Sri Lanka is often referred to as “the pearl of the Indian Ocean.” No wonder, considering the fact that there is a great deal to discover on this tropical island with around 21 million inhabitants: Dream beaches, cultural treasures, rich biodiversity, and hearty cooking. The Würth Group has been present in Sri Lanka since 1998.
The company now has three branch offices there with over 100 employees.
A two-pack of giants
Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in which you can see both the largest land animal and the largest marine animal on the same day: the elephant and the blue whale.
Long-standing tradition
In ancient times, Sri Lanka was the world’s largest producer of cinnamon and shipped the spice all the way to Rome. Even today, the country is one of the largest cinnamon suppliers worldwide.
Singhalese and Tamils
There are two main ethnic groups on this island: the Singhalese and the Tamils. Both have their own language and often have to switch to English in order to understand each other.
No selfies
Selfies in front of Buddha statues are prohibited in Sri Lanka, and Buddha tattoos are not allowed to be visible in public. Violations are punished with fines or even imprisonment.
The record-breaking tree
Reportedly, the oldest tree planted by humans is located in the antique city of Anuradhapura. It is over 2,000 years old and is said to be an offshoot of the tree under which the Buddha once attained enlightenment.
Tooth of the Buddha
The renowned “Temple of the Tooth” is located in Kandy, allegedly housing one of the Buddha’s teeth. It is considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhism.
Charge the line
Up until 1990, all of the country’s electricity was generated by hydropower plants. Today, roughly half of the required electricity is still produced in this way.
Big footprints
According to legend, someone left a 1.8-meter-long footprint at the top of Adam’s Peak. Depending on which religion you are inclined to believe, it was left by either Shiva, Adam or the apostle Thomas.
The finest Ceylon tea
Sri Lanka is one of the largest tea exporters in the world. The region surrounding the city of Nuwara Eliya is the chief tea-growing district. The island is famous for its Ceylon tea, which can be enjoyed here.
First woman in power
The world’s first non-hereditary female head of government was elected in Sri Lanka. Politician Sirimavo Bandaranaike held the office a total of three times between the years 1960 and 2000.
Multilayered flag
The origin of the Sri Lankan flag dates back to the year 162 BC. Its motif represents the three different regions: The leaves of the Bodhi Tree symbolize Buddhism, the orange Hinduism and the green Islam.
Land of the leopards
DYala National Park has one of the largest leopard populations on the planet. Around 30 specimens of this animal live here – alongside crocodiles, buffalo, elephants, and bears.
