Sri Lanka General Information Area: 65,525 sq km (25,299 sq miles). Population: 19,043,000 (official estimate 1999). Population Density: 290.6 per sq km. Capital: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (official); Colombo (commercial). Population: 2,281,000 (1998). Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is only 10km (6 miles) from Colombo. GEOGRAPHY: Sri Lanka is an island off the southeast coast of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is separated from India by the Indian Ocean, in which lies the chain of islands called Adam’s Bridge. Sri Lanka has an irregular surface with low-lying coastal plains running inland from the northern and eastern shores. The central and southern areas slope into hills and mountains. The highest peak is Pidurutalagala (2524m/8281ft). Government: Democratic Socialist Republic since 1978. Gained independence from the UK in 1948. Head of State: President Chandrika Kumaratunga since 1994. Head of Government: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe since 2001. Language: Sinhala, Tamil and English. Religion: Buddhist majority, with Hindu, Christian and Muslim minorities. Time: GMT + 6. Electricity: 230/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Round three-pin plugs are usual, with bayonet lamp fittings. Communications:   Telephone IDD facilities are available to the principal cities. Country code: 94. Outgoing international code: 00. Phone cards are available at post offices and shops. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network. Network operators include Celltel Infiniti (website: www.celltel.lk), Lanka Cellular Services (Pte) Ltd and Dialog GSM (website: www.dialog.lk). Fax The General Post Office in Colombo (address below) provides a service. Many hotels also have facilities. Internet Internet cafes provide public access to Internet and e-mail services. ISPs include Pan Lanka Networking P.L. (website: www.panlanka.net). Telegram These can be sent from all post offices. Post Airmail to Europe takes up to a week. The main post office in Colombo is opposite the President’s house: General Post Office, Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 1. Press Daily newspapers published in English include the Daily News, The Island and The Observer. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.31 11.96 6.195 1.413 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 17.74 11.71 9.645 6.110 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes 1 Yes Australian Yes 1 Yes Canadian Yes 1 Yes USA Yes 1 Yes OtherEU Yes 1 Yes Japanese Yes 1 Yes PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least six months from date of entry required by all. VISAS: Required by all except nationals of the following countries who will be issued with visas free of charge for a period of 30 days on arrival at Colombo Airport (for touristic visits only): (a) 1. nationals of those countries mentioned in the chart above; (b) nationals of Albania, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China (PR, including Hong Kong), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Former Rep of Yugoslavia, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives, Montenegro, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates; (c) nationals of CIS countries. Note: All business visitors require a visa. Types of visa and cost: Tourist and Business: £38 (up to three months). Fee given is for UK nationals. Fees vary according to nationality; contact the Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section. Validity: As above. Visitors can request to extend their stay by applying to the Department of Immigration & Emigration, 23 Station Road, Colombo 3 (tel: (1) 597 513; fax: (1) 437 040). This is issued at the discretion of the authorities who must be satisfied that the applicant has at least US$30 per day for the stay and holds an onward or return ticket for travel. Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section. Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Completed application form. (c) Two passport-size photos signed on the back by applicant. (d) Visa fee, payable by cash or postal order. (e) Self-addressed envelope, with appropriate cost of stamps necessary for returning passport by registered post. (f) Proof of sufficient funds for duration of stay. (g) Return or onward ticket. Business: (a)-(g), and (h) A letter from the company or organisation recommending the issue of visa and giving details of the status of the applicant, nature of business, duration of stay, sufficient funds and details of the party, if available in Sri Lanka, with whom the business is to be conducted, along with a letter from that company/organisation in Sri Lanka. Working days required: At least three. Temporary residence: Enquire at Embassy or High Commission. Money Currency: Sri Lanka Rupee (SLRe, singular; SLRs, plural) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of SLRs1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of SLRs10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. There are also large numbers of commemorative coins in circulation. Currency exchange: Foreign currency must be changed only at authorised exchanges, banks and hotels, and these establishments must endorse such exchanges on the visitor’s Exchange Control D form which is issued on arrival and must usually be returned at time of departure. Credit & debit cards: American Express, Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted. Diners Club has more limited acceptance. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: The rate of exchange for travellers cheques is better than the rate of exchange for cash. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is limited to SLRs1000. The import of notes from India and Pakistan is not allowed, otherwise the import of foreign currency is not restricted but all amounts over US$5000 are subject to declaration. Export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on import. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Sri Lanka Rupee against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 140.26 146.50 152.78 154.22 $1.00= 96.25 96.32 96.61 96.86 Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1500. Duty Free The following items may be imported into Sri Lanka by visitors aged 18 years and over without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 340g of tobacco; 2 bottles of wine and 1.5l of spirits; a small quantity of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette. Note: (a) Only two members of the same family travelling together are entitled to free import allowances. (b) Valuable personal effects (including jewellery), must be declared on arrival in Sri Lanka. (c) There is no gift allowance. Public Holidays Jan 14 2003 Tamil Thai Pongal Day. Jan 18 Duruthu Poya Day. Feb 4 Independence Commemoration Day. Feb 12 Eid al-Adha (Hadji Festival Day). Feb 16 Nawam Poya Day. Mar 1 Mahasivarathri. Mar 18 Medin Poya Day. Apr 13-14 Tamil and Sinhala New Year. Apr 16 Bak Poya Day. Apr 18 Good Friday. May 1 May Day. May 14 Milad un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). May 15-16 Vesak Poya Days. Jun 14 Poson Poya Day. Jul 13 Esala Poya Day. Aug 12 Nikini Poya Day. Sep 10 Binara Poya Day. Oct 10 Vap Poya Day. Oct 25 Deepavali. Nov 8 Il Poya Day. Nov 26-28 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Dec 8 Unduvap Poya Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 7 2004 Duruthu Poya Day. Jan 14 Tamil Thai Pongal Day. Feb 2 Eid al-Adha (Hadji Festival Day). Feb 4 Independence Commemoration Day. Feb 6 Nawam Poya Day. Feb 18 Mahasivarathri. Mar 6 Medin Poya Day. Apr 5 Bak Poya Day. Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 13-14 Tamil and Sinhala New Year. May 1 May Day. May 2 Milad un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). May 4-5 Vesak Poya Days. Jun 3 Poson Poya Day. Jul 2 Esala Poya Day. Jul 31 Adhi Esala Poya Day. Aug 29 Nikini Poya Day. Sep 28 Binara Poya Day. Oct 27 Vap Poya Day. Nov 12 Deepavali. Nov 14-16 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Nov 26 Il Poya Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Unduvap Poya Day. Note: (a) Poya holidays are on the day of each full moon. In general, Hindu and Buddhist festivals are declared according to local astronomical observations and it is often only possible to forecast the approximate time of their occurrence. (b) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted; however, since Sri Lanka is not a predominantly Muslim country restrictions (which travellers may experience elsewhere) are unlikely to cause problems. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No 1 Cholera Yes 2 Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A Malaria 4 N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from infected areas. 2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Sri Lanka. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix. 3: Typhoid occurs in rural areas. 4: Malaria risk, predominantly in the benign vivax form, exists throughout the year in the districts of Amparai, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Badulla, Hambantota, Jaffna, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Mannar, Matale, Matara, Moneragala, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Ratnapura, Trincomalee and Vavuniya. The malignant falciparum strain is also present and is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine. Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Bottled water and a variety of mineral waters are available at most hotels. Unpasteurised milk should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Pasteurised and sterilised milk is available in some hotels and shops. Avoid dairy products made with unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Other risks: Hepatitis A, B and E are present and precautions should be taken. Dengue fever occurs. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix. Health care: Treatment is free at government hospitals and dispensaries; 24-hour treatment is available at Colombo General Hospital. Some hotels also have doctors. Travel - International Note: Visitors are advised to avoid the north and east of the country. For further advice contact a local government travel advice department. AIR: Sri Lanka’s national airline is SriLankan Airlines (UL). Approximate flight times: From Colombo to London is 13 hours 45 minutes, to Hong Kong is 5 hours 10 minutes, to the Seychelles is 3 hours 55 minutes and to Tokyo is 12 hours. International airports: Colombo Bandaranaike (CMB) (Katunayake) is 32km (20 miles) from the city. Buses go to the city every 30 minutes. Taxis are available. There are trains to Maradana Station, located 1.6km (1 mile) from the city centre (travel time – 1 hour 25 minutes). Airport facilities include duty-free shop, restaurant (24 hours), bar, snack bar, bank, post office, tourist information (24 hours) and car hire. Departure tax: SLRs1000. Transit passengers continuing their journey within 24 hours and children under two years of age are exempt. SEA: International ports include Colombo, Talaimannar, Trincomalee and Galle. Passenger services to Sri Lanka are operated by CIT, Cunard, Holland America, P&O and Royal Viking. Travel - Internal AIR: The major domestic airport is Ratmalana at Colombo. There are daily flights to smaller airports at Batticaloa, Gal Oya, Palali and Trincomalee. The airport at Jaffna is currently closed. Departure tax: SLRs50. Helicopter tours: Helitours of Ceylon, with pilots from the Sri Lanka Air Force, offers charter tours of major tourist areas. RAIL: Trains connect Colombo with all tourist towns, but first-class carriages, air-conditioning and dining cars are available on only a few. New fast services operate on the principal routes, including an inter-city express service between Colombo and Kandy, otherwise journeys are fairly leisurely. The total network covers 1500km (900 miles). Note: Rail services to Jaffna have recently ceased owing to the violent political disruptions in the northern area. ROAD: Traffic drives on the left. Most roads are tarred, with a 56kph (35mph) speed limit in built-up areas and 75kph (45mph) outside towns. Bus: An extensive network of services of reasonable quality is provided by the Sri Lanka Central Transport Board. Taxi: These are available in most towns. It is advisable to agree a rate before setting off. Car hire: This is available from several international agencies. Air-conditioned minibuses are also available. Chaffeur-driven cars are less expensive and recommended. Avoid remote areas and travelling at night. Documentation: In order to avoid bureaucratic formalities in Sri Lanka, an International Driving Permit should be obtained before departure. If not, a temporary licence to drive is obtainable on presentation of a valid national driving licence. This must be endorsed at the AA office in Colombo. The minimum age for driving a car is 18. URBAN: Bus: The Central Transport Board provides intensive urban bus operations in Colombo, where there are also private buses and minibuses. Fares are generally collected by conductors. Services are often crowded. Taxi: These are metered with yellow tops, and red and white plates. Drivers expect a ten per cent tip. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Colombo to other major cities/towns in Sri Lanka. Air Road Rail Kandy - 2.30 3.00 Galle - 3.00 3.00 Bentota - 1.45 1.45 Matara - 4.00 4.30 Badulla - 9.30 9.00 Negombo - 0.45 0.45 Nuwara Eliya - 3.30 5.00 Anuradhapura 0.45 5.30 6.00 Polonnaruwa 1.00 6.00 7.00 Trincomalee 1.00 6.00 7.00 Kataragama - 6.30 - Accommodation HOTELS: Sri Lanka offers a wide choice of accommodation. There are seven international-class 5-star hotels with every modern facility. Grading: Hotels are classified from 1 to 5 stars. For further information, contact the Sri Lanka Tourist Hotels Association (see Business Profile section); or Ceylon Hotels Corporation, 411 Galle Road, Bambalapitiya, Colombo 4 (tel: (1) 503 497 or 503 558; fax: (1) 503 504; e-mail: chc@sltnet.lk). GUEST-HOUSES: Inns, guest-houses and rest houses offer comfortable but informal accommodation. PRIVATE HOMES: For visitors who would like to get to know the Sri Lankans and see how they live, arrangements can be made to stay in private homes or on a tea or rubber plantation. PARK BUNGALOWS: There are also many park bungalows run by the Department of Wildlife Conservation which are furnished and equipped for comfort rather than sophistication. Introduction Ancient sites include Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Panduwasnuwara and Yapahuwa. All these places contain the remains of a great civilisation which grew through the centuries under the influence of Buddhism, a gentle faith still preserved in Sri Lanka in its purest form. Vast man-made lakes, large parks, shrines, temples and monasteries speak eloquently of the grandeur of the past and bear testimony to a cultured and imaginative people. The regions in the following guide are used for convenience only and have no administrative significance. COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s capital is a fascinating city, blending its older culture with modern Western influences. A palm-fringed drive of 34km (21 miles) leads from the Katunayake (Colombo) International Airport to Colombo. Fort, so called as it was a military garrison during the Portuguese and Dutch occupation from the 16th to the 18th century, today is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Pettah, 2km (1 mile) from Fort, is a busy bazaar area. The Vihara Maha Devi Park, named after the mother of one of Sri Lanka’s greatest kings, is noteworthy for its collection of beautiful flowering trees, a blossoming spectacle in March, April and early May. The park is open daily until 2100 and is well illuminated. The Parliament Building is at Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte. Other attractions include the Planetarium, the National Zoological Gardens and several museums and art galleries. Buddhist temples: Kelani Rajamaha Viharaya, 10km (6 miles) from Fort; the Vajiraramaya at Bambalapitiya, 6km (4 miles) from Fort; Dipaduttaramaya at Kotahena, 5km (3 miles) from Fort; and Gotami Vihare at Borella, 7km (4.5 miles) from Fort. Also worth visiting are Gangaramaya Bhikkhu Training Centre and Sima Malaka at 61 Sri Jinaratana Road, Colombo, 3km (2 miles) from Fort; the Purana Viharaya at Metharamaya, Lauries Road, Colombo 4; and the Purana Viharaya at Hendala, 0.8km (0.5 miles) on the Colombo–Negombo road, en route to the Pegasus Reef Hotel. Hindu temples: At Kochikade Kotahena, the Pettah and Bambalapitiya, Colombo 4; Sri Siva Subramania Swami Kovil, Gintupitiya – within walking distance of Sea Street, Colombo 11 (Pettah). Mosques: Davatagaha mosque at Union Place, Colombo 2; Afar Jumma mosque in the Pettah. KANDY & THE HILL COUNTRY: Kandy, a picturesque, naturally fortified town 115km (72 miles) from Colombo, was the last stronghold of the Kandyan Kings. It withheld foreign conquest until 1815 when it was ceded by treaty to the British. It is now a cultural sanctuary where age-old customs, arts, crafts, rituals and ways of life are well preserved. Good sightseeing trips should take in the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Dalada Maligawa); Embekke Devale; Lankatillaka; Gadaladeniya; Degaldoruwa temples; museums; Royal Botanic Gardens; Peradeniya; Elephants’ Bath at Katugastota; the Kandyan Arts Association; Kalapura (Craftsmen’s Village) at Nattarampotha (6.5km/4 miles from Kandy); and Henawela Village – famous for its ‘Dumbara Mats’ (16km/10 miles from Kandy). Beaches Sri Lanka has approximately 1600km (1000 miles) of beautiful palm-shaded beaches as well as warm, pure seas and colourful coral reefs. SOUTHWEST COAST: The best time to visit is from November to April. Mount Lavinia, 11km (7 miles) from Colombo, is a good beach resort close to Colombo and the domestic airport. Beruwela, 58km (36 miles) from Colombo, has good bathing in the bay all year round. Bentota, 61km (38 miles) from Colombo, is a pleasant self-contained resort destination, between the sea and the river. Hikkaduwa, 99km (62 miles) from Colombo, is a beautiful coral reef and beach. Galle, 115km (72 miles) from Colombo, is famous for its old Dutch fort, and is also a centre for lace-making, ebony-carving and gem-polishing. Tangale, 195km (122 miles) from Colombo, is a beautiful bay and there is safe swimming all year round. Negombo, 37km (32 miles) from Colombo near Katunayake International Airport, is Sri Lanka’s oldest and best-known fishing village. It stands on a strand separating the sea from a lagoon. The seafood here, particularly the shellfish, is a speciality. EAST COAST: Visitors are advised to check with the Tourist Board regarding the situation in these areas prior to departure. The best time to visit is from April to September. Trincomalee, 265km (160 miles) from Colombo, is the ideal refuge for the beach addict. It boasts one of the finest natural harbours in the world and excellent beaches. All watersports, including fishing, are available here. Batticaloa, 312km (195 miles) from Colombo, is famous for its ‘singing fish’ and the old Dutch fort. Kalkudah, 32km (20 miles) from Batticaloa, is ideal for bathing as the sea is clear, calm and reef-protected. Passekudah, close to Kaludah, has a fine bay, clear waters and safe swimming. Nilaveli, 18km (11 miles) from Trincomalee, is very much a resort centre, all beach and watersports. Arugam Bay, 314km (196 miles) from Colombo, 3km (2 miles) from Potuvil, has a beautiful bay and good surfing. JAFFNA: Jaffna is 396km (240 miles) from Colombo, at the country’s northern tip. It was once noted for its Hindu temples, Dutch forts, the Keerimalai Baths, the tidal well and the Chundikulam Sanctuary. Jaffna has many scenic beaches, the best known of which is Casuarina Beach. Check with the Tourist Board, Embassy or High Commission whether the area is off-limits to foreign visitors. Sport & Activities Watersports: Operators in the main resorts conduct diving expeditions and supply equipment. With over 1600km (1000 miles) of fine beaches and several swimming clubs, there is plenty of scope for swimmers. Water-skiing and yachting are available. Windsurfing is a sport that is gaining in popularity and facilities are located in Kalutara, Bentota, Beruwela and Negombo. Sport fishing is popular in Sri Lanka and several clubs offer membership to visitors. Wildlife and flora: There is a number of animal and bird sanctuaries and national parks where protected wildlife can be viewed. Several species are unique to the island, while some others have been introduced. Sri Lanka is well known for its elephants, sizeable numbers of which can be seen in Gal Oya and Udawalawe National Parks and at Handapangala. Other large mammals include leopards, deer and bears. Wild boars, porcupines and monkeys also exist, especially the Grey Langur which is common throughout the island. The native purple-faced Leaf Monkey is to be found in the higher hill regions. Of the 38 species of amphibian, 16 are unique to the island. Reptiles include two native crocodiles, the star tortoise, five species of turtle and many snakes. The five species of poisonous snake are rarely found in towns and villages. The island’s flora varies greatly, ranging from temperate to tropical forests and from arid scrubland and plains to lush hills. There are rhododendron forests as well as tropical rainforests. Orchids and flowering trees can be seen in season. Other: Rugby, hockey, cricket, football, tennis, squash and other games are also available. Apply to a local Travel Information Centre. Membership is offered on a temporary basis at several golf courses. Social Profile Food & Drink: Standard foods are spicy and it is advised to approach curries with caution. There are many vegetables, fruits, meats and seafoods. Continental, Chinese, Indian and Japanese menus are available in Colombo. A speciality is basic curry, made with coconut milk, sliced onion, green chilli, aromatic spices such as cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron and aromatic leaves. Hoppers is a cross between a muffin and a crumpet with a wafer-crisp edge, served with a fresh egg soft-baked on top. Stringhoppers are steamed circlets of rice flour, a little more delicate than noodles or spaghetti. Jaggery is a fudge made from the crystallised sap of the kitul palm. The durian fruit is considered a great delicacy. Tea is the national drink and thought to be amongst the best in the world. Toddy, the sap of the palm tree, is a popular local drink; fermented, it becomes arrack which, it should be noted, comes in varying degrees of strength. Alcohol cannot be sold on poya holidays (which occur each lunar month on the day of the full moon). Nightlife: Some Colombo hotels have supper clubs with music for dancing. There are theatres in Colombo, cinemas showing films from the USA, ballet, concerts and theatre productions. Shopping: Special purchases include handicrafts and curios of silver, brass, bone, ceramics, wood and terracotta. Also cane baskets, straw hats, reed and coir mats and tea. Batik fabric, lace and lacquerware are also popular. Some of the masks, which are used in dance-dramas, in processions and on festival days, can be bought by tourists. The ‘18-disease’ mask shows a demon in possession of a victim; he is surrounded by 18 faces – each of which cures a specific ailment. Versions produced for the tourist market are often of a high standard. Sri Lanka is also rich in gems. Fabrics include batiks, cottons, rayons, silks and fine lace. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1730, Sat 0900-1300. Special Events: For further information and exact dates, contact the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses section). The following list is a selection of events taking place in Sri Lanka annually: Jan Duruthu Perahera Festival (commemorating a visit of the Buddha to Sri Lanka), Kelaniya; Thai Pongal (traditional Hindu festival where thanksgiving prayers are offered to the deities, and milk rice is boiled at dawn in the direction of the rising sun); Navam Perahera Festival (colourful street procession with nearly 100 elephants and ‘low country’ dancers), Colombo. Feb 4 Independence Commemoration Day. Apr 13-14 Sinhala and Hindu New Year. May 7 Wesak Festival (commemorates the Birth, Enlightenment and Death of the Buddha). Jul/Aug Kataragama Festival, Tissamaharama; Esala Perahera Festival, Kandy. Nov 14 Deepavali Festival. Dec Sanghamitta Day. Social Conventions: Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. It is customary to be offered tea when visiting and it is considered impolite to refuse. Punctuality is appreciated. A small token of appreciation, such as a souvenir from home or company, is always welcomed. Informal, Western dress is suitable. Visitors should be decently clothed when visiting any place of worship, and shoes and hats must be removed. Jackets and ties are not required by men in the evenings except for formal functions when lightweight suits should be worn. Tipping: Most hotels include a service charge of ten per cent. Extra tipping is optional. Business Profile Economy: Although some parts of the economy have suffered severe dislocation as a result of the civil war – especially the once promising tourist industry – Sri Lanka has managed to accommodate the conflict to the extent that the economy performed reasonably well during the last five years. This is reflected in the average annual growth of between three and six per cent while both inflation and unemployment have been reduced to single figures. Agriculture sustains most of the working population. The main cash crops are tea, rubber and coconuts, which provide over 75 per cent of export earnings. Rice is grown mainly for domestic consumption. Forestry and fishing are also important. The main industrial sectors are mining and manufacturing. In the former case, gemstones and graphite are the principal minerals. Iron ore, limestone, clay and uranium ore are also present in commercially exploitable quantities. Hydroelectricity is the main source of power, supplemented by imported oil. Important manufacturing industries include cement and textiles, both of which are valuable export earners. In the service sector, the growth of tourism has been stunted by the civil war, but banking and insurance have both been performing well. During the 1990s, successive governments followed the usual prescription of market-oriented policies – privatisation and deregulation – while seeking to build up potential export-earning industries. However, longer term development has been hampered by a shortage of domestic capital and the reluctance of foreign capital to invest in the island (again, this is a consequence of the civil war: the recent peace talks between government and rebels have boosted business confidence). The tight monetary policies followed by the government during the 1990s have been relaxed, although it seems powerless to prevent the remorseless decline in value of the Sri Lankan rupee. The other major recurrent problem is the climate, especially drought in recent years, which has undermined the agricultural sector. Japan, the USA and the UK are Sri Lanka’s major trading partners. Business: Business attire is casual. English is widely spoken in business circles. Appointments are necessary and it is considered polite to arrive punctually. It is usual to exchange visiting cards on first introduction. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1630. Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, Level Three, 53 Vauxhall Lane, Colombo 2 (tel: (1) 304 253 or 698 225; fax: (1) 304 255; e-mail: fccisl@sltnet.lk; website: www.fccisl.org); or Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (Sri Lanka Tourist Hotels Association), 50 Navam Mawatha, Colombo 2 (tel: (1) 421 745; fax: (1) 449 352; e-mail: infordiv@chamber.lk; website: www.chamber.lk). Conferences/Conventions: For further information, contact the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Hotel School Building, Fourth Floor, 80 Galle Road, Colombo 3 (tel: (74) 713 500 or (1) 440 002; fax: (1) 472 985; e-mail: slcb@sri.lanka.lk). Climate Tropical climate. Upland areas are cooler and more temperate, and coastal areas are cooled by sea breezes. There are two monsoons, which occur May to July and December to January. Required clothing: Lightweights and rainwear. History and Government History: Sri Lanka was part of the Empire of Asoka in the third century, during which time the population was converted to Buddhism. The Sinhalese inhabitants later moved their capital to Polonnaruwa, in the south of the island, to escape from repeated Tamil invasions during the 11th and 12th centuries. The first Europeans to arrive were the Portuguese, who were quickly supplanted by the Dutch in the 17th century. The British acquired Sri Lanka (as Ceylon) from the Dutch in 1796. Administration of the island initially was shared between the East India Company and the Crown, however, the latter assumed full control in 1802. Sri Lanka (as Ceylon) eventually won independence in 1948. Past colonisation by the Indians, Portuguese, Dutch and British have all left their marks in architecture, customs, language and agriculture. The country became a republic in 1972, adopting a new constitution along with the Sinhala name, Sri Lanka. The majority (70 per cent) of the population are Buddhists of Sinhalese descent, although the north and parts of the east of Sri Lanka are dominated by the Tamil population (15 per cent), Hindu by religion and ethnically linked to the Tamils of southern India. Serious conflict arose from the Tamil minority’s demands for a separate Tamil state, with terrorist activity by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Tamil Eelam being the title of their notional independent state) prevalent since the 1970s. This provoked increasingly vigorous responses from the government. The Indian government became involved in the conflict, initially as official mediator between the Tamils and the Sri Lankan government but then, after the failure of an armistice in 1987, it intervened militarily (on the government’s side). Its two-year military campaign ended with the death of over 1000 Indian soldiers and an ignominious retreat. The assassination of Indian premier Rajiv Ghandi in 1991 was the apotheosis of the Tigers’ campaign of revenge for the Indian military campaign. After that, the war entered a period of effective stalemate, with each side gaining occasional advantage through upgrading, re-equipping or deployment of new tactics. Outside the Tiger-controlled areas in the north and east – inside which the guerrillas had absolute authority – the political environment was dominated by the struggle between the country’s two main political groupings – the centre-right United National Party and the People’s Alliance (a coalition of social-democratic and socialist parties). The decisive election of recent times took place in 1995, when the UNP’s 17-year stranglehold on power was finally broken by the People’s Alliance, under Chandrikha Kumaratunga, another member of South Asia’s pantheon of formidable female politicians. (Her predecessor, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, was the world’s first female prime minister and held several terms of office between 1959 and 1977.) Kumaratunga won a second presidential term in 1999, although the UNP regained control of the national assembly in December 2001, under veteran politician Ranil Wickremasinghe. Kumaratunga was determined to resolve the Tamil conflict. Despite a number of setbacks and with the discreet assistance of Norwegian negotiators, Kumaratunga had made considerable progress and was close to reaching a political settlement by the beginning of 2002. A deal between the government and the Tamil Tigers was finally concluded at the end of February 2002, when the two sides signed a formal ceasefire. Despite scepticism from many quarters and a number of serious incidents, the ceasefire has been maintained for the last twelve months. Furthermore, the island’s sizeable Muslim population, who were persecuted by both sides throughout the two-decade-long conflict, has also been brought into the political settlement. As with any conflict of that length and hostility, there are many issues to be resolved, however, Sri Lanka is now poised to enter a new era of peace and perhaps even prosperity. By the end of 2002, both sides had agreed on an outline formula for the future government of the Tamil-dominated northern and eastern parts of the island. As of February 2003, the details were the subject of ongoing negotiations. Government: Executive power and legislative power are vested in the president and a single-chamber assembly respectively. The president is directly elected for a six-year term. The 255-member assembly is elected by proportional representation. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.