Sri Lanka is a tropical island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of India.
Legend states that the prince Vijaya came to Sri Lanka from Orissa, in north-eastern India, during the sixth century BCE and started to rule the native people in Sri Lanka, who were known as the Veddas. The book "Mahavamsa" claims to give a nearly continuous written history of the island.
Archeological evidence on several occasions contradicts the information found in the Mahavamsa as it places people of an indistinguishable racial origin living in the North Central regions of Sri Lanka from the 10th century BC onwards with the knowledge of agriculture, metallurgy, and livestock breeding.
Sri Lanka ("resplendent land" in Sanskrit) itself represents the modern adoption of a name of ancient lineage. It derives from the Ramayana, in which the island was simply called Lanka. It was also known as Lankadeepa, appending the word for island. The appellation Lanka was unknown to the Greeks, from whom most Western names would be derived.
Things you should know when travelling to Sri Lanka
You are advised against all travel to areas in the east of the country, including Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara, and should exercise caution when travelling to the Jaffna Peninsula. Throughout the past few months, there has been an increase in violence and killings in the Trincomalee and Batticaloa areas, in particular.
On December 28, 2005, the Sri Lankan government announced new arrangements for foreigners seeking to enter the uncleared areas of the north and east, which are currently under LTTE control. Foreign staff of diplomatic missions, international organisations and international non-government organisations accredited with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be allowed to cross entry and exit checkpoints into uncleared areas without restriction. All other foreigners, including visiting journalists, must seek approval from the Ministry of Defence before they will be allowed to enter uncleared areas.
You are advised against all travel to the east and north of Sri Lanka due to heightened political tension and the deteriorating security situation, which has led to an increase in assassinations, mine explosions and political unrest.
