Careerbreaker Destinations - Sri Lanka
Considered by Marco Polo to be the finest island of its size in the entire world, Sri Lanka, the Teardrop of India, the Pearl of the Orient, has long been an irresistible destination for travelers. Sri Lanka is situated approximately 30km south of the south east Indian coast.
Known as Ceylon until 1972, Sri Lanka has a tropical climate, dense central forest teeming with various flora and fauna and elephants and leopards can be seen. This strikingly beautiful landscape has its own unique charm, balancing jungle with hillside tea plantations and long sandy beaches dotted with palm trees. In contrast the island's commercial capital, Colombo, is a thriving and modern city with plenty entertainments and good nightlife. Sri Lanka is an island where colour abounds, in the bright festival decorations, in the scenery, and even in the food. Yet it is undoubtedly the warmth and hospitality of the Sri Lankan people which leaves the most indelible mark on the visitor.
The majority of the 18.8 million population are Sinhalese following the Theravada Buddhist tradition; the largest minority group the Tamil, who are predominantly Hindu, live in the north of the country. Both Sinhala and Tamil are official languages and English is widely spoken. Sri Lanka's distinctly Buddhist culture shows elements of contact with the British, Dutch and Portuguese colonial forces.
Famous for tea and cinnamon, Sri Lankans are a nation of tea-drinkers and to refuse a cup when offered would be considered impolite. Sri Lankan cuisine, traditionally rice and curry based dishes, is colourful and delicious. It’s worth trying ‘Arrack’ a traditional alcoholic drink made from coco palm, blended and aged, a little like whisky, it has subtle variations and tastes a little like a mild brandy. For the more daring try ‘Toddy’, also manufactured from Coco Palm, although at 100% proof it is more akin to paraffin!
The majority of the population of 19 million live in rural areas. Whilst education if free and compulsory from the age of 5 -15, it is estimated that 22% of the population live below the poverty line, many of whom who were badly affected by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami.
In the north and south east of Sri Lanka there are many impoverished communities who have been living with serious development issues for many years, including a lack of clean water supplies and adequate school facilities. Careerbreaker is working with local NGO’s on a wide range of sustainable Community Development Projects in the south east, focusing on local infrastructure and facilities.
At the weekend and mid-project break you can take the opportunity to do some sight-seeing in this beautiful and intriguing country. There is also the option to do some adventurous travel after your volunteer placement with our in house travel agent Gap Club. Visit the palm-lined beaches and dive the crystal waters, experience the hustle and bustle of Colombo or take in the sights of the ancient Buddhist Capital of Anuradhapura or the Dutch Fort at Galle.
What Can I do In Sri Lanka?
Community Development Projects
Work Placements - Conservation
Adventurous Travel
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Destinations Homepage
About Sri Lanka
Full Name
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Capital City
Colombo
Area
66,000 sq km
25,483 sq miles
Population
19,000,000
Time Zone
6 hours ahead of UK
Languages
Sinhalese (official)
Tamil (official)
English (other)
Religion
69% Buddhist, 15% Hindu, 8% Muslim, 8% Christian
Currency
Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs)
Famous for
Exotic landscape, wildlife and tea
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