People have lived on what is now the island of Sri Lanka for thousands of years. The Vedda practiced agriculture with irrigation, produced pottery, and worked with iron. In the 5th century BC Vijaya, a Hindu prince from India, emigrated to Sri Lanka with his people and formed a small kingdom. The Vedda were subjugated by Prince Vijaya and were largely assimilated into the new Hindu society. The present-day Sinhalese are the descendants of these people.

Since the introduction of Buddhism by the Indian Prince Mahinda in the 3rd century BC, Sri Lanka has been a stronghold of Theravada Buddhism. Nearly 70 percent of the people are Buddhist, primarily the Sinhalese. Theravada Buddhists adhere to the original Pali texts of Buddhism and believe in the nontheistic ideal of Nirvana for a select few. Although freedom of worship is guaranteed by the constitution, the government has given special status to Buddhism. Many Buddhists also honor various Hindu deities, and the Hindu caste system, while not as strong here as in India, retains some influence. About 15 percent of the people, mostly Tamil, are Hindu. Their worship centers around the god Shiva; however, many gods exist in the hierarchy, each having a specific purpose. For instance, women pray to Paththini for health and fertility; businessmen seek the blessings of Kataragama, or Skanda; and students can ask for help with learning from Ganesh or Saraswathi. The Moors and Malays are mostly Muslim, and 8 percent of the population is Christian.

Forms of greeting vary among ethnic groups. The traditional greeting consists of placing one's palms together under the chin and bowing the head slightly. When greeting, people say either Ayubowan if they speak Sinhalese, or Vannakkam if they speak Tamil. In both languages the meaning is "May you be blessed with the gift of a long life." Because Sri Lanka was long exposed to British customs during British rule, a Western handshake is also acceptable. Titles are important to Sri Lankans, and it is proper to address acquaintances by their titles. Among close friends and relatives, familial titles replace formal ones. For example, in Sinhala one addresses an older male friend as aiya, which means "older brother," and a younger female cousin as nangi, which means "younger sister."

Objects are passed with the right hand or both hands. As with many Asian cultures, the head is considered the most sacred part of the body, and the bottom of the feet the least sacred, so one should not touch another's head, nor should one use the foot to point at a person or an object. Men often hold hands in public. Women are forbidden to touch Buddhist monks. Pointing with the index finger is impolite, and beckoning is done by waving all fingers with the palm facing down. It is improper to pass between two people in conversation; if it is unavoidable, the passer ducks slightly and apologizes before passing.

If a nuclear family has its own household, it will often live very close to relatives. In the family, men are the dominant figures; although women manage the affairs of the household and have influence in all family matters. Women have economic and political opportunities outside the home, but are expected to be able to maintain all household responsibilities as well. Parents expect to provide their children with all basic needs even into adulthood. The elderly receive deep respect, and younger family members often yield to their advice and counsel. Children expect to care for their elderly parents, if necessary.

Marriage is an extremely important event in Sri Lankan life, and the ceremonies are often elaborate and costly. Although individual choice of marriage partner occurs among more Westernized circles, the traditional practice of arranged marriages still prevails in Sri Lanka. Marriage outside of one's caste traditionally had associated religious taboos, but this tradition is fading as Sri Lanka modernizes.

The timing of various wedding events, such as what time the wedding parties arrive, what time the ceremony begins and ends, when the papers are signed, when the newly married couple leaves the ceremony, and when they arrive at their new home, is governed by astrology. Each event is calculated to the minute so as to give the marriage the best possible start.

Rice is the staple in the Sri Lankan diet and is the basic food for all meals. Each ethnic group in Sri Lanka is known for its own dishes, but each has also borrowed from the others over time; thus, Sri Lankan cuisine is a combination of all the different types. Several different curries are popular, from mild to very spicy. Sri Lankans typically consume little meat, but they do eat large amounts of pulses (peas and beans) and nuts. A main meal usually begins with rice or bread, followed by a curry or dahl, which are lentils, and a vegetable such as cabbage or carrots. Favorite foods include pol sambol, which is scraped and spiced coconut, and katta sambol, which is a very spicy mixture of fried onions and chilies. The Burghers are known for their cakes and sweetmeats, which are also an integral part of the country's diet. Tea is served with most meals and as a refreshment.

The different religions of the country play a large role in determining what people eat. Those who adhere strictly to Buddhist doctrines do not eat flesh of any kind, but some Buddhists include fish or eggs in their diet. Many Hindus are vegetarians; those who do eat meat do not eat beef. Muslims do not eat pork.

Sri Lankans enjoy visiting at home and they also enjoy meeting at parks or restaurants. They often take short sightseeing excursions together. When visiting at a home, Sri Lankans are hospitable and strive to make all guests comfortable. Once seated, guests are offered tea, usually sweetened with sugar and milk. It is very impolite to refuse such an offer, although one can ask for a substitute, such as water. In some homes, people remove their shoes before entering. It is traditional to bring small gifts (often food) when visiting.

The people of Sri Lanka enjoy many sports introduced by the British, including soccer, rugby, and cricket. Tennis, badminton, swimming, fishing, and horse racing are also popular, and people like to play chess, bridge, and other table games. Attending cinemas showing European-language and Sri Lankan films is a favorite pastime. Sri Lanka has a long tradition in the dramatic arts, and people enjoy both live and puppet theater.

Because the Buddhist calendar is based on the moon's phases, every Poya Dawasa, or full-moon day, is a holiday. In addition, each major religion has at least one holiday that is also a national holiday. For example, the country marks Idul Fitr, the Islamic feast at the end of the month-long fast of Ramazan (Ramadan) and Idul Adha, the Islamic Feast of the Sacrifice. Easter (including Good Friday) and Christmas (25 December) are celebrated by the Christians. Deepawali is a Hindu celebration called the Festival of Lights. Many other religious holidays honor the Buddha or Hindu deities. The Tamil Thai-Pongal Day marks the return of the sun after a month of "evil days"; the sun brings a new period of goodwill. The Sinhalese and Tamil New Year is usually celebrated in April with great fanfare and rejoicing. During New Year festivities, Sri Lankans participate in a number of activities, from indoor games just for women to outdoor sports such as elephant racing or wrestling. Political holidays include National Day (4 February), May Day (1 May), and National Heroes' Day (22 May).

Business hours generally extend from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and from 1 to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Larger towns have a daily open market; small towns have a weekly Polla (market) day. People in rural areas must travel to the nearest town on Polla day to buy basic goods.

Under the 1977 constitution, executive power is held by the president. Each of the eight provinces has substantial control over local affairs. The president serves a six-year term. The National Parliament has 225 members. Rural villages often have a chief or headman. The voting age is 18.

Formerly the British colony of Ceylon, Sri Lanka became independent in 1948, and since then has established a sound democratic system. In 1977 the present constitution was introduced, including provision for a strong executive presidency. Growing demands for Tamil separatism erupted into violence in 1983, and despite government concessions in 1987, such as the granting of official status to the Tamil language, the situation continued to worsen. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), representing the radical Tamil separatists who are seeking an independent Tamil state within Sri Lanka, continue to wage a guerrilla war against the government.

Indian peacekeeping troops sent in 1987 were withdrawn in 1990 in response to general discontent. This cleared the way for a cease-fire; however, talks broke down, and in 1993 the president, Ranasinghe Premasada, was assassinated, allegedly by a member of the LTTE. A period of interim government was followed by a general election in 1994, which was won by the People's Alliance party candidate, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Sri Lanka's first female president. In 1995 she unveiled an ambitious peace plan, offering the Tamil separatists a federal state as a compromise for peace. However, the initiative was overshadowed by major government military offensives in July and September.

The economy is restricted by a lack of natural resources and a small industrial capacity, and agriculture remains by far the largest sector. Tea, rubber, and coconuts account for half of all export earnings. Industries not related to agriculture include textiles, clothing, and cement.

Unemployment is a serious problem, and the cost of waging war with the Tamil rebels has further hindered economic growth. Yet in spite of this, the tourist industry is booming, and the number of visitors to the island is increasing every year. Still, Sri Lanka remains highly dependent on foreign investment, with the West playing an active role in development projects. The currency is the Sri Lankan rupiyala (rupee).

Sri Lanka experiences the problems of most developing nations and lacks adequate health and sanitation facilities. Private hospitals and clinics provide higher quality care, but it is expensive. Improvements have been made, but medicine is often scarce and rural facilities lack sufficient staff and equipment. In rural areas, traditional ayurvedic (Sanskrit for "knowledge of vital power") medicine is widely practiced; it stresses the use of herbs and natural cures. Malaria and other diseases are widespread.