CultureofSriLanka
BuddhismhasbeenthebiggestinfluenceinmouldingthevariegatedculturalheritageofSriLanka.Inaddition,muchofthecultureofsouthIndiahavealsomadeinroadsintothesocialfabricoftheisland.TheEuropeans,particularlytheDutchandtheBritishwhocolonisedtheisland,addedtheirownculturalhues,thus,creatingamotleyblendwhichisembellishedbythearchitecture,sculpture,paintings,dances,theatre,cuisineset.al.
Art,ArchitectureandCrafts
Theclassicalarchitecture,sculptureandpaintingoftheislandbeartheBuddhisttrademark.BuddhistStupasarescatteredalloverthecountryside,andthereareseveralexquisiteBuddhistsculptures,especiallyatAukanaandBuduruvagala.AnuradhapuraandPolonnaruwashowcasesthearchaeologicallegacyofSriLanka.Today,Kandyistheculturalhubofthecountry.Dutchforts,churches,Britishresidences,clubsandcourthousesarereminiscientofthecolonialera.ThecityofGalleishometothefinestcolonialmonumentsofthecountry.Woodcarving,weaving,potteryandmetalworkbearthetouchofrareartisticfinesse.SriLankaisrenownedforitsgems.WhilethebestofSriLankanmaskscomefromAmbalangoda,RatnapuraisthehoneypotofSriLanka'sgemtrade.
DancesandDrama
SinhalesedancingbearssemblancetoIndiandancebutittakesrecoursetoacrobatics,nimblenessandsymbolismtounfolditsnarratives.WhileKandyisfamousfor'up-countrydancing',ColomboandAmbalangodaarethenervecentresofritualisticexorcismof'devildancing'.Folktheatreisarichblendofdance,maskeddrama,drummingandexorcismrituals.
Cuisines
Riceandcurryarethemaincuisinesatmealtimeswhichissupplementedbysidedelicacieswhichincludedishesofvegetables,meatandfish.SriLankansalsofeastuponIndiandishessuchasvegetarianthaliandbiriyani.AuniqueSriLankansnackisHopperswhichisservedwitheggorhoneyandyoghurt.Itissimilartopancake.Deliciousseafoodisavailableinthecoastalareas.Inaddition,aslewoftropicalfruitsarethereintheSriLankanmenu.Teaisthefavouritedrink.Itiscustomarytoofferteatoavisitorandandforthesakeofcourtesyitisnotgenerallyturneddown.
Festivals
EsalaPerehara,theworldfamouspageantofelephantsandlighttakesplaceeveryyearinAugust.TheToothRelicoftheBuddha(widelybelievedtobeanactualtoothoftheLordBuddha)iscarriedinasacredcasketaroundthecityduringthisritual.OnlyaspeciallytrainedtuskerisentrustedwiththetaskofcarryingtheToothRelic.ItisheldatKandyandcelebrationslastfortwoweeks.