Buddhism in Sri Lanka

The Theravada tradition of Buddhism, which emphasizes the original teachings of the Buddha, has remained the dominant form of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa. The introduction is attributed to Arahat Mahinda, the son of the Indian Emperor Ashoka. He brought the Theravada form of Buddhism to the island, which became the dominant tradition. Buddhism has deeply influenced Sri Lankan culture, influencing art, literature, architecture, and daily practices. Festivals, rituals, and traditions are often tied to Buddhist teachings and stories.

 Ancient Reservoirs and Irrigation Systems of Sri Lanka 

Irrigation systems of ancient Sri Lanka consist of a large number of village reservoirs to gigantic reservoirs.

In Sri Lanka, there are over 30,000 reservoirs, the majority of which date from the third century BC to the 12th century.

In the third century BC, Abaya Wewa was the first large reservoir to be constructed in recorded history. Since that time, Sri Lankan tank builders have developed a remarkable skill for managing big bodies of water, enabling them to construct enormous reservoirs that no other civilization could have imagined.

As stated in H. Parker;s book "Ancient Ceylon.", an irrigation engineer who was in charge of rebuilding several historic irrigation reservoirs in the late 1800s, Europeans didn't begin using the valve pits in their reservoirs until the middle of the 18th century.

but  Sri Lankan irrigation experts  inventioned the "Biso Kotuwa" valve pit, which could easily control the outflow of very big water bodies, in the third century BC that inspired Sri Lankan irrigation experts to construct such enormous reservoirs.

The incredible instrumentation precision of the old irrigation systems is another advancement. 

The ancient irrigation engineers first discovered that the Kala Wewa in Pollonaruwa was created on a little raised ground compared to Tissa Wewa in Anuradhapura when king Dathusena (459-477 AD) built Yodha Ela, also known as Jayaganga. Then, in order to transport extra water from the Kala Wewa to the Tissa Wewa, he constructed the 54-mile (87-kilometer) Yoda Ela, which has a gradient of 6–12 inches per mile (about 10–20 cm per kilometer).

Experts are still perplexed as to how these engineers were able to reach such precision.

 

According to the Global Wellness Institute,

Sri Lanka ranks the top of the world's Wellness Tourisum Destination for 2021!

Experience Sri Lankan Ayurveda spa session which based on the country’s centuries old treasure trove of indigenous knowledge base, natural environment and cultural repertory.

 An art of living of old Ceylonese.- Stilt Fishermen

 – Ahangama

An age old fishing technique that is unique to Sri Lanka, it came into being just after World War II.

 The traditional costume of Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan traditional dress for women is Saree and like other South Asia countries, sarongs are also the basic attire for men in Sri Lanka. 

Sri Lankan traditional dress was affected by both Asian and European cultures. Traditional Sri Lankan attires have many other features like appearance, decoration, color which changed over time. 

Sri Lankan Authentic food 

Since Sri Lanka is a multi cultural country, nothing anything less influence when it comes to Sri Lankan food . 

Sri Lanka is filled with its regional flavours while the cuisine is known for a rich combination of rice specialities, spices, herbs, seafood, seasonal vegetables and fruits and of course, legumes.

Many of these dishes are centred around the main staple rice, rice flour and coconut. The curries have immense flavour and colours which are derived from a list of Sri Lankan Hot Spices. These spices not only add great flavour to the food but also adds ayurvedic value to the dish.

 Lamprise  ___________________

A Lankan delicacy introduced by the Dutch Burgher community is an absolute must try out of the ever so extensive Sri Lankan cuisine. 

Traditionally, this banana leaf wrapped treat comprises of a meat curry, ash plantain, brinjal pahi, seeni sambol, belacan or blachan (shrimp paste), frikadel (compact meatballs) and finally, rice cooked in stock.

 Wood carving sri lanka 

According to “Mahawamsa” the prevailed arts and crafts were innovated with the arrival of Buddhist Nun “Sanghamitta” to Sri Lanka from India. The history records that crafts men belong to sixty different castes arrived to Sri Lanka along with her on her visit that brought the Sacred Bo- Tree to Anuradhapura.

 

Learn about the basics of Buddhist meditation. Meditation is a means of transforming the mind. Buddhist meditation practices are techniques that encourage and develop concentration, clarity, emotional positivity, and a calm seeing of the true nature of things.

 EGGPLANT (BRINJAL) PICKLE - Sri Lankan Recipe 

Sri Lankan Food is known well around the world for its unique taste.The Portuguese, Dutch and British invaders as well as the Indian, Arab, Malay and Moor traders have all contributed to the variety of Sri Lankan cuisine. Sri Lankan cuisine ranges from mild and subtly flavoured dishes to hot and spicy ones. The food is flavoured with a variety of herbs and spices, garlic, ginger, lemon grass etc.. and curry powder which is prepared by blending atleast 5 different ingredients.

 

Try this healthy and delicious Sri Lankan Recipe - EGGPLANT (BRINJAL) PICKLE

National Museum, Colombo

The largest Museum in Sri Lanka, established in 1877.

 

Housed in a fine colonial-era building on Albert Crescent, the National Museum is the first public Museum to be established in Sri Lanka (1877). It is the best known for its collection of ancient royal regalia, Sinhalese artwork (carvings, sculptures and so on), antique furniture, china, and Ola manuscripts. 

Focus to the National costume in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan costumes spanning from around the 6th Century B.C. with the first available records of the island's dress forms, to the post-independence era in the mid-20th Century. This broad time span begins with the hints of a pre-Vijayan culture of costumes and textiles and ends in the striven post-1948 independence politics and its relationship to dress both in prescription and practice. Dictated dress forms at different periods in Sri Lanka's history, the mutual adaptation of dress styles among ethnic communities, as well as between east and west. It looks at the impact of the colonial dress forms in transforming Lankan identities and at the politics of such adaptation.

Probably the Biggest Procession in Asia

- KANDY ASALA PERAHARA

Kandy Perahara or Procession is held to honor the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha enshrined in the Temple of Toosh Relic, and also as a blessing to the gods to give sufficient rain to the farmers for their next crops. This ritual is performed by carrying the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha through the city streets. It starts on the full moon Piya Day in late July or early August and is held over 10 days in the hill country of Kandy. The procession is the most colorful and grand festival in south Asia. It has become a unique symbol of Sri Lanka held every year. It is a Buddhist festival. 

Sri Lanka offers you the chance to have one of the most beautiful & meaningful ceremonies available anywhere in the world.

Sri Lanka offers the perfect destination wedding with spectacular scenery and very friendly and hospitable locals, you'll have a paradise wedding forever to remember.  Arranging your Sri Lanka wedding can be relatively simple. Weddings are completely legal & welcomed by local authorities. In Sri Lanka, you can have a Civil wedding, Christian wedding, Buddhist wedding, Hindu wedding, or Muslim wedding.

Sri Lanka New Year
01 Apr 2010 - 30 Apr 2010

Sinhalese and Tamil cultures celebrate their New Year in April with elephant races, coconut games and other fun activities like pillow fights. It’s a great time to visit the northern regions, when peace pervades this otherwise tense part of Sri Lanka. 

Sinhalese New Year or Aluth Avurudhu rituals begin with observance of Nonagathe. At this time, people consider it to be inauspicious to engage in any activity. They go to temples and perform religious rites to receive the blessings of the priests. Women in villages congregate to play rabana (drums) to announce the time to start performing New Year rituals.