12 Fascinating Facts about Sri Lanka You Might Didn`t Know

Sri Lanka is one of those countries that never cease to amaze people with its serene coastlines, idyllic beaches, lush tea plantation, well preserved wildlife reserves, Buddhist cultures and various temples with stunning architecture. Now you can even get Sri Lanka eta visa online easily.
A rich and fascinating country has an equally unique and interesting facts related to it. Therefore before planning to visit this island country, it is much more fun to become familiar with it. Here are few interesting facts about the country that will surely surprise and amaze you at the same time:

1. The name ‘pearl of Indian Ocean’ is given to this country due to its mesmerizing coastal beauty and one of its main exports of the precious gemstones. The second name ‘teardrop of India’ is due to its perfect teardrop shape.
2. Sri Lanka was first colonized by the Portuguese in 1505, followed by the Dutch in 1658 and then the British in 1796. In the year 1948, the country gained full independence.
3. Before independence, Sri Lanka used to be called Ceylon which is a transliteration of Ceilao. It changed its name to Sri Lanka when it became a republic in 1972.
4. The oldest living tree planted by a man is in Sri Lanka. Shri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura is older than 2000 years. It was grown from a branch which was brought from Bodh Gaya in India, the tree under which Lord Buddha gained enlightenment.
5. The world`s first female Prime Minister was from Sri Lanka. Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the first female prime minister of Ceylon in 1960 and the world`s first Prime Minister too.
6. The Adam`s bridge that connects India with Sri Lanka is believed to be built by the Lord Rama and his army of monkeys, according to Hindu devotees.
7. Animals throughout the country sensed the incoming tsunami an hour before it hit. Reports include elephants running away from the beach and the birds flying to higher ground in Yala National Park.
8. Sri Lanka was the second worst-hit country by 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. More than 40,000 people were killed.
9. In 2016, The WHO declared it as malaria-free. The country had been the most malaria-affected countries in the mid-20^th The anti-malaria campaign successfully targeted the disease making the country completely free from the disease.
10. Sri Lanka is home to Sigiriya Rock Fortress which is also a famous world heritage site. It is a gigantic column of rock rising from the forested plains below.
11. It is the only country where you can find the world`s largest mammal of land and the largest marine mammal – the blue whale, in a single day.
12. Lipton Tea was founded in Sri Lanka when its Glasgow-born owner Sir Thomas Lipton purchased 5,500 acres of Dambatenne Tea Plantation in Ceylon`s high country.

Imagine a country which has so many fascinating facts associated with it, would be so much interesting to visit. So book your Sri Lanka eta visa by visiting our website www.sri-lankaeta.com