Culture in Sri Lanka is the gallery of diverse
cultural patterns. Many of the cultural characteristics of Sri Lanka are
indigenous while several have been derived by the influences of migration,
trade, religions and western colonisation.
The Sri Lankans are fond of hot and spicy food. All
Lankan dishes are cooked on the base of coconut milk and flavored by liberal
use of spices. The inhabitants of the country are also expert in preparing
fish dishes and several juicy sweetmeats.
Indigenous conventions and influences of India and
Europe have combined together to create the music in Sri Lanka. North and
South Indian music traditions have influenced Sri Lankan music to great
extent. The English also left their impact on Sri Lankan music.
Sri Lanka has some of the best tea plantations in the
world. Famous Ceylon Tea was brought to Sri Lanka by the British. Six
prominent tea-producing regions in Sri Lanka are Galle, Ratnapura, Kandy,
Nuwara Eliya, Dambulla and Uva.
Sri Lankan arts have continuously evolved during the
course of history. Every art form such as dance, music, sculpture, paintings
and architecture have seen development. Basis of Sri Lankan arts are the
religious beliefs of people.
People of Sri Lanka celebrate their festivals with
loads of enthusiasm. Grand festival of Esala, celebrated in Kandy in the
month of July or August, symbolises Sri Lanka. Sinhala and Tamil New Year
events are also celebrated with fervor.
Age old technique are applied for making handicrafts.
Raw materials provided abundantly by nature are used for making handicrafts.
Batiks, ebony and brass work are some of the handicrafts in Sri Lanka. Fine
handicrafts are made using the hard kernel of black wood.
Sinhalese and Tamils are two major ethnic groups of
Sri Lanka. Muslims and Burghers are other groups. With religion as base
followers of Buddhism form the largest community in Sri Lanka. Modern
education in the country is not widespread.
