part of the British Commonwealth.
According to Baglib.com, the capital is Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (Colombo). The official language is Sinhalese, Tamil. The population of 19.3 million consists of Sinhalese, Tamils, Burghers (descendants of the Portuguese and Dutch) and Moors (descendants of Arab traders).
The most common is Buddhism (about 67%), over 17.5% of the population are Hindus, 7% each are followers of the Muslim and Christian religions.
Currency – Sri Lankan rupee, consists of 100 cents. 1$ – 95 rupees.
Time is ahead of Moscow by 2 hours in summer, by 3 hours in winter. The duration of the flight Moscow – Colombo by direct charter flight is 10.5 hours with a stopover in Dubai or Male.
Useful phone numbers
Russian Embassy in Colombo: 62 Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha, Colombo-7, Sri-Lanka.
Tel. (8-10-941) 57-49-59, 57-35-55.
Ceylon, Sri Lanka – how little we know about this amazing country of elephants and tea, closely connected in our minds since Soviet times.
This island, washed by the Indian Ocean, eight hundred kilometers from the Equator, can be called the Peace Reserve – out of the 130 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, seven are located right here in Sri Lanka. The island of Sri Lanka is also a reserve because four religions coexist here in peace and harmony – Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam (despite the numerical superiority of the adherents of the first).
The climate is subequatorial monsoon. Monsoons from June to March. Sri Lanka is located only a few degrees of latitude north of the equator. Therefore, the average monthly air temperatures in the lowlands are high and vary little throughout the year. In winter they are somewhat lower. In Colombo, the average temperature of the coldest month of December is +25*C and the hottest month of May is +28*C. Daily temperature amplitudes are small and rarely exceed 11*C.
The air temperature varies slightly throughout the year: +26*C+30*C in the plains and +15*C+20*C in the mountainous areas. In May – July it rains more often in the western, southern and central regions of the country, in December – January – in the northern and eastern regions.
Tourism plays an increasingly important role in the country’s economy. The resort towns of Moratuwa, Galle, Nuwara Eliya are popular with tourists. As well as the historical sights of Kandy, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, the mountain resort of Nuwara Eliya.
Sri Lanka is a country that gave the world a reference idea of the most popular drink – strong, fragrant, invigorating tea. But apart from its reputation as a tea paradise, Sri Lanka, this ancient country with a rich cultural heritage, is proud to be the world center of Buddhism. The atmosphere of benevolence and peace that prevails in this country is the result of the deep centuries-old influence of Buddhist teachings on the worldview and lifestyle of the Sri Lankans. The philosophy of Buddhism is also embodied in numerous monuments: majestic temples created with great love, secluded monasteries decorated with impressive paintings, gigantic statues of Buddha – the most good-natured and peaceful deity in the world.
Sri Lanka is located just 800 km from the equator and therefore has all the riches of the tropical islands. As the Sri Lankans themselves say, they know only three colors – the blue of the sky and the ocean, the golden yellow tones of the beaches and the lush greenery of the tropical flora. The beauty of the natural landscapes of Sri Lanka, the lush flora and the fantastic diversity of the animal world can amaze even the most spoiled traveler with the notorious exotic.
Endless beaches with soft golden sand are simply amazing here: hidden coves and bays, gentle sapphire blue water, underwater coral gardens, shipwrecks and shallow waters, chosen by fish of all colors of the rainbow. Holidays on the coast of the Indian Ocean, acquaintance with Buddhist shrines, visits to national natural parks, initiation into the secrets of growing and producing tea, communication with open and cheerful Sri Lankans – all this will give you an unforgettable experience from a trip to the Sparkling Island.
A visa is issued free of charge when entering Sri Lanka for up to 30 days. When departing from the country, an airport tax of 1,500 rupees must be paid, which is approximately equivalent to 16 US dollars.
What you need to get a visa:
Passport
Application form with a photo
Air ticket with the date of the return departure
Cash at the rate of 15cu. per day per person.
As a rule, the term for processing documents at the embassy is 1 day, and if you stay in Sri Lanka for up to 30 days, entry is visa-free. Children who are inscribed in the passports of their parents, entry is free.
