Ten interesting facts about Sri Lanka
1. Sri Lanka may be the tea capital of the
world, but tea only just was introduced to it only in 1867.
2. Before Sri Lanka became famous for tea, it
was famous for coffee
3. Sri Lankans had known about tea for nine
years before they saw rubber for the first time, in 1876.
4. When Sri Lankans say yes, they don’t nod their heads up and down but rather
waggle it from side to side, so it looks as if they are saying no instead.
5. At meals, Sri Lankan women usually serve the
children and the men before they settle down to eat.
6. The very first female prime minister in the
world is Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka. She first served in 1960 and held
three terms: 1960–1965, 1970–1977, and 1994–2000.
7. Bandaranaike’s daughter, Chandrika
Kumaratunga, was the first female president elected in Sri Lanka. She served for
two consecutive terms.
8. Sri Lanka is mentioned in the famous ancient
Indian epic, the Ramayana.
9. Sri Lanka achieved its independence from
Britain in 1948
10. Sri Lanka was called Ceylon until 1972.
Until today, some organizations in Sri Lanka still have “Ceylon” in their
names.
1. Sri Lanka may be the tea capital of the
world, but tea only just was introduced to it only in 1867.
2. Before Sri Lanka became famous for tea, it
was famous for coffee
3. Sri Lankans had known about tea for nine
years before they saw rubber for the first time, in 1876.
4. When Sri Lankans say yes, they don’t nod their heads up and down but rather
waggle it from side to side, so it looks as if they are saying no instead.
5. At meals, Sri Lankan women usually serve the
children and the men before they settle down to eat.
6. The very first female prime minister in the
world is Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka. She first served in 1960 and held
three terms: 1960–1965, 1970–1977, and 1994–2000.
7. Bandaranaike’s daughter, Chandrika
Kumaratunga, was the first female president elected in Sri Lanka. She served for
two consecutive terms.
8. Sri Lanka is mentioned in the famous ancient
Indian epic, the Ramayana.
9. Sri Lanka achieved its independence from
Britain in 1948
10. Sri Lanka was called Ceylon until 1972.
Until today, some organizations in Sri Lanka still have “Ceylon” in their
names.