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Fun facts about Sri Lanka

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Ptolemy's world map of Ceylon, first century CE, in a 1535 publication
country

Sri Lanka was known as Tambapaṇṇĩ, meaning 'copper-red hands' or 'copper-red earth', named by Prince Vijaya due to the red soil where he landed.

Sri Lanka
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country

Sri Lanka

Population
21.8M
Area
65,610 km²
Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Continent
Asia
63rd most populous country in the world

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It is located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and is separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.

From the “Toponymy” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Laurent Fries · Public Domain

Fact 1 permalink
Ptolemy's world map of Ceylon, first century CE, in a 1535 publication
country

Sri Lanka's irrigation system was extensively expanded during the reign of Parākramabāhu the Great, who built 1,470 reservoirs.

Sri Lanka
Tap to learn more
country

Sri Lanka

Population
21.8M
Area
65,610 km²
Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Continent
Asia
63rd most populous country in the world

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It is located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and is separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Laurent Fries · Public Domain

Fact 2 permalink
Ptolemy's world map of Ceylon, first century CE, in a 1535 publication
country

Sri Lanka is separated from the Indian mainland by the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait, with legends claiming a land bridge existed until 1480 CE.

Sri Lanka
Tap to learn more
country

Sri Lanka

Population
21.8M
Area
65,610 km²
Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Continent
Asia
63rd most populous country in the world

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It is located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and is separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.

From the “Geography” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Laurent Fries · Public Domain

Fact 3 permalink
Ptolemy's world map of Ceylon, first century CE, in a 1535 publication
country

Sri Lanka has 51 natural waterfalls of 10 meters or more, with Bambarakanda Falls being the highest at 263 meters.

Sri Lanka
Tap to learn more
country

Sri Lanka

Population
21.8M
Area
65,610 km²
Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Continent
Asia
63rd most populous country in the world

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It is located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and is separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.

From the “Geography” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Laurent Fries · Public Domain

Fact 4 permalink
Ptolemy's world map of Ceylon, first century CE, in a 1535 publication
country

Sri Lanka was the first Asian country known to have a female ruler, Anula of Anuradhapura, who reigned from 47 to 42 BCE.

Sri Lanka
Tap to learn more
country

Sri Lanka

Population
21.8M
Area
65,610 km²
Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Continent
Asia
63rd most populous country in the world

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It is located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and is separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Laurent Fries · Public Domain

Fact 5 permalink