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SRI LANKA
Tour
Overview - Colombo
- Geography
- History
& Government
- People
& Culture - The
Economy - Gallery
People & Culture
The population (around 20 million), has a diverse ethnic
composition. About 75% of the people are Sinhalese,
18 % are Tamils, and 7 % are Muslims of Arab descent.
Smaller ethnic groups include Malays, Burghers (mixed
race Sinhalese and European), and Veddas - tribal people
who are the original inhabitants of the island.
The Sinhalese came from northern India in about 500
BC. They speak Sinhalese and live primarily in the southwest.
Ninety percent of them are Buddhists. The Tamils are
divided into two distinct groups. The Sri Lankan Tamils,
whose roots on the island date back nearly 2,000 years,
are concentrated in the northern and eastern coastal
regions particularly around Jaffna, their ancestral
home. The Indian Tamils were brought from southern India
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to work as
labourers on the large agricultural estates in the south-central
hill country. Both groups practice the Hindu religion
and speak the Tamil language. Sinhalese and Tamil are
official languages. The Burghers are largely English
speaking. English is used extensively in administration
and education, but only 10 percent of the population
can speak or understand it. Sri Lanka's literacy rate
of about 86 percent compares favourably to that of most
South Asian countries. Schooling is free and compulsory
from ages 5 to 13. Free secondary and college and university
education is also available.
Buddhism, which came to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century
BC, is the predominant religion and the foundation of
Sinhalese culture. Kandy, the ancient capital, is located
in the foothills of the hill country and is the centre
of traditional culture. Here Sri Lanka's most prized
possession, the sacred tooth of Buddha, is enshrined
in the Temple of the Tooth.
The government-supported health system
provides free medical care. A successful family planning
program has lowered birthrates significantly and Sri
Lankans have a low incidence of major endemic and infectious
diseases.
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DATES AND COSTS
5-20 March, 2006 $4734 per person,
twin share, from Australia return or $3234 joining in
Sri Lanka.
4-19 March 2007
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