Who are the people?
Sri Lanka, a large tropical island off the southeast coast of India, has a unique culture with a 2,500-year heritage. The festivals and pilgrimages of Buddhism, the country’s dominant religion, play an important part in Sri Lankan culture. Hindus, Muslims, and Christians are present in Sri Lanka in smaller numbers.

Sri Lanka has one of the highest literacy rates in Asia. Sinhalese is the language of 75 percent of the population, while approximately 18 percent of the people speak primarily Tamil.

Sri Lanka’s population density of 757 people per square mile is among the highest in Asia. Most people live in rural areas.

Besides agriculture, your sponsored child’s family may work in vocations such as brick-making, sewing, fishing, and making ropes from coconut fiber.

Arranged marriages are a Sri Lankan tradition. The practice is declining in many urban areas, but it is still prevalent in the countryside. Children are usually married between the ages of 18 and 22.

The people of Sri Lanka elect a president every seven years and a national assembly every five years.
Sri Lanka, a large tropical island off the southeast coast of India, has a unique culture with a 2,

Country Comparison	Sri Lanka	United States
Population	20.5 million	295.4 million
Land Mass	705,189 sq. miles	3,537,439 sq. miles
Life Expectancy	74 years	78 years
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000)	12	7
Literacy Rate	90%	97%
Primary School Enrollment	90%	92%
Access to Safe Water	78%	100%
Average Annual Income (GNI per capita)	$1,010	$41,400

Religion

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What is it like to live there?
Sri Lanka’s climate is generally hot and humid except for a dry zone in the north and southeastern coastal areas. A southwest monsoon begins during the second half of May and brings rain until the end of September, while a northeast monsoon brings hot, dry weather from November until February.

Though just 16 percent of Sri Lanka’s land is suitable for farming, the country is heavily dependent on agriculture. Only recently did the garment industry surpass agriculture in export income. Many Sri Lankans farm with outdated equipment and grow only enough to feed their families.

Poor sanitation and polluted drinking water are a frequent cause of disease, especially among children. Sponsorship is helping many communities build latrines and develop a source of clean drinking water.

One of the country’s points of interest is Adam’s Peak, a mountain whose summit features a large indentation in the shape of a human footprint and is a place of pilgrimage for various religions. Buddhist tradition claims the footprint to be a remnant of Buddha. Islam holds that Adam and Eve fled to Adam’s Peak after their expulsion from the Garden of Eden, and that Adam left the footprint when he stood on one foot for 1,000 years as penance for his sin.
Sri Lanka’s climate is generally hot and humid except for a dry zone in the north and southeastern
Sri Lanka Projects
With the support of generous donors like you, World Vision is partnering with families throughout Sri Lanka to build brighter futures filled with hope for their children.

Many activities are under way to help meet immediate needs and promote lasting changes that will strengthen communities and move families toward self-reliance.

Overall program goals include:

• Constructing new schools and libraries to create positive learning opportunities.
• Furnishing much needed books and supplies to help children succeed in school.
• Providing tutoring assistance to reduce the school dropout rate.
• Building roads to improve access between communities and facilitate the import and export of goods.
• Drilling wells to provide safe, clean water and reduce waterborne diseases.
• Teaching mothers about hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention so they can better care for their children.
• Introducing farmers to new agricultural techniques that can increase food production and improve nutrition for their children.
• Helping families start small businesses so they can increase their income.

• Pray that your sponsored child might respond to God’s love and grace.
• Ask God to guide your sponsored child as he or she learns, grows, and moves toward a future full of hope and possibilities.
• Pray for God to protect the health of your sponsored child and his or her family.

Please click here to peruse online picture folders of children from this country.