AIESEC SRI LANKA - BadmintonMora .“AAUBOWAN “Sri Lanka Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka

AAUBOWAN Sri Lanka Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka

AIESEC

SRI LANKA The Reception Booklet

AAUBOWAN Sri Lanka Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka

INDEX PAGES

- Introduction

- Sri Lanka (Summery)

o Population o Religion o Geography o Climate o Ecology and Environment o Flora and Fauna o Government and Politics o Peace process o Economy

- Colombo

- Arts

- Food

- Sri Lanka useful links

- Useful Information

o Banks and Money

o Cost Of Living & Local Prices

o Tipping

o Recommendations

o Transport

o Clothes

o Entertainment

o Electricity

o Toilets

o Holidays

o Health & Medical services

o Post and telephones

o Mobile phones

o Television & Radio

o Sports

o Dressing style

o Insects

- Sri Lanka useful DOs and DONTs

- Checklist for a intern

- AIESEC in Sri Lanka

- Exchange information for the intern

o Reception Teams

o Arrival and Airport Pickup

o Accommodation

o Reception and integration activities

o Sri Lanka useful phrases in Sinhala

AAUBOWAN Sri Lanka Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka

Ayubowan, Wanakkam, Welcome Dear new intern!

We are glad that you have been matched to our beautiful island

SRI LANKA the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.

We recommend you to read this booklet carefully.

If you still have some questions, dont hesitate to ask.

We are looking forward to seeing you here soon!

With love, AIESEC in Sri Lanka

A word from an ex-intern

It was only a couple of days before the start of my marketing management internship,

when I found out that I was going to spend a year in Sri Lanka. I didnt know much

about the country, in fact, I only knew that it lies in the Indian Ocean beneath India,

that it is an island, that its former name was Ceylon, and that they have AIESEC there.

However, after receiving an email from a friend, who had been there for one month by

that time, I decided Sri Lanka was definitely the place for me to go. My criteria? I

wanted to go far away from home, to a very different culture, for a very long time, and

do something related to marketing. All my expectations were not only met, they were

exceeded.

The one thing that matters the most about any kind of internship are people who you

spend your time with in our case the AIESEC community but gradually also other

people from the environment where we live. AIESECers are the ones who made my

integration into their culture and society very easy and comfortable. Although I hate to

generalize about people (because everybody is very unique) I need to say that Sri

Lankans are some of the nicest, most hospitable people I have met so far. They try to help

in any situation, make sure everything is going fine they simply care.

I would recommend this beautiful island of paradise to any SN in the whole world who

likes to overcome cultural and personal challenges, learn many new things, and find out

more about you, because that is an order of the day here.

I know that some of you might be a little concerned about the safety situation here.

Media like to exaggerate a bit. I was concerned as well, but because I had generally very

little knowledge about the country, I decided to trust people here when assuring me of

no danger. I am glad I did so I feel here just as safe as at home, that is Slovakia. I

soon learned that if a conflict occurs, it is always only on a national (Sri Lankan) level.

They have absolutely nothing here against foreigners. You see, if I had not come, I

would not have learned. So why dont you come and experience for yourself.

Stefan CHAMRAZ alias Stevo

Intern from Slovakia 2001/2002

AAUBOWAN Sri Lanka Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka

Do you know about Sri Lanka?

AAUBOWAN Sri Lanka Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Population and People

Sri Lanka is a country of really nice and hospitable people, who smile 24

hours per day and are very warm and sweet. You just have to love them as

much as they love you.

- Interns comment

Ethnic Groups

Two major ethnic groups in Sri Lanka are Sinhalese and Tamils. Other than

them there are Muslims and Burghers.

Sinhalese

The Sinhalese constitute about 74% of the population. They speak Sinhala, and

are predominantly Buddhist or Catholics and have a reputation as easy-going.

The Sinhalese have a caste system, although it is nowhere near as important as

it is in India. They either belong to low country, or Kandyan. This low

country or Kandyan is then divided into several sub castes. But, nowadays caste

is not an issue except in marriages.

Tamils

The Tamils are the second-largest group, constituting about 18% of the

population. Tamils are predominantly Hindu and speak Tamil. About 50

million Tamils far more than the whole population of Sri Lanka- live across

the Palk Strait in India. There are two distinct groups of Tamils. The origins of

so-called Sri Lanka or Ceylon Tamils go back to the southern Indians who

came to Sri Lanka around 1000 years ago. The other group is the hill country

or plantation Tamils whose ancestors were brought to Sri Lanka from India by

the British to work on tea plantations in 19th century.

Muslims

Muslims comprise about 7% of the population. Most of them are Sri Lanka

Moors, whose presence goes back to Portuguese times and who are probably

the descendants of Arab or Indian Muslim traders and the rest are Malays

who are of more eastern. Tamil is the mother tongue of most of them.

Others

The Burghers are Eurasians, primarily descendants of Portuguese and Dutch.

For a time, even after independence, the Burghers had a disproportionate

influence over the political and business life in Sri Lanka, but growing Sinhalese

and Tamil nationalism has reduced their advantage and many Burghers have

moved abroad.

There are also small Chinese and European communities and small,

downtrodden group of low caste South Indians brought in to perform the most

menial tasks.

Wannaiyala-aetto

AAUBOWAN Sri Lanka Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka

The Wannaiyala-aetto (People of the Forest) are usually referred to in Sri Lanka

as Veddahs.

They are the original inhabitants of the country, and their story is one of great

tragedy. They

are by no means a homogenous group, sharing a common religion, language

and culture. And this is one of the reasons some people claim they actually

dont exist. Some of them live deep in the forests in the south-east, and in recent

years it has campaigned hard and long for

recognition of its rights.

Sri Lanka - Religion

Religion plays an important part in the life and culture of Sri Lankans.

The Buddhist majority observe Poya Days (full moon days), once per month

according to the Lunar calendar. The Hindus and Muslims also observe their

own holidays. There are many Buddhist temples spread throughout the island

in addition to numerous mosques, Hindu temples and churches, especially in

areas where respective communities are concentrated.

Sri Lanka Geography

Facts to know:

Sri Lanka is shaped like a teardrop falling from the southern tip of India. It is

just 353 km long from north to south and only 183 km at its widest. Its area of

66,000 sq km is about the same as that of Ireland or Tasmania in Australia.

It is worth traveling all around the country:

- visit coastal areas and beautiful beaches (Unawatuna in Galle, Trincomalee,

the best beaches are on the south-west and east coasts)

Sri Lanka religiosity

religion

percent

Buddhism 69%

Hinduism 15%

Islam 8%

Christianity 8%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslimshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_(building)

AAUBOWAN Sri Lanka Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka

- climb the highest mountain in the spectacularly beautiful hill country region

Piduratalagala (2524 m) and Adams Peak (2224 m)

- travel by train through hilly up-country to Kandy (by observation wagon on

the back of the train as there is so much to observe on the way)

- follow the route of Marco Polo through the most catchy part of Sri Lankan

nature, trip with steam train to Badulla

Sri Lanka Climate

- Typical tropical country, very hot, with high humidity that occurs that you are

Sweating all the time,

- There are dry and wet seasons, which are influenced by two monsoons

- From May to August south-west monsoon brings rain to the southern and

Western coastal regions and the central hill country

- Dry season is from December till March

- From October till January the north-east monsoon brings rain to the north

and east part of the island

- BUT the weather usually doesnt stick to these seasons, it has changed so

nothing is sure it often seems to be raining where it should be sunny and vic