INTRODUCTION ABOUT SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal and to the southeast of the Arabian sea. The capital, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a suburb of the commercial capital and largest city.

Sri Lanka is home to many cultures, Languages and ethnicities. The majority of the population are from the Sinhalese ethnicity. while a large minority of tamils have also played an influential role in the island's history. 

RELIGION:70.2% (Buddhism)

                    12.6% (Hinduism)

                    9.7% (Islam)

                    7.4% (christianity)

                    0.1% (other/ none)

The Sri Lanka flag was officially adopted on December 17, 1978. Prior to 1815, the gold lion was originally the national flag of Ceylon; its four pipul leaves are Buddhist symbols and the sword is said to represent authority. On this modern version, the green represents Muslims, while the orange represents HindusThe flag was officially adopted on December 17, 1978. In this version, the green represents Muslims while the orange represents Hindus. The distinguishing mark of the Sri Lankan flag is the golden lion with its right fore-paw holding a sword, giving it the name of ‘Lion Flag’. The lion is set on a crimson background with one golden bo (sacred fig) leaf at every corner. In general, the lion represents bravery, but every design holds a meaning within the golden lion. The curly hair of the lion represents meditation, religious observance and wisdom. The beard represents purity of words; the nose, intelligence; the fore-paws, purity in handling wealth. The sword that the lion holds represents the sovereignty of the country. The handle of the sword stands for the four elements namely air, water, earth and fire.

There are two vertical stripes of the same width and length in green and saffron, the green stripe closer to the hoist, on the left. Between the stripes and the lion, and around them are yellow borders.The crimson background represents the other minority religions and groups, including the European Burghers. It also refers to the country’s rich colonial heritage. The yellow border represents other ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan Malays.

The Nil Manel (Nymphaea stellata) Blue Water Lily was chosen as the national flower of Sri Lanka in February 1986. The Blue Water Lily of exquisite beauty is a common sight throughout the island. Growing in shallow fresh waters with no season for blooming, the Blue Water Lily thrives wherever lakes, ponds or marsh land is found.

The Sri Lankan national animal is junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii), also known as the Ceylon junglefowl, is a member of the Galliformes bird order which is endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is the national bird. It is closely related to the red junglefowl (G. gallus), the wild junglefowl from which the chicken was domesticated. The specific name of the Sri Lankan junglefowl commemorates the French aristocrat Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette. In Sinhala, it is known as වළි කුකුළා (wali kukula).

The Ironwood (Na Tree), botanically known as ”Mesua Nagassarium” was declared the National Tree on 26th February 1986.
It was chosen as the National Tree for several reasons.
It is a tree which originated in Sri Lanka
Its utility Historic and cultural importance
Exterior posture Wide distribution
Colour and nature Ability to draw and sketch it easily
This rain forest tree grows to about 30 m high and indigenous to the lower wet Zone of Sri Lanka. Remarkable Features of NA is beautiful bright Red Leaves and finally matured in to a deep green. Timber has a very hardness and durability and used to make bridges in the early times. 
Now it is not allowed to use for timber due to its religious value. The flower of NA is also used in herbal medicine and preparation of perfumes, cosmetics and soaps.
It is believed that the first visit of Buddha was to grove of a NA Tree at Miyanganaya and also the next Buddha (Mithriya) will attain enlightenment under a NA tree.
This is about Introduction of Sri Lanka.