Culture
“4000 years ago, four different indigenous clans lived in Sri Lanka called Yakka, Rakka, Dewa and Naga.”
During this time, the Island was known as “Lanka” which means “The Land”. This is the earliest known reference to its name, later many names were given to the island by sailors. In 1972 the National Constitution discarded the name Ceylon given by the British and adopted the old name back again with a prefix call “Sri”, Sri meaning prosperity. Archaeological evidence proves that the Island was inhabited as early as 40,000 years ago. Today the tribal clan named as “Adiwasin” who live in remote areas with a basic lifestyle and using simple technology, are believed to be descended from these early inhabitants.
People
The current population in Sri Lanka is 21.5 million which is made up of four main ethnic groups:
The majority of Sri Lankan society identify as Buddhists (more than 70%), and practice Theravada Buddhism. As Buddha is not a God to expect the worldly benefits from, most of the Buddhist are worshiping Hindu Gods with a great respect. Of other remaining population 12% identify as Hindus, 10% Muslims and 7% Christians.
The attributes of the main ethnic groups have always been disturbed by the historic fluidity in foreign influence. However, three main types of ways of life can be identified in Sri Lanka; Rural, Urban and the Upcountry Estate Community (Descendants of the tea plantation workers).
Sri Lankans have strong family ties. Mother always holds a significant amount of the housework, and the Patriarch will be the father or the eldest son. Most parents never hesitate to spend what they have for the children’s betterment, and they expect in return their children to look after them when the time comes. To show respect, any adult is referred to as ‘Aunty’ or ‘Uncle’ as it is customary not to address any adult by their name.
Food Culture
Come in! Will you have a nice cup of Ceylon Tea with a piece of Jaggery. The locals like to entertain guests with a cup of black tea, not only after a meal, but Sri Lankans’ also love to have a tea in the morning and afternoon. Real tea lovers prefer to drink black tea without added milk, as they love to absorb the real aroma of the drink.
We will move to the dining table then…locals are heavy rice eaters, in some rural parts, they like to have rice for all of their three meals. Rice is steamed as a staple food. In fact, rice can be cooked with coconut milk, spices, onions etc, but plain red or white rice with two or three curries is quite common in any ordinary house during the lunch time.
They use freshly squeezed coconut milk to make the curries thicker and creamier. String Hoppers are messy balls of steamed rice noodles often eaten for breakfast in Sri Lanka along with a thin Dhal or curry. Rice-flour pancake hoppers may also be served, some prefer rice-flour steamed in a cylinder with layers of grated coconut call “Pittu” for their breakfast. Villagers like to have gruel call “Kola Kenda”, or herbal porridge in English, as a healthy breakfast. Sri Lankans eat their food in an interesting way, they use their cleaned right hand. Using their fingertips, they mix the rice and curries together and make a little lump, which rest on the four fingers before the thumb pushes it into the mouth, just like playing billiards.
Desserts are very sweet. Jaggery (boiled and set palm treacle) is the main sweetener. Buffalo-Milk curd is usually served in a clay pot with a jug of palm treacle to be poured on top. There are many varieties of traditional Sri Lankan sweets which can be served as a dessert or during teatime. Desserts are usually accompanied by fresh fruits. In Sri Lankan culture, food is treated with the highest respect, gratitude, and generosity, expressed by sharing and offering to fellow humans.