SRI LANKA

- Map of the region the Capital Cities of the countries in your region

- Investigate thee population of the whole region (may be you can find the most populated country)

20,222,240
note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred
thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought refuge in the West (July 2006 est.)

The major physical features (mountains, rivers, steppes, deserts and natural resources of the region. Think which features will
have the most impact? Why?

The pear-shaped island consists mostly of flat-to-rolling coastal plains, with mountains rising only in the south-central part. Amongst
these are Sri Pada and the highest point Pidurutalagala (also known as Mt Pedro), at 2,524 meters (8,281 ft). The Mahaweli ganga
(Mahaweli river) and other major rivers provide fresh water.

Ruhunu National Park in the southeast protects herds of elephant, deer, and peacocks, and Wilpattu National Park in the northwest
preserves the habitats of many water birds, such as storks, pelicans, ibis, and spoonbills.

Natural resources:
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower
Climate:
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to
October)
Terrain:
mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

- Investigate how might the physical environment affect the way people live in your region? Think about housing, diet,
cultural influence and political institutions?
deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities
and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in
Colombo

- Will your region be more agricultural or pastoral or industrial? Will they be dependent on trade or more self-sufficient? Use
specific examples.
Agriculture - products:
rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish
Industries:
processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications,
insurance, banking; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining
Industrial production
growth rate: 8.2% (2005 est.)
Exports:
$6.442 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products, rubber manufactures,
fish
Exports - partners:
US 30.9%, UK 11.6%, India 7.3%, Belgium 4.8%, Germany 4.5% (2005)
Imports:
$8.37 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
textile fabrics, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and transportation equipment
Imports - partners:
India 19.7%, China 9.9%, Singapore 7.2%, Iran 5.5%, Malaysia 4.6%, Hong Kong 4.5% (2005)
Land use:
arable land: 13.96%
permanent crops: 15.24%
other: 70.8% (2005)

In 1977, Colombo abandoned statist economic policies and its import substitution trade policy for market-oriented policies and
export-oriented trade. Sri Lanka's most dynamic sectors now are food processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages,
telecommunications, and insurance and banking. In 2003, plantation crops made up only 15% of exports (compared with 93% in
1970), while textiles and garments accounted for 63%. GDP grew at an average annual rate of about 5.5% in the 1990s, but 2001 saw
the first contraction in the country's history, by 1.4%, due to a combination of power shortages, severe budgetary problems, the global
slowdown, and continuing civil strife. Growth recovered to 5% between 2002 and 2005. About 800,000 Sri Lankans work abroad,
90% in the Middle East. They send home about $1 billion a year. The struggle by the Tamil Tigers of the north and east for a largely
independent homeland continues to cast a shadow over the economy. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took about 31,000 lives,
left more than 6,300 missing and 443,000 displaced, and destroyed an estimated $1.5 billion worth of property.

- Locate the surrounding cultures, societies of the other regions that might affect the society of the region of your team. How
might these cultures affect the life? (Think past and present)

Sri Lanka had always been an important port and trading post in the ancient world, and was increasingly frequented by merchant ships
from the Middle East, Persia, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia.

Imports - partners:
India 19.7%, China 9.9%, Singapore 7.2%, Iran 5.5%, Malaysia 4.6%, Hong Kong 4.5% (2005)
Exports - partners:
US 30.9%, UK 11.6%, India 7.3%, Belgium 4.8%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

Religion plays an important part in the life and culture of Sri Lankans. The Buddhist majority observe Poya Days, once per month
according to the Lunar calendar. The Hindus and Muslims also observe their own holidays. There are many Buddhist temples in Sri
Lanka and many mosques, Hindu temples and churches all across the island. The North and the East of the island have many mosques
and Hindu temples because a large Tamil and Muslim population resides in those areas. Many churches can be found along the
southern coast line because of a concentration of Christians, particularly Roman Catholics, in that region. The interior of the island is
mostly Buddhist, and indeed there are many Buddhists in nearly all parts of the island.

The Tamil people are an ethnic group from the Indian subcontinent with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. The
oldest Tamil communities are those of southern India and north-eastern Sri Lanka.

Sources:
“Sri Lanka”. The World Fact Book. 2007. CIA. January 9th, 2007. Url: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ce.html
“Sri Lanka”. Wikipedia, the free enciclopedia. 2007. Online. January 9th, 2007. Url: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka