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AAUBOWAN Sri Lanka Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
AIESEC
SRI LANKA The Reception Booklet

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

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

Do you know about 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

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)

- 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