Sri Lanka
The earliest music came from the theater at a time when the traditional open-air drama (referred to in Sinhala as Kolam, Sokari and Nadagam). In 1903 the first music album, Nurthi, was released through Radio Ceylon. Also Vernon Corea introduced Sri Lankan music in the English Service of Radio Ceylon.
In the early 1960s, Indian music in films greatly influenced Sri Lankan music and later Sri Lankan stars like Sunil Shantha found greater popularity among Indian people. By 1963, Radio Ceylon had more Indian listeners than Sri Lankan ones. The notable songwriters Mahagama Sekara and Ananda Samarakoon made a Sri Lankan music revolution. At the peak of this revolution, musicians such as W. D. Amaradeva, H.R. Jothipala, Milton Mallawarachchi, M.S. Fernando, Annesley Malewana and Clarence Wijewardene did great work.
A very popular type of music is the so-called Baila, a kind of dance music that originated from Portuguese music introduced to the island in colonial times.
- See also: Ceylon tea (black), Cuisine of Sri Lanka, Dances of Sri Lanka, Fashion Industry of Sri Lanka, Cinema of Sri Lanka, and Music of Sri Lanka
Religions
Sri Lanka has a multi ethnic and multi religious population. Buddhism constitutes the religious faith of about 70% of the population of the island,[31][32] most of whom follow the Theravada school of Buddhism.[33] According to traditional Sri Lankan chronicles, Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 2nd century BCE by Venerable Mahinda, the son of the Emperor Ashoka, during the reign of Sri Lanka's King Devanampiyatissa.[33] During this time, a sapling of the Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment was brought to Sri Lanka and the first monasteries were established under the sponsorship of the Sri Lankan king. The Pali Canon (Thripitakaya), having previously been preserved as an oral tradition, was first committed to writing in Sri Lanka around 30 BC.[34]
Sri Lanka has the longest continuous history of Buddhism of any Buddhist nation,[33] with the Sangha having existed in a largely unbroken lineage since its introduction in the 2nd century BCE. During periods of decline, the Sri Lankan monastic lineage was revived through contact with Thailand and Burma.[34] Periods of Mahayana influence, as well as official neglect under colonial rule, created great challenges for Theravada Buddhist institutions in Sri Lanka, but repeated revivals and resurgences — most recently in the 19th century — have kept the Theravada tradition alive for over 2000 years.
| Sri Lanka religiosity | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| religion | percent | |||
| Buddhism | 70% | |||
| Hinduism | 15% | |||
| Christianity | 8% | |||
| Islam | 7% | |||
The second largest religion is Hinduism. Hinduism was primarily established in Sri Lanka by migrants and often invaders from southern India,[35] and Hindus now constitute seven to fifteen percent of the population,[32][36] mostly of the Shaivite school.[citation needed] Followers of Islam comprise approximately eight percent of the population,[32] having been brought to the island by Arab traders over the course of many centuries[37] European colonists introduced Christianity to the country in the 16th century,[38] and the religion has been adopted by around six percent of the population.[32] There also was a small population of Zoroastrian immigrants from India (Parsis) who settled in Ceylon during the period of British rule. As a result of emigration, few remain, yet they have played a significant role in the growth of the country. The former finance minister of Sri Lanka, Nariman Choksy, was a Parsi. Other famous Parsi families in Sri Lanka include the Captain family and the Pestongee family.
Religion plays an important part in the life and culture of Sri Lankans. The Buddhist majority observe Poya Days, once per month according to the Lunar calendar. The Hindus and Muslims also observe their own holidays. There are many Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka and many mosques, Hindu temples and churches across the island, especially in areas where respective communities are concentrated. Buddhists are distributed across most parts of the island except in the north. Hindus are concentrated in north, east, and central high lands. Christians, particularly Roman Catholics are mainly concentrated along the western coastal belt. Muslims are concentrated in several pockets along the coast and in interior. All religious communities are represented in western province and in other urban centers in sizable numbers.
Media
The national radio station, Radio Ceylon is the oldest-running radio station in Asia.[39][40] It was established in 1923 by Edward Harper just three years after broadcasting was launched in Europe.[41] It remains one of the most popular stations in Asia, with its programming reaching neighboring Asian nations. The station is managed by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and broadcasts services in Sinhalese, Tamil, English and Hindi. Since the 1980s, a large number of private radio stations have also being introduced, and they have gained commercial popularity and success. Broadcast television was introduced to the country in 1979 when the Independent Television Network was launched. Initially all Television stations were state controlled, but private television networks began broadcasts in 1992.[42] Global television networks from India, Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States are also widely popular, and cable and satellite television is gaining in popularity with Sri Lanka's middle-class. Popular publications include the English language Daily Mirror and The Sunday Observer and The Sunday Times, Divayina, Lankadeepa and Lakbima in Sinhalese and the Tamil publications Dinakaran and Uthayan.
Education
With a literacy rate of 92%, and 83% of the total population having had Secondary Education,[43] Sri Lanka has one of the most literate populations amongst developing nations.[44] An education system which dictates 9 years of Compulsory Schooling for every child is in place, with 99% of the children entering the first grade.[43] A free education system initiated in 1945[45] by Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara, a former minister of education, has greatly contributed to this. Mr. Kannangara led the establishment of the Madhya Maha Vidyalayas (Central Schools) in different parts of the country in order to provide education to Sri Lanka's rural population. In 1942 a special education committee proposed extensive reforms to establish an efficient and quality education system for the people.
Most secondary schools in Sri Lanka provide education from grades 1 to 13 in the same institution. Students sit for the GCE Ordinary Level Examination (O/Levels) in grade 11 and the GCE Advanced Level Examination (A/levels) in grade 13, conducted by the Department of Examinations. These schools are modeled on British colleges. A majority of them are public, but a number of private schools do exist. While most reputed schools centered around large cities are usually single-sex institutions, rural schools tend to be coeducational. In recent decades, a large number of international schools have been established across the nation. In these schools General Certificate of Secondary Education, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge International Examinations are popular education programs.
- See also: List of schools in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has a around 16 public universities. They include the University of Colombo, the University of Peradeniya, the University of Kelaniya, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, the University of Moratuwa, the University of Peradeniya, the University of Jaffna, the University of Ruhuna, the Eastern University of Sri Lanka, the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka and the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. However the lack of space in these institutions and the unwillingness to establish private universities has led to a large number of students been denied entry into formal universities as well as high undergraduate unemployment. As a result, a number of public and private institutions have emerged, which provide specialised education in a variety of fields, such as computer science, business administration and law. These include the government owned Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology and the Institute of Technological Studies.
- See also: Universities in Sri Lanka
Sports
- See also: Cricket in Sri Lanka
While the national sport in Sri Lanka is volleyball,[46] by far the most popular sport in the country is cricket.[46] Rugby union also enjoys extensive popularity, as do aquatic sports, athletics, Football (soccer) and tennis. Sri Lanka's schools and colleges regularly organize sports and athletics teams, competing on provincial and national levels. The Sri Lankan cricket team achieved considerable success beginning in the 1990s, rising from underdog status to winning the 1996 World Cup,[47] as well as the Asia Cup in 1996 and 2004. Sri Lanka remains one of the leading cricketing nations in the world, with the national team reaching the finals of Cricket World Cup 2007, where they lost to Australia.[48]
Sri Lanka has a large number of sports stadiums, including the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, the R. Premadasa Stadium and the Rangiri Dumbulla Stadium in Dambulla as well as the Galle International Stadium. The country co-hosted the 1996 Cricket World Cup with India and Pakistan, and has hosted the Asia Cup tournament on numerous occasions. It will also co-host the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Aquatic sports such as boating, surfing, swimming and scuba diving on the coast, the beaches and backwaters attract a large number of Sri Lankans and foreign tourists.
References
- ^ Official Website of Sri Lanka tourist Board - Facts at a glance
- ^ Sri Lanka: Parliament History
- ^ Department of Census and Statistics Estimated mid year population by sex and age, 2003 - 2005
- ^ British Prime Minister Winston Churchill described the moment a Japanese fleet prepared to invade Sri Lanka as "the most dangerous and distressing moment of the entire conflict." - Commonwealth Air Training Program Museum, The Saviour of Ceylon
- ^ Abeydeera, Ananda. In Search of Taprobane: the Western discovery and mapping of Ceylon. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
- ^ "Sri Lanka - The Pearl of the Orient" . Metropolis.
- ^ Rajasingham, K T. "Sri Lanka: The untold story". Asia Times.
- ^ Zubair, Lareef. Etymologies of Lanka, Serendib, Taprobane and Ceylon. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
- ^ "Chapter I - The People, The State And Sovereignty" . THe Constitution Of The Democratic Socialist Republic Of Sri Lanka.
- ^ de Silva, Colin. "Sri Lanka, The 'Resplendent Isle'", The New York Times, February 14, 1982. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
- ^ Keshavadas, Sant (1988). Ramayana at a Glance. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 8120805453.
- ^ a b BBC News, Gods row minister offers to quit, September 15, 2007
- ^ Rediff, Ramar Sethu, a world heritage centre?, July 4, 2007
- ^ Paranavitana, Senarat; Nicholas, Cyril Wace (1961). A Concise History of Ceylon. Colombo: Ceylon University Press, p.2-5. OCLC 465385.
- ^ BBC Weather'\, Country Guide: Sri Lanka
- ^ EarthTrends, Environmental Information, Forests, Grasslands, and Drylands-- Sri Lanka
- ^ Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, [1]
- ^ Government of Sri Lanka Official Web Portal, National Flower
- ^ Government of Sri Lanka Official Web Portal, National Tree
- ^ Government of Sri Lanka Official Web Portal, National Bird
- ^ The Constitution of Sri Lanka - CONTENTS
- ^ Bedi, Rahul. "Sri Lanka turns to Pakistan, China for military needs", IANS, Urdustan.com Network, 2007-06-02. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
- ^ Constitution of Sri Lanka, Eighth Schedule
- ^ Constitution of Sri Lanka, First Schedule
- ^ Sri Lanka
- ^ The EU's relations with Sri Lanka - Overview
- ^ Amnesty International
- ^ :. NewsLine : Minister sets the record straight on Sri Lanka’s human rights situation .:
- ^ :. NewsLine : US Report: Distorted view to denigrate Sri Lanka
- ^ Hoole, Rajan (2001). Sri Lanka: The Arrogance of Power. University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna). ISBN 978-9559447047.
- ^ Sri Lanka. International Religious Freedom Report 2007. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (2007-09-14). Retrieved on 2008-03-30.
- ^ a b c d The World Factbook: Sri Lanka. CIA World Factbook. Retrieved on 2006-08-12.
- ^ a b c Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Buddhist Studies
- ^ a b Theravada Buddhism and Shan/Thai/Dai/Laos Regions, Maung Chan, 2005-03-28
- ^ Hinduism In Sri Lanka, Discover Sri Lanka
- ^ U.S. Department of States - International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Sri Lanka
- ^ Lankan Muslims' historical links with India, Indian Muslims, April 3, 2006
- ^ Young, R. F., & Sēnānāyaka, J. E. B. (1998), The carpenter-heretic: a collection of Buddhist stories about Christianity from 18th century Sri Lanka, Colombo: Karunaratne & Sons.
- ^ ApacheCon, Sri Lanka
- ^ Central Queensland University, A Case Study of Sri Lankan Media
- ^ Info Lanka, Sri Lanka's National Media
- ^ Press reference, SRI LANKA Press, Media, TV, Radio, Newspapers
- ^ a b Figures as of 2004/2005. UNICEF, Sri Lanka: Statistics
- ^ Chandra Gunawardene, Problems of illiteracy in a literate developing society
- ^ De Silva, K.M. (1981). A Short History of Sri Lanka. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 472. ISBN 0-520-04320-0.
- ^ a b Sri Lanka development gateway, Sports
- ^ The Guardian, Sri Lanka light up the world
- ^ Cricinfo, Final: Australia v Sri Lanka at Bridgetown, Apr 28, 2007
Further reading
- Brow, James: Vedda villages of Anuradhapura: The historical anthropology Of a community in Sri Lanka, University Of Washington Press, Seattle, 1978.
- Codrington, H. W.: A Short History of Ceylon, New Delhi 1994 (Reprint. Asian Educational Services)
- De Silva, Chandra Richard: Sri Lanka - A History, New Delhi 1987 (Second, revised edition 1997)
- De Silva, K. M.: A History of Sri Lanka. New Delhi, Penguin, xvii, p. 782, 2005.
- Devendra, T. and D. Gunasena: Sri Lanka: The Emerald Island, (New Delhi 1996), Roli Books.
- Domroes, Manfred: After the Tsunami: Relief and rehabilitation in Sri Lanka, New Delhi, Mosaic Books, 1st ed. 2006.
- Gunaratne, Shelton A.: The Taming of the Press in Sri Lanka. Journalism Monographs No. 39, May 1975.
- Johnson, B. L. C., and M. Le M. Scrivenor.: Sri Lanka Land, People and Economy, Heinemann Educational Books Ltd, London, 1981.
- Knox, Robert: An Historical Relation of the Island of Ceylon in the East Indies, New Delhi 2004 (Reprint. Asian Educational Services)
- Mendis, G.C.: Ceylon Today and Yesterday, Colombo 1957 (Third edition 1995)
- Sedere, Upali M.: Context of Educational Reforms Then and Now: 121st C. W. W. Kannangara *Memorial Address, Ministry of Education, Isurupaya, Battaramulla, October 13, 2005
- Smith, Vincent A.: The Oxford History of India, Oxford 1958 (4th edition 1981)
- Williams, Harry: Ceylon Pearl of the East, Robert Hale Limited, London, Great Britain, 1950.
- Williams, H.: Ceylon : Pearl of the East Delhi, Surjeet, 2002
- Philippe Gilbert: Les Larmes de Ceylan Ed. des Equateurs, France, 2005
See also
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- Virtual Library Sri Lanka
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