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The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning 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 seized power in the north and established a Tamil kingdom. Occupied 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. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Tens of thousands have died in an ethnic conflict that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam formalized a cease-fire in February 2002, with Norway brokering peace negotiations. To be updated

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By Kuttel
November 26th 2008

Küttel's Sri Lanka Trip (21 Oct - 7 Nov 2008)

Asia » Sri Lanka

Colombo
Galle Face Hotel

Dear friends, Please find attached some pictures illustrating my visit to Sri Lanka from October 21 to November 7, 2008. Basically, I visited Steffi in Colombo (she's woring for GTZ there) and travelled around with her and her boyfriend Daniel who flew in from Geneva. Was great fun!!! The route: Colombo - Kandy - Rangala - Nuwara Eliya (--> Horton Plains) - Tissamahara (--> Yala National Park) - Hambantota - Polhena (Matara) - Unawatuna - Colombo. Unfortunately, the gouvernement intensed their war activities against the LTTE (aka Tamil Tigers) during our stay, resulting in a [View Full Entry]

By Malcolm Wright
November 20th 2008

Mongooses and Acordions

Asia » Sri Lanka » Hikkaduwa

Fingers and tap water

Ok- so this update is overdue, and as my father keeps reminding me; I have a mother to worry! Mum and Heather will be sufficiently delighted to know that not only do I now eat with my fingers, but I also drink tap water and take regular bus journeys. Can't be all that bad, I mean I've only been slightly ill, and who would want to bomb Hikkaduwa anyway? If anything it'd make the guidebook entry a little more exciting... So what's been going on? Well apart from working at the Foundation (writing reports, sitting in on classes etc... all good [View Full Entry]

By TimsToePrints
November 10th 2008

Sri Lanka, an Indian 'Cure-All'.

Asia » Sri Lanka

SriLanka First 79

I’d made the decision to end my big Asian adventure with a month in Sri Lanka for a number of reasons. First and foremost was to soak up paradise and get some waves after a long absence from the surf life and it was also a chance for Lisa to have some time to acclimatise to home after over a year and a half away from Sweden. It was everything I could have hoped for and more. I had some fantastic surfs, met some lovely people and saw some beautiful things. I completed my first official pilgrimage, climbing the 2243m Adam’s [View Full Entry]

By Malcolm Wright
November 4th 2008

Bryan Adams and Swimming Pools

Asia » Sri Lanka » Hikkaduwa

Palm Trees

A lot has been going on since the last update! Got dropped off by Heather, Stuart and Scott Ritchie (Greig was busy) on Saturday morning. The Galle road is the main artery for all traffic to the south, making its way down the west coast, and it was this road that we drove down on. The roads here never cease to amaze (or terrify); The psycotic bus drivers going at insane speeds are bad enough, but I never thought I'd see one overtaking a van, which was overtaking our car, which was overtaking a tri-shaw, which was overtaking a cow who [View Full Entry]

By Malcolm Wright
October 30th 2008

Finding My Feet

Asia » Sri Lanka » Colombo

Road
Quiet road in Colombo

Although half way across the world, getting here wasn't all that traumatic. There was some confusion over how I managed to check into my London flight at Aberdeen airport (and thus whether or not my luggage would be transfered through) but I was just happy not to have missed the flight. The London to Colombo (via the Maldives) flight was alright, generously paid for by the 'Wood Family Trust'. 10 hours without air conditioning sitting beside a guy with a tendancy to cough all over me wasn't so good, but this was redeemed with all the free food and drink, not [View Full Entry]

By emmagsrilanka
October 26th 2008

BLOG SIX - TOUR OF SRI LANKA

Asia » Sri Lanka

fedding the baby elephant

Tour - Day One We started our tour of Sri Lanka on Saturday. We left the house at 4.30am so we could get to Pinawela Elephant Orphanage in time for the morning feed. We arrived at about 9.30am and the park was really busy; with tourists but also locals as it was a Saturday. There was also lots of military present as the Indian High Commissioner was visiting that day, so security was extremely high. I didn’t really like the elephant orphanage. Well I didn’t like it at all! The staff seemed to treat the elephants really cruelly, hitting them and [View Full Entry]

By Jicky
October 22nd 2008

Hand of Hope

Asia » Sri Lanka » Polonnaruwa

Lakvasi Balika Niwasa Orphanage
Gorgeous little girl I named "maddie"

This why I came to Sri Lanka to offer a "Hand of Hope". I arrived in Sri Lanka on the 31st of August - it was a hard decision for me giving everying up to come over here and try and help out in some of the orphanages here. It has been quite an experience, back home I dont think any of us have much idea about how these children actually live. In the first orphanage, it was Gillian McAlister, Katie Chester, Hannah K and myself, that went to Pollonaruwa, their days were always the same, up at the same each [View Full Entry]

By Jicky
October 17th 2008

My Empty Coconut Shell

Asia » Sri Lanka » Polonnaruwa

Washed up Boat
The name on the side was "Hand of Hope" - not much hope here!

This is just my last blog from Sri Lanka, just to say thank you to all my friends and family back home, for all their help over the past few years and for making this trip possible, there are too many people to list but you know who you are. I am just going to put a few photos together and a few words. Sri Lanka is a beautiful island and I would recommend anyone to visit it, but one month is probably long enough, particularly if you are situated up north, where I am. There is very little to do [View Full Entry]

By emmagsrilanka
October 16th 2008

BLOG FIVE

Asia » Sri Lanka » Hikkaduwa

one of the pre-schoolers

At the pre-school for the past couple of weeks they have been practising for their end of term concert. They practice all morning, everyday. Its good to practice, but the concert isn’t until the first week of December! They practice from 9-12 sometimes they stay later, until 2.30pm! That’s an immense amount of practice! The songs are stuck in my head all day, and don’t even know what the words mean as all the song are in Sinhalese, apart from the finale, which is que sera sera. I’m looking forward to the concert, it will be good but I’ve got [View Full Entry]

By karenbrad
October 13th 2008

A Teardrop In The Indian Ocean

Asia » Sri Lanka » Polonnaruwa

Geethani and Ranjith

I have returned to Sri Lanka, having visited as a tourist , a few years ago. Something drew me back to this beautiful island and I'm sure it was the people. I am living in Polonnaruwa with a host family who are adorable, friendly, so accommodating and nothing is too much trouble for them. Work wise I am working in a girls orphanage. They are aged between eight and nineteen and we are with them to teach them English, help them clean, play and generally spending time with them which is an absolute pleasure. The orphanage is set on the [View Full Entry]

Links: Sri Lanka Travel Blogs (all) | Sri Lanka Travel Photos | Sri Lanka Travel Forum | Sri Lanka Facts | Map of Sri Lanka

Travel Blog » Asia » Sri Lanka