Recent excavations show that even during the Neolithic Age, there were food gatherers and rice cultivators in Sri Lanka. Very little is known of this period; documented history began with the arrival of the Aryans from North India. The Aryans introduced the use of iron and an advanced form of agriculture and irrigation. They also introduced the art of government. Of the Aryan settlements, Anuradhapura grew into a powerful kingdom under the rule of king Pandukabhaya. According to traditional history he is accepted as the founder of Anuradhapura.

During the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa, a descendent of Pandukabhaya, Buddhism was introduced in 247 B.C. by Arahat Mahinda, the son of Emperor Asoka of India. This is the most important event in Sri Lankan history as it set the country on the road to cultural greatness. As a new civilisation flourished Sri Lanka became rich and prosperous.

In the mid 2nd century B.C. a large part of north Sri Lanka came under the rule of an invader from South India. From the beginning of the Christian era and up to the end of the 4th century A.D. Sri Lanka was governed by an unbroken dynasty called Lambakarna, which paid great attention to the development of irrigation. A great king of this dynasty, Mahasen (3rd century A.D.) started the construction of large `tanks' or irrigation reservoirs. Another great `tank' builder was Dhatusena, who was put to death by his son Kasyapa who made Sigiriya a royal city with his fortress capital on the summit of the rock.

As a result of invasions from South India the kingdom of Anuradhapura fell by the end of the 10th century A.D. Vijayabahu 1 repulsed the invaders and established his capital at Polonnaruwa in the 11th century A.D. Other great kings of Polonnaruwa were Parakrama Bahu the Great and Nissanka Malla both of whom adorned the city with numerous buildings of architectural beauty.

Invasion was intermittent and the capital was moved constantly until the Portuguese arrived in 1505, when the chief city was established at Kotte, in the western lowlands. The Portuguese came to trade in spices but stayed to rule until 1656 in the coastal regions, as did the Dutch thereafter. Dutch rule lasted from 1656 to 1796, in which year they were displaced by the British. During this period the highland Kingdom, with its capital in Kandy, retained its independence despite repeated assaults by foreign powers who ruled the rest of the country. In 1815 the kingdom of Kandy was ceded to the British and thus they established their rule over the whole island. Modern communications, western medical services, education in English, as well as the plantation industry (first coffee then tea, rubber and coconut) developed during British rule. By a process of peaceful, constitutional evolution, Sri Lanka won back her independence in 1948 and is now a sovereign republic, with membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations Organisation.

Sri Lanka is mainly an agricultural country. The chief crop is rice with which the country is almost self sufficient. Tea, rubber and coconut are also important agricultural crops, with tea being a major foreign exchange earner. In addition, other crops of importance are cocoa and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, pepper and cloves. Fruit and vegetables, native to both tropical and temperate regions, grow well in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is also a major exporter of precious and semi-precious stones. Within the last few years remittances from Sri Lankans employed abroad have contributed a large share towards foreign exchange.

The last three decades have seen tourism emerge as an important industry. There has also been a rapid growth in manufacturing industries which offer a wide range of export goods such as petroleum products, leather goods, ready made garments and electronic equipment

Sinhala and Tamil are official languages in Sri Lanka. Sinhala, a language of Indo-Aryan origin is the language of the majority. English is widely spoken and understood. Place names and sign-boards on buses and trains are usually in all three languages. Sri Lanka is a land of religious freedom and tolerance. Wherever you travel you will come across a Buddhist Temple or Dagaba, a Hindu Kovil, a Christian Church or a Mosque, each with its own distinctive architecture. When visiting holy places please conform to the requirements as regards dress in order not to show disrespect.

BUDDHISM : BUDDHAS PATH TO FREEDOM

Buddhism is the main religion of Sri Lanka where it was officially introduced in the third century B.C. during the reign of King Devanam Piyatissa by Venerable Mahinda who was son of Emperor Asoka of India. No sooner than it was introduced here the new teaching caught up with the inhabitants of the country so rapidly that within a few months time the entire country became Buddhist. In Sri Lanka it has found its most congenial permanent home.

Buddhism is the practical system of psychological and philosophical ethics taught to humanity by the Indian prince Siddhartha Gauthama in the 6th century B.C.  He was born on the full moon day of May in the year 623 B.C. as the son of Suddhodana, a provincial ruler of the kingdom of Kapilavastu in Central India.  His teaching has today become a world religion providing inspiration and guidance to nearly one fourth of the world population.

He lived the household life for twenty-nine years, the last thirteen years of which constituted his married life with princes Yasodhara.  As a royal prince born with the silver spoon in the month he led a luxurious life.  However, he had been a very contemplative person from his young days and this nature of his did not make him happy amidst his royal luxury.  To him such enjoyment did not make any appeal because he saw that it was fleeting and temporary and as such, in the ultimate analysis, life is painful.  All so-called pleasures are delusive.  Amidst comfort and prosperity he realized the university of sorrow inherent in human existence.

Despite all the efforts of man to achieve happiness in this world, human suffering stares in the face of all living beings.  Search after worldly pleasures available to him and donning the simple garb of an ascetic, alone and penniless, he wandered forth from home to homelessness in search of Truth and Peace, which to him appeared as an attainable objective.

Initially, he went to all the distinguished teachers at the time all of whom failed to meet his demands.  He was determined to find it for himself.  This was followed by six years of painful austerities which too proved futile.  However, by directing the searchlight inward, followed by a severe mental and an emotional struggle, he ultimately achieved his cherished goal on the full moon day of May 588 B.C. under the Bodhi Tree at Buddhagaya in India.

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a free, independent and sovereign nation. A system of administration through provincial councils was introduced in 1988. Legislative power is exercised by Parliament, elected by universal franchise on a proportional representation basis. Executive power of the people, including defense, is exercised by the President, who is also elected by the people.

One Sri Lankan rupee is made up of 100 cents. Currency notes are in the denominations of Rs.10, Rs.20, Rs.50, Rs.100, Rs.500 and Rs. 1000. Coins are in the following denominations: 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, one rupee, two rupees, five rupees and ten rupees.

National banking hours are from 0900 hrs. to 1500 hrs. on weekdays. Banking hours may be different at private banks. Further teller machines (ATM) are operated through out the day.

Reputed credit and charge cards are widely accepted by shops in Sri Lanka. In some cases the shops may try to add a surcharge to the price of the merchandise purchased. This is not an acceptable practice and in such cases the card company should be contacted so that corrective action can be taken. These services are available at the Departure lounge and in Kandy and Colombo.

People's Bank

               Foreign Branch,
               27, M.I.C.H. Building
               Bristol Street
               Colombo 1
               Tel: 422370
               Hours of Business: Weekdays 0900 hrs. to 1600 hrs.             

               
               Overseas Customer Unit
               Lake Side Complex
               38, Dr. Wijewardena Mawatha, Colombo 10
               Tel 320381, 332746
               Hours of Business: Weekdays - 0900 hrs. to 1630 hrs. Saturdays 0900 hrs. to 1200 hrs.            

               
               Headquarters Branch
               Chittampalam Gardiner Mawatha,
               Colombo 2.
               Tel 329822,, 447473             

Bank of Ceylon

                Bureau de Change
                York street
                Colombo 1
                Tel 422370
                Hours of Business: Weekdays - 0900 hrs. to 1800 hrs. Holidays - 0900 hrs. to 1600 hrs.             

               
               International Airport,
               Katunayake, 
               Tel : 452424
               Encashment of travelers cheques, foreign currencies, re-exchange of un-expended Sri Lanka Rupees. 
               All days 24 hrs services.             

               
               Sri Lankan Airline  Office
               B.O.I. Building
               Sir Baron Jayatilake Mawatha
               Colombo 1
               Hours of Business: 0900 hrs. to 1500 hrs.            

               
               Cey Bank - Travel Centre, Kollupitiya
               Hours of Business: Weekdays - 0830 hrs. to 1730 hrs.             

INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS

        People's Bank Sri Lanka 
        Bank of Ceylon Sri Lanka
        Deutsche Bank (Asia)
        Indian Bank
        State Bank of India
        Standard Chartered Bank
        Habib Bank Ltd
        Hatton National Bank Ltd.
        Indian Overseas Bank Ltd
        Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation
        Bank Indosuez Bank of Credit & Commerce International (Overseas) Ltd., Citibank N.A.
        ANZ Grindlays Bank
        Algemene Bank Nederland N.V.
        Bank of Oman Ltd
        Union Bank of the Middle East Ltd
        Commercial Bank of Ceylon Ltd
        Habib Bank AG Zurich
        Amro Bank Amsterdam Rotterdam Bank N.V.
        Middle East Bank
        Overseas Trust Bank Ltd 

Sri Lanka standard time is 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Post Offices, Agency Post Offices, and payphone booths provide local as well as I.D.D. facilities. Phone cards of denominations up to Rs.500/- are available at Post Offices and Shops. Foreign cables are accepted at the G.P.O. Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 1.

National daily newspapers are published in English, Sinhala and Tamil languages and Magazine type editions during weekends. A comprehensive selection of International publications, newpapers, journals and magazines are available at newsagents, bookstalls and in hotel foyers.

There are 10 channels in operation - Rupavahini, ITN-(Independent TelevisionNetwork), Sirasa TV,Derana TV,Channel Eye,TV Sri lanka, TNL, Max, ARTV and ETV. A wide variety of programmes covering various subjects are telecast on these channels which include Newsbrief from B.B.C. & CNN. and Sky news. Most of these channels mainly use Sinhala as the medium of communication and the channels like ARTV and ETV are mainly focused on English viewers. Please refer daily press for programmes.

230-240 volts 50 cycles A.C.

In addition to Saturday and Sunday, the full moon day (Poya Day) of each month is a holiday in Sri Lanka. On Poya Days all places of entertainment are closed and no liquor is sold. Hotels make special arrangements for customers to order their liquor the day before Poya holiday.

Large scale maps of the island are available at the Survey Department, Map Sales Branch, Kirula Road, Narahenpita, Tel : 585111/585112-6 and Maps Sales Centre, York Street, Colombo 1. Tel: 435328

Road maps and books on Sri Lanka may be bought from the following bookshops in Colombo and Kandy - Cargills, H.W. Cave & Co. K.V.G. de Silva & Sons, Y.M.B.A., Fort, Colombo, Tel. 326831 and 86. D.S. Senanayake Veediya, Kandy, Tel: 08-23251, Lake House Bookshop at Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha (Near Regal Cinema), Colombo 2, Gunasena & Co., Olcott Mawatha, Colombo 11 (Pettah), K.V,G,. de Silva & Sons (Colombo) Ltd, 415, Galle Road, Colombo 4. Picture Postcards and contemporary reading matter are also available in these stores, and other good book shops in provincial towns. Hotel front desks will provide further information. Most large hotels have bookshops on the premises. Books on Buddhism are available at the Buddhist Information Centre, 50 Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. Tel : 573285 and Buddhist Publication Society, forest Hermitage, Kandy.

Anuradhapura (US\\$12)
Sigiriya (US\\$12)
Polonnaruwa (US\\$12)
Kandy (US\\$ 10)
Kandy (US\\$8 - excluding the temple of the Tooth Relic)
Nalanda (US\\$10)
Lanka Internet

Inclusive tickets for all sites - (US\\$30), are available from the Central Cultural Fund 212/1 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. Tel : 500732, 587912 (0830) hrs to 1615 hours and from all Cultural Triangle sites. Entrance tickets to individual sites are available only at each specific site from 0600 hours 1000 hrs. These tickets cover charges for photography, recording and parking. Half rates for children under 12 years. Rates are quoted in U.S. Dollars and Rupee parities are subject to fluctuation.

A round trip ticket for sites under the Central Triangle Project costs US\\$32.50. Tickets can be purchased from Travel Agents or the Central Cultural Fund Head Office, 212/2, Baudhdhaloka Mw; Colombo 07 or Publication and Sales Dept. at 11A, Independence Av; Colombo 07 or at any of the five sites (except Dambulla)

Business hours are from 0830 hrs. to 1630 hrs. Certain businesses are open on Saturdays till 1300 hrs.