20/01/2022
The “pearl of the Indian Ocean,” according to Schultz, is Sri Lanka. The leaf-shaped country is approximately the size of West Virginia and Schultz refers to it as “India in miniature.” One of the lesser known facts about the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon until 1972) is that it is the world’s largest tea exporter and was among the first country’s to institute ethical production practices. Its citizens are also highly educated and, as Schultz eagerly points out, the island boasts the highest literary rate in Asia.
Sri Lanka is located off the southeastern tip of India near Maldives. It is home to a number of different ethnic groups, each with their own religions, so colorful religious festivals are never in short supply. The country also offers everything from surfing and safaris to whale watching and an impressive 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Its dome-shaped temples, or dogobas, reflect 2,500 years of history, beginning with Anuradhapura, the country’s first capital, which was founded about 500 BCE.