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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
island

Sri Lanka was known as Tambapaṇṇĩ, meaning 'copper-red hands' or 'copper-red earth', named by the legendary Prince Vijaya.

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
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island

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Area
65,610 km²
Location
Sri Lanka
20th largest island 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
island

The earliest inhabitants of Sri Lanka were likely ancestors of the Vedda people, an indigenous group numbering approximately 2,500.

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Tap to learn more
island

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Area
65,610 km²
Location
Sri Lanka
20th largest island 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
island

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
Sri Lanka
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island

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Area
65,610 km²
Location
Sri Lanka
20th largest island 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 3 permalink
Ptolemy's world map of Ceylon, first century CE, in a 1535 publication
island

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

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Tap to learn more
island

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Area
65,610 km²
Location
Sri Lanka
20th largest island 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 4 permalink
Ptolemy's world map of Ceylon, first century CE, in a 1535 publication
island

Sri Lanka claims an exclusive economic zone extending 200 nautical miles, which is approximately 6.7 times its land area.

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Tap to learn more
island

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Area
65,610 km²
Location
Sri Lanka
20th largest island 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 5 permalink