Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a beautiful island country shaped like a teardrop in the Indian Ocean. It is just south of India. Sri Lanka has tropical beaches, ancient temples, and lush tea plantations. It is often called the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.

Land and People

About 22 million people live in Sri Lanka. The capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, but the biggest city is Colombo. The island has mountains in the middle, rainforests, and beaches all around. Wild elephants and leopards live in the national parks.

A very old map showing the island of Sri Lanka.
A very old map showing the island of Sri Lanka. (Laurent Fries / Wikimedia Commons)

Culture and Fun Facts

Sri Lanka is one of the biggest tea producers in the world. Rice and curry is the main meal. The ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Sigiriya are amazing. Cricket is the most popular sport. Sri Lanka has celebrated its traditions for over 2,500 years.

Fun Facts

  • Sri Lanka is one of the top tea-producing countries in the world.
  • Sigiriya is an ancient palace built on top of a giant rock.
  • Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of biodiversity in the world for its size.

Did You Know?

Sigiriya in Sri Lanka is a palace built on top of a giant rock that rises 660 feet above the jungle. It was built about 1,500 years ago by a king. You have to climb about 1,200 steps to reach the top where the ruins still stand.