Geography of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka (UK: , US: ; Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා, romanized: Śrī Laṅkā (IPA: [ʃriː laŋkaː]); Tamil: இலங்கை, romanized: Ilaṅkai (IPA: [ilaŋɡaj])), historically known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian peninsula by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. It shares a maritime border with the Maldives in the southwest and India in the northwest. Sri Lanka has a population of approximately 22 million and is home to many cultures, languages and ethnicities. The Sinhalese people form the majority of the population, followed by the Sri Lankan Tamils, who are the largest minority group and are concentrated in northern Sri Lanka; both groups have played an influential role in the island's history. Other long-established groups include the Moors, Indian Tamils, Burghers, Malays, Chinese, and Vedda.Sri Lanka's documented history goes back 3,000 years, with evidence of prehistoric human settlements dating back 125,000 years. The earliest known Buddhist writings of Sri Lanka, known collectively as the Pāli canon, date to the fourth Buddhist council, which took place in 29 BCE. Also called the Teardrop of India, or the Granary of the East, Sri Lanka's geographic location and deep harbours have made it of great strategic importance, from the earliest days of the ancient Silk Road trade route to today's so-called maritime Silk Road. Because its location made it a major trading hub, it was already known to both East Asians and Europeans as long ago as the Anuradhapura period. During a period of great political crisis in the Kingdom of Kotte, the Portuguese arrived in Sri Lanka and sought to control its maritime trade, with a part of Sri Lanka subsequently becoming a Portuguese possession. After the Sinhalese-Portuguese war, the Dutch Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy took control of those areas. The Dutch possessions were then taken by the British, who later extended their control over the whole island, colonising it from 1815 to 1948. A national movement for political independence arose in the early 20th century, and in 1948, Ceylon became a dominion. It was succeeded by the republic of Sri Lanka in 1972. Sri Lanka's more recent history was marred by a 26-year civil war, which began in 1983 and ended in 2009, when the Sri Lanka Armed Forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.Sri Lanka is a developing country, ranking 73rd on the Human Development Index. It is the highest-ranked South Asian nation in terms of development and has the second-highest per capita income in South Asia. However, the ongoing economic crisis has resulted in the collapse of its currency, rising inflation, and a humanitarian crisis due to a severe shortage of essentials. It has also led to an eruption of street protests, with citizens successfully demanding that the president and the government step down. The country has had a long history of engagement with modern international groups; it is a founding member of the SAARC and a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the G77 and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Rathana Ella ("field of gems"), at 101 m (331 ft), is the widest highest waterfall in Sri Lanka Country , situated in Hasalaka City , Kandy District. The area surrounding the waterfall is extremely verdant. The main occupation of the villagers in Rathana Ella is paddy cultivation. The Rathana Ella waterfall is very important to the village, as it supplies water to the irrigation works and paddy cultivation. Rathna Ella is the widest water fall in Sri Lanka. In the past, people built small anicut to get water from Rathana Ella for their agricultural activities. Rathana Ella supplies enough water to assist 200 farmers to earn a living in paddy cultivation. Widest Waterfall is named as the Rathna Ella.

Vishaka Girls' High School is a girls' school in Badulla, Sri Lanka. It is a National School funded by the central government providing primary and secondary education.

St. Mark's Church, is an Anglican church in Badulla in Sri Lanka. The church is located in the central ward of Badulla Municipal Council at the junction of Mahiyangana – Badulla main road (B36). It was consecrated on 25 April 1857 by Bishop James Chapman. In April 2008 the church and the bell tower were formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological protected monument in Sri Lanka and declared as "protected monuments" by the acting Minister of National Heritage, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. The designation was formally included on 6 June 2008 in the government Gazette number 1553.

Badulla District (Sinhala: බදුල්ල දිස්ත්‍රික්කය badūlla distrikkaya; Tamil: பதுளை மாவட்டம் Patuḷai māvaṭṭam) is a district in Uva Province, Sri Lanka. The entire land area of the Badulla district is 2,861 km2 (1,105 sq mi) and has a total population of 837,000. The district is bounded by the districts of Monaragala and Rathnapura on the east and south, by Ampara and Kandy districts to the north and by Nuwara Eliya and Matale to the west. Mainly the economy of the district is based on agricultural farming and livestock. Badulla District is an agricultural district where tea and various vegetables are cultivated. The district is divided into an upper region and a lower region which differ in climatic and geographic characteristics. The upper region of the district is known for tea plantations and vegetable cultivation while the lower region focuses more on paddy farming.

Badulla (Sinhala: බදුල්ල, Tamil: பதுளை) is the capital and the largest city of Uva Province situated in the lower central hills of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of Uva Province and the Badulla District.

Badulla Pillar Inscription (Sinhala: බදුලු ටැම් ලිපිය) is an archaeological stone inscription, which is currently located at the Senarath Paranavithana Memorial Library of Badulla, Sri Lanka. The inscription is engraved on a rock surface, with the height of 2.43 m (8.0 ft) and 127 mm (5.0 in). It contains 203 lines and about 2,000 mediaeval Sinhala scripts. The Badulla inscription is considered to be the largest pillar inscription, with the smallest letters, found in the country.

Badulla Kataragama Devalaya is an ancient devalaya, situated in Badulla, Sri Lanka. It is a devalaya that is dedicated to the Sinhalese deity Kataragama deviyo, whose main and major shine is situated at south part of the island at Kataragama. The devalaya has been formally recognised by the government as an archaeological protected monument. The designation was declared on 23 March 1952 under the government Gazette number 10395.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Badulla (Lat: Dioecesis Badullana) is a diocese of the Latin Church of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Erected as the Diocese of Badulla in 1972, the diocese was created from territory in the Diocese of Kandy. The diocese is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Colombo. Its cathedral is St. Mary’s church. The current bishop is Julian Winston Sebastian Fernando, appointed in 1997.

Yompana is a village in Sri Lanka. It is located within Central Province.

Ettampitiya (Sinhala: ඇටම්පිටිය) is a small town in Sri Lanka. It is located in the Badulla District, Uva Province. It is located 16 km (10 mi) south-west of Badulla, at the junction of the A5 highway (Peradeniya-Badulla-Chenkalady highway) and B43 road.

Badulla railway station (බදුල්ල දුම්රිය ස්ථානය) is the last station on the Main Line, and is 292.3 km (181.6 mi) away from Colombo. It is located 652.43 m (2,140.5 ft) above mean sea level and 1 km (0.62 mi) from Badulla, the capital city of Uva Province. The trains that run on the Main Line, including the Podi Menike and Udarata Menike express trains end at the station. The construction of the line from Nanu Oya to Badulla was completed in 1924, with the passenger traffic first commencing on 5 February 1924, although the station wasn't officially opened until 5 April 1924.This is the last station of the Upcountry Railroad. And also this station also consists of a turning table, which could turn the engines.There are about 100 men working in this station including the Station Masters, Minor staff, and the Shed Staff. This station is one of the most beautiful stations in the Upcountry Railroad. The current Chief Station Master of Badulla Railway Station is Mr.Thilanka Weligama.