Sri+Lanka+by+Nell

=¤  Sri Lanka ¤ = 

Would you like some thaiir for your Diced Liver curry?
= **Rice and different kinds of spices are some of Sri Lanka’s staple foods. Rice is often used as a main dish and is considered the basic food for most all Sri Lankan meals. There are also many kinds of spices like cinnamon, chili peppers, curry leaves, nutmeg, and dry ginger. When rice, different combinations of spices, and some meat or vegetables are all cooked together, they make a mean curry. The curry dishes range from eggplant to lamb to coconut, and even chicken gizzard curry. If you are not accustomed to spicy food or just don't like it, you can politely ask for thaiir, a sweet yogurt that reduces the spice dramatically. So, if you are a long time curry lover, or you’re just a first timer, Sri Lanka is the place to be.** = =[|To see a recipe for Chicken Gizzard curry, click here.]=

=[|To see many different kinds of Sri Lankan curries, click here]= = = = = =Interesting Information: =

Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, other 10%.
====**F ****un and Unique Facts: **====  
 * Sri Lanka is ranked 121 in size.
 * There are 11 universities.
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; color: rgb(0, 133, 33);">Sri Lanka is one of the leading exports of tea in the world.
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; color: rgb(0, 133, 33);">Rubber was brought to Sri Lanka in 1876.
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; color: rgb(0, 133, 33);">Sri lanka is known as "The Pearl of the Indian Ocean".
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; color: rgb(0, 133, 33);">There are occasional tornadoes and hurricanes.
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; color: rgb(0, 133, 33);">Buddhism arrived in Sri Lanka around the 3rd century B.C.
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; color: rgb(0, 133, 33);">The national flag of Sri Lanka, the Lion Flag, is considered to be one of the oldest flags in the world.
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; color: rgb(0, 133, 33);">Sri Lanka has one of the highest numbers of public holidays.
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; color: rgb(0, 133, 33);">Sri Lanka has an elephant pageant every year.

<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 128, 128);">Sri Lankan Government Structure
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Sri Lankan politics reflect the political and historical differences between the two main ethnic groups, the minority Tamils and majority Sinhala, who are based and concentrated in the east and in the north of the island. First and foremost, Sri Lanka has a President that is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. The President's term is six years, and has a two term limit. There is also a 225 member Parliament. Sri Lanka gained independence from The United Kingdom in 1948, and became a republic in 1972. The Sri Lankan government tolerates all religions, but suggests one should be Buddhist. The government also gives some freedom of speech, but has been known to hurt, or allowed people to be hurt, because of what they write. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">

[[image:Mahinda_Rajapakse_2.img_assist_custom.jpg caption="President Rajapaska"]]
°