Sri Lanka officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka before 1972 and as Taprobane , is an island country in South Asia, located about 31 kilometres (19.3 mi) off the southern coast of India. It is home to around twenty million people.

Because of its location in the path of major sea routes, Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia.It has been a center of Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times.The Sinhalese community forms the majority of the population; Tamils, who are concentrated in the north and east of the island, form the largest ethnic minority. Other communities include Moors, Burghers, Kaffirs and the Malays.

Famous for the production and export of tea, coffee, coconuts and rubber, Sri Lanka boasts a progressive and modern industrial economy and the highest per capita income in South Asia.The natural beauty of Sri Lanka's tropical forests, beaches and landscape, as well as its rich cultural heritage, make it a world famous tourist destination.

Geography

An island in the Indian Ocean off the southeast tip of India, Sri Lanka is about half the size of Alabama. Most of the land is flat and rolling; mountains in the south-central region rise to over 8,000 ft (2,438 m).

Climate

Tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March) only affects east coast; southwest monsoon (June to October) affects mostly the west coast and mountains.

Language

Sinhalese and Tamil are the two official languages of Sri Lanka. English is spoken by approximately 10% of the population, and is widely used for education, scientific and commercial purposes. Members of the Burgher community speak variant forms of Portuguese Creole and Dutch with varying proficiency, while members of the Malay community speak a form of creole Malay that is unique to the island.

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,most of whom follow the Theravada school of Buddhism.

The second largest religion is Hinduism. Hinduism was primarily established in Sri Lanka by migrants and often invaders from southern India,and Hindus now constitute seven to fifteen percent of the population,mostly of the Shaivite school.Followers of Islam comprise approximately eight percent of the population,having been brought to the island by Arab traders over the course of many centuries.

Medical Tourism is also known as Medical Travel, Health Tourism, Health Travel, Medical Value Travel, Healthcare Abroad, Medical Overseas, Overseas Medical, Surgery Overseas, Medical Outsourcing and Offshore Medical. Medical tourism can be described as a healthy holiday. In most cases, medical tourists are not your average vacationers opting for medical or cosmetic treatment, just because it is available, but patients with significant health concerns for whom the cost of their health-care is a primary concern and the vacation aspect a secondary one. Indeed, someone needing medical or cosmetic treatment would not go abroad if the 'affordable healthcare' factor-quality of treatment, cost savings and wait time did not justify it. As long as you are healthy enough to travel, you stand to benefit from medical tourism’s offerings.

Medical Tourism is a combination of wellness and healthcare coupled with leisure and relaxation which is aimed at rejuvenating a person mentally, physically and emotionally, drawing away from his daily routine to a relaxed environment in an exotic location. Medical Tourism is the process of traveling abroad to receive superior medical, and cosmetic care by highly skilled surgeons at some of the most modern and state-of-the-art medical facilities in the world. This means that those who choose medical tourism are able to utilize the services of some of the top surgeons in the world, all while enjoying exotic locales and accommodations. Patients can put the money they are saving on the procedure into turning their journey into a magnificent, world-class retreat. For millions of patients, it is the only way to get the needed or desired medical treatment, without wiping out their entire life-savings.

Culture

The culture of Sri Lanka has been influenced by many things in the past. Mostly it has been influenced by religion and colonialization by the Dutch, the Portuguese and the British.

Music

The two single biggest influences on Sri Lankan music are from Buddhism and Portuguese colonizers. Buddhism arrived in Sri Lanka after the Buddha's visit in 300 BC, while the Portuguese arrived in the 15th century, bringing with them cantiga ballads, ukuleles and guitars, along with African slaves, who further diversified the musical roots of the island. These slaves were called kaffrinha, and their dance music was called baila. Traditional Sri Lankan music includes the hypnotic Kandyan drums

Tea Culture

Being one of the largest producers of tea in the world, Sri Lankans drink a lot of tea. Many Sri Lankans drink at least three cups a day. Sri Lanka is also one of the best tea producing countries in the World and the Royal Family of the United Kingdom has been known to drink Ceylon tea. Tea is served whenever a guest comes to a house, it is served at festivals and gatherings or just for breakfast.

History

Indo-Aryan emigration from India in the 5th century B.C. came to form the largest ethnic group on Sri Lanka today, the Sinhalese. Tamils, the second-largest ethnic group on the island, were originally from the Tamil region of India and emigrated between the 3rd century B.C. and A.D. 1200. Until colonial powers controlled Ceylon (the country's name until 1972), Sinhalese and Tamil rulers fought for dominance over the island. The Tamils, primarily Hindus, claimed the northern section of the island and the Sinhalese, who are predominantly Buddhist, controlled the south. In 1505 the Portuguese took possession of Ceylon until the Dutch India Company usurped control (1658–1796). The British took over in 1796, and Ceylon became an English Crown colony in 1802. The British developed coffee, tea, and rubber plantations. On Feb. 4, 1948, after pressure from Ceylonese nationalist leaders (which briefly unified the Tamil and Sinhalese), Ceylon became a self-governing dominion of the Commonwealth of Nations.

S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike became prime minister in 1956 and championed Sinhalese nationalism, making Sinhala the country's only official language and including state support of Buddhism, further marginalizing the Tamil minority. He was assassinated in 1959 by a Buddhist monk. His widow, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, became the world's first female prime minister in 1960. The name Ceylon was changed to Sri Lanka (“resplendent island”) on May 22, 1972.

The Tamil minority's mounting resentment toward the Sinhalese majority's monopoly on political and economic power, exacerbated by cultural and religious differences, erupted in bloody violence in 1983. Tamil rebel groups, the strongest of which were the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or Tamil Tigers, began a civil war to fight for separate nation.

Places to Visit

Dambulla
Dambulla is situated in the central province of Sri Lanka to the north east of Colombo.The city was inhabited during 7th to 3rd century BC. There are various caves in the city that have statues and paintings reflecting the evolution of the city long time back. It is said that the caves of the city was the centre of refuge for king Valgamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradapura kingdom. At that time there were Buddhist monks who protected this king from his enemies. And when king got back his throne in the 1st century BC he built a magnificent rock temple to express his gratitude toward the monks who saved his life.

Galle
Galle is located 116 kilometer to the south of Colombo and was founded by Portuguese.The houses and building structures reflects a blend of European and traditional Asian architecture. Galle is declared as World Heritage City by the UNESCO.

Kandy
Kandy is the capital of the administrative district of Kandy in Sri Lanka and also the capital of the Central Province, which comprises of the districts of Nuwara Eliya, Matale and Kandy. Kandy is located in the center of the country amongst the hills of the Kandy Valley.

Kurunegala
Kurunegala is located at Wayamba Province of Sri Lanka.Also known as the transport hub this place with several main roads that links to important parts of the country.The place was named after the elephant Rock “Kurune” that means Tusker or an elephant with protruding teeth and Gala in Sinhala means rock.

Negombo
Negombo, a traditional fishing town, is situated at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, Sri Lanka. It is home to a population of about 70,000 residents and is a peaceful and serene getaway. Negombo is also an important trading port and an access point for the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Accomodation

Whether you are traveling for the purpose of business or leisure, these hotels will make for excellent base to spend some quality time. The guestrooms have luxurious amenities including air-conditioning, IDD facility, channel music, and satellite TV. The facilities comprise Babysitting, Beauty parlor / Hair salon, Car hire service, Currency exchange, Doctor-on-call, Express Travel assistance, Bookshop, Fitness Centre, Massage, Shopping arcade, Souvenir shop, Swimming pool, Squash, Tennis, Business Centre, Secretarial services and Workstation.

Hotel Colombo Plaza, Galadari Hotel and Hotel Grand Oriental in Colombo, Saman Villa and Taj Exotica in Bentota, and Earl's Regency in Bentota are some of the well known hotels of this category.

The budget hotels in Sri Lanka are also acclaimed for value added services and comprehensive range of facilities that ensure a contented stay. Though not so lavish as the star grade hotels, these hotels are acknowledged for their unmatched services that will give you a home-like feel. Ganga Garden in Bentota, Sharon Inn in Kandy, Tropical Beach House in Hikkaduwa, and Colombo City Hotel in Colombo several renowned names in this category.

Transport

Most Sri Lankan cities and towns are connected by the Sri Lanka Railways, the state-run national railway operator. The first railway line was inaugurated on April 26, 1867, linking Colombo with Kandy. The total length of Sri Lankan roads exceeds 11,000 kilometres (6,840 mi), with a vast majority of them being paved.

The Ceylon Transport Board is the state-run agency responsible for operating public bus services across the island. Sri Lanka also maintains 430 kilometres (270 mi) of inland waterways.

SriLankan Airlines is the official national carrier, partly owned and operated by Emirates Airline. It was voted the best airline in South Asia by Skytrax. SriLankan Air Taxi is the smaller, domestic arm of the national carrier, while Expo Aviation and Lankair are private airline companies. The Bandaranaike International Airport is the country's only international airport, located in Katunayaka, 22 kilometres (14 mi) north of Colombo.