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SRI LANKA - Sir James Emerson Tennent, 1860 historian Sri Lanka is a beautiful island about the size of West Virginia, located just off the southern tip of India. The island consists of all things lovely including mountain ranges, big rivers, tea plantations, rain forest preserves and waterfalls. In fact, Sri Lanka boasts over 400 waterfalls which cascade breathtakingly across the island. History Long ago, the Arabs referred to Sri Lanka as Serendib. The Greek sea travelers discovered Sri Lanka and aptly named it Serendip which today translates to Serendipity meaning the discovery of beauty by coincidence or accident. In 1505, the Portuguese renamed it Ceilão, which was translated into Ceylon by the English. Though it is now called Sri Lanka, the name Ceylon persists when referring to tea.  Those who travel to Sri Lanka are taken aback by its striking landscapes and unique geography that includes sunny beaches, cool mountain peaks, and tropical wildlife. The Portuguese, Dutch, and British significantly influenced the island and you can see their effects throughout the culture of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka declared its independence in 1948 and became a republic in 1972 – after being under the rule of various countries for over 500 years. Sri Lanka as a country is at an interesting and defining crossroads. Although the island has been in existence for centuries, Sri Lanka is a new nation faced with the challenge of becoming just that – a nation. Sri Lanka & Tea The richness of resources on the island has allowed Sri Lanka to become a major exporter. The development of modern ports under British rule raised the strategic importance of the island as a center of trade. With its strategic location in the Indian Ocean, the island has long been a stop on trade routes, and today is a source of the world’s rubber, cinnamon, gemstones—and, of course, tea. Despite its small size, Sri Lanka is the #3 tea-exporting country in the world. The annual tea export volume of Sri Lanka is over 315 million kilograms, approximately 21% of the global tea exports market. Sri Lanka is the 3rd biggest tea producing country in the world and is a leading exporter with around 19% of global demand. Today, tea is grown on over 222,000 hectacres throughout Sri Lanka – up from 400 hectacres in 1875. About 20% of Sri Lanka’s export earnings come from tea and the industry generates over 600,000 direct jobs for the country. The tea industry is single-handedly the largest employer in all of Sri Lanka. Climate The island of Sri Lanka is not very large making the central mountain range a factor in weather and climate. There are two distinct monsoon periods that occur in Sri Lanka - the southwest monsoon which blows from the end of April until late September and the northeast monsoon which lasts from December to February. Temperate climates exist throughout the region typically ranging from 50 degrees to 90 degrees year-round. Rainfall is a big deal as it impacts the agricultural growing seasons, particularly that of tea. With a tropical climate, variations in altitude, and these wet monsoon seasons, Sri Lanka is a perfect foundation for the growing of tea. People Over the centuries, despite colonization and waves of political and economic strife, a distinct national character has emerged on the island grounded in spirituality, tradition, and humility. All over the world, Sri Lankans are known for the hospitality and friendly welcome they extend to visitors. Over 21 million Sri Lankans call this island home. Sinhala, Tamil and English are widely spoken throughout Sri Lanka. With a mix of different ethnicities, 74% Sinhalese, 12.6% Tamil, 5.5% Indian Tamil, 7.1% Moor, 0.3% Muslim and 0.3% European, Sri Lanka’s people are uniquely diverse. However, one constant remains, the truly hospitable culture. Visitors to Sri Lanka know that when they enter a historic temple, walk the beaches, travel the mountains or hill country, or sit in a beautiful, centuries-old restaurant, they will see one common thing: a smiling Sri Lankan face. It is not easy to convey the true hospitality, friendliness and kindness exhibited by the people of Sri Lanka. So we’ll let this story do the talking. Alison Redmond, of CTV News, recalls this story that occurred as her television crew visited Sri Lanka after the tsunami in 2005. “We visited a small fishing community completely wiped out by the waves. Homes were either completely gone or all that remained of them were crooked slabs of brick. The people living by the beach lost everything. The fishermen could not fish because their boats were beached and broken. And the women could not cook because their food had been swept away. But one woman, carrying a small baby and surrounded by toddlers, waved us into the area where her home once stood. It was a small patch of dusty earth surrounded by palm trees. She wanted us to meet her children and sit down with her on a dusty mat and have a cup of precious tea. She wanted to give what she could for people she did not know. The people of Sri Lanka have experienced a disaster of epic proportions, but still they possess strength and a kindness that is hard to describe. Their small acts of kindness -- whether it's a wave as we drive by, or an invitation to tea -- is remarkable given what they have gone through. They are truly a remarkable people.” |
