USEFUL INFORMATION
CAPITAL – Colombo.
GEOGRAPHY – an island in the Indian Ocean, a former British colony.
HOLIDAYS AND NON-WORKING DAYS – January 1, February 4, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May 1, 22, June 30, August 9, December 25, 26.
LANGUAGE – The official language is English, Sinhalese, Tamil.
POPULATION – 18 million people: Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors and Veddas. Since the 80s there have been clashes between Tamils and Sinhalese in the very north of the country, but the south of the country is considered safe for tourism. Here are the main routes.
TIME – Moscow time + 3 hours.
CLIMATE – tropical. The hottest time is March and April (+ 38). November-March – up to +30. In the southwestern part, the monsoon periods are from May to August, in the northeastern part – from October to January.
VISA – not required.
LOCAL CURRENCY – 1 Sri Lankan rupee. – 1$ – 80 rupees.
VACCINATIONS – not required. However, as in any exotic country, it is necessary to take precautions against intestinal diseases: wash your face, brush your teeth, wash vegetables and fruits only with boiled or bottled water or water with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, do not buy vegetables and fruits from street vendors, eat only in guaranteed for safety in restaurants and cafes in hotels, do not drink water from open sources, swim only in designated reservoirs. If you feel unwell, seek medical attention immediately.
AIRPORT – when leaving the country, an airport tax of 500 rupees is charged (only in local currency).
SOME INFORMATION REQUIRED TO COMPLETE MIGRATION CARDS ON ARRIVAL IN COLOMBO: Surname – surname, Given name (first name) – given name, Date of birth – date of birth, Place of birth – place of birth, Nationality – nationality (Russian), Address in Sri -Lanka – address in Sri Lanka, Passport – passport number, Valid from……. till…….. – valid from…… to……, Flight no. – flight number, Date – date.
ATTRACTION
SIGIRIA – in translation – Lion Mountain, declared by UNESCO a monument of world culture. This is a giant monolith with a fortress on top, where you can see wonderful frescoes with celestial nymphs. According to legend, the fortress was built by a king named Kasuap, who killed his reigning father in order to seize power on the island. Hiding from retribution for his crime, he built an impregnable fortress in which he reigned for about 18 years. At the foot of the mountain-fortress, there is a huge park ensemble with pools and fountains that has survived to this day, which begin to work during the rains, when water flows down from the slopes of the mountain and fill the pools with water.
According to Ask 4 Beauty, POLLONNARUWA is a huge palace and temple complex, where the ruins of a Buddhist monastery, a royal palace, and a stupa have been preserved. There is a giant rock with three Buddha statues carved into it. The largest – 14 m long – depicts the Buddha at the time of his death.
KANDY is a tourist mecca in the central highlands. There are many museums and temples here. The city is over 1000 years old. Here are the main Buddhist temples and relics – the White Palace and the Tooth of the Buddha. Currently, Kandy is the world center of the Buddhist religion, where thousands of believers and tourists come. A multi-meter statue of the immortal Buddha rises above the city, which, as it were, holds the surroundings under its protection. Of great interest is the White Palace and evening services, where tourists are allowed to watch religious ceremonies. The Royal Botanical Garden, which is over 650 years old, is also located in the Kandy area. This is a heavenly place where hundreds of species of plants and one of the richest collections of orchids are collected on 147 acres of land. Not far away – on the bank of a freshwater river – a special area is equipped – an elephant bath. It is unlikely that anyone will refuse to get to know these friendly and graceful giants better, feed them with sugar cane and even ride a horse. Sri Lanka is the world center for the extraction of sapphires, which come in three colors: white, yellow and blue in all shades (from blue to blue-black). You can see the whole variety of wonderful crystals in special gemstone museums, which are always available in all good jewelry centers where you can also make purchases.
VASKADUWA AND UDAWALAWE are national parks where you can observe the life of wild animals in natural conditions (safaris).
GALLE is a medieval Portuguese walled city located on the southern tip of the island. The fortress wall, internal buildings, and the Catholic Church are perfectly preserved here, as well as a beautiful view of the ocean from a high rocky shore.
HOW TO BREED IN SRI LANKA
The people of the island are very hospitable and are famous for their hospitality towards any foreigner, regardless of his skin color and religion. Sri Lanka is a country of culture, originating in ancient times and developing over many millennia, therefore, for such a majestic period of time, the peoples inhabiting this wonderful island have developed some original rules of conduct that must be observed. Then the days spent in this earthly paradise will not be overshadowed by any misunderstandings.
Sri Lanka is an island with freedom of religion. Its population is a follower of the four greatest world religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. However, the majority of residents profess Buddhism, so its philosophy of tolerance, non-violence, constant internal improvement and norms of behavior leave a significant imprint on the worldly and sacred life of the island. When visiting temples, monuments and tombs, you must dress as modestly as possible; visiting them in shorts (and for women in trousers) is unacceptable. Hats and shoes must be removed before entering Buddhist and Hindu shrines. Almost every temple has a special place of storage and an acolyte, in case of their absence, it is recommended to take things with you. For walking inside the temple complexes, it is recommended to use disposable socks for hygiene purposes. It is not permissible to pose next to the statues of the Buddha – this is considered sacrilege, and you can become the object of angry verbal attacks from the clergy and especially zealous pilgrims.
Most Sri Lankans live in villages where their life is very simple and unsophisticated. Despite the innate hospitality and tolerance, the Sri Lankans do not like excesses in dress and demeanor. Swimwear is not acceptable for wearing in public places (only on the beach and near the pools), nudism and topless swimming are prohibited by law. Failure to comply with these rules can result in a large fine or imprisonment if the police intervene, followed by deportation from the country and a ban on visiting it in the future.
For the transportation, storage and sale of drugs and drugs equated to them – the death penalty. Prohibited male and female prostitution, homosexuality and child molestation. Unaccompanied Sri Lankan minors are not allowed by law to visit hotels and other places of compact accommodation for tourists.
