Sri Lanka Quiz: Test Your Knowledge About the Pearl of the Indian Ocean

When Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) became independent on 4 February 1948, it became a Dominion within the Commonwealth of Nations (the association of former British Empire countries and others). Membership in the Commonwealth reflected the island’s constitutional status as a self-governing dominion under the British Crown at independence; Sri Lanka’s international affiliations expanded in subsequent decades as its constitutional status changed.

Kandy is home to the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic), which houses what is believed to be a tooth relic of the Buddha — one of the island’s most sacred Buddhist relics. The temple is a focal point of pilgrimage, ritual and the annual Kandy Esala Perahera, a grand festival featuring dancers, drummers and elephants. Kandy’s historical and religious importance helped secure its recognition as part of the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka gained independence from British colonial rule on 4 February 1948, becoming the Dominion of Ceylon in the British Commonwealth with its own prime minister and government. This marked the end of direct British rule (the island had previously been under Portuguese and Dutch influence at different times). The country later adopted a republican constitution and the name Sri Lanka in 1972.

Sri Lanka is an island nation located in the northern Indian Ocean, just off the southeastern tip of the Indian subcontinent. It sits between the Bay of Bengal on the northeast and the Laccadive (Lakshadweep) Sea/Arabian Sea to the northwest; strategically it occupies important sea lanes in the Indian Ocean and has long been a stop for ships trading between Europe, Africa and Asia.

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (often shortened to Kotte) is the official administrative and legislative capital of Sri Lanka — it is where the country’s Parliament is located. Colombo remains the largest city and the commercial/financial hub, so many people still think of Colombo as “the capital” in everyday conversation. Kotte lies within the Colombo District and functions as the formal seat of government; historically the area around Kotte was also the site of a medieval Sinhalese kingdom.

The Blue Water Lily (locally known as “Nil Manel”, scientific name Nymphaea nouchali or closely related species) is the national flower of Sri Lanka. The water lily appears in art, folklore and religious symbolism and is admired for its striking blue petals (or deep bluish-violet hues); it grows naturally in ponds and wetlands across the island.

The Galle International Stadium, set beside the Indian Ocean near the historic Galle Fort, is famous for its picturesque seaside setting and is built on land reclaimed from marshes/low-lying areas adjacent to the fort. Its proximity to the sea gives it a unique atmosphere and makes it one of the most photographed cricket grounds in the world. The stadium has hosted many memorable Test matches and is a cultural landmark for Sri Lankan cricket.

The Mahaweli River is Sri Lanka’s longest river, running roughly about 335 kilometres (≈208 miles) from the central highlands to the northeast coast, emptying into the Bay of Bengal. It is central to the island’s irrigation and hydroelectric schemes, with several reservoirs and dams along its course; the Mahaweli basin supports agriculture, fisheries and settlements across a large portion of the country.

The Sinhalese are the largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka, making up the majority of the population (roughly three-quarters in recent censuses). They primarily speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language, and are concentrated in the central, southern and western parts of the island. Tamils (Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian-origin Tamils), Sri Lankan Moors (Muslims), and smaller groups such as the Burghers and indigenous Veddas are important minority communities.

Pidurutalagala (also called Mount Pedro) is the highest peak in Sri Lanka, rising to about 2,524 metres (8,281 feet) above sea level. It is located in the central highlands near the Nuwara Eliya region. The summit hosts communications installations and is generally restricted, but the mountain is a prominent feature of Sri Lanka’s central massif; other well-known peaks such as Adam’s Peak and Kirigalpotta are lower in elevation.

The official currency is the Sri Lankan rupee, commonly abbreviated as LKR and symbolized as “Rs.” Banknotes and coins are issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The rupee has been the country’s currency (with various historical forms) since colonial times; today the economy uses multiple denominations in coins and notes for everyday transactions.

Elephants have a special place in Sri Lankan culture and religion, especially within Buddhist ceremonial life. Captive elephants frequently participate in major religious processions such as the Kandy Esala Perahera, where elaborately caparisoned tuskers carry relics or perform processional duties. Elephants also appear in folklore, temple iconography and traditional art; their cultural role has prompted conservation and welfare debates in recent years.

Kandy is often regarded as Sri Lanka’s second-most important city after Colombo — historically, administratively and culturally — and is the main city of the central hill region. (A note on population rankings: whether Kandy is strictly the “second-largest” by municipal population can vary with how metropolitan areas are measured — other urban areas such as Gampaha, Negombo or Galle can be sizable depending on the definition. For general-knowledge and cultural context, Kandy is widely cited as the country’s second city.)

Colombo Port is Sri Lanka’s principal and busiest port, serving as the country’s main container terminal and a major transshipment hub in the region. Located on the western coast adjacent to Colombo city, the port handles the bulk of Sri Lanka’s maritime trade, container traffic and international shipping services, and plays a vital role in the nation’s economy.

The Portuguese were the first major European colonial power to establish a presence on the island, arriving in the early 16th century (around 1505) and securing coastal forts and trading stations. They were later challenged and partially displaced by the Dutch in the 17th century, and eventually the British gained control of the entire island by the early 19th century, ruling until independence in 1948.

Don Stephen (D. S.) Senanayake served as the first Prime Minister of independent Ceylon (later Sri Lanka), leading the government that took office around independence in 1947–1948. He is widely regarded as a founding statesman of modern Sri Lanka and played a key role in negotiating the transition from colonial rule to self-government. Senanayake’s political legacy includes agricultural and settlement policies and the early governmental institutions of the new nation.

Sri Lanka has one of the highest literacy rates in South Asia — commonly quoted around the low-to-mid 90 percent range (≈92%). This relatively high literacy is largely the result of a long tradition of free public education and broad access to primary and secondary schooling. Literacy figures can vary slightly depending on the source and the exact year of measurement, but 92% is a representative approximate.

Prior to the adoption of a republican constitution in 1972, the country was officially called Ceylon — a name used during colonial times and retained after independence. In 1972 the nation became the Republic of Sri Lanka and the English name “Sri Lanka” was formally adopted; the older name “Ceylon” is still sometimes used in historical contexts and in names of older institutions and brands (e.g., Ceylon tea).

The country adopted a new republican constitution on 22 May 1972, at which time the official English name changed from Ceylon to Sri Lanka and the nation became the Republic of Sri Lanka. The 1972 constitution replaced the earlier dominion status and formalized the new name that is used internationally today.

Although cricket is by far the most popular and internationally recognized sport in Sri Lanka, volleyball is the country’s official national sport. Volleyball has strong grassroots participation across schools and rural communities and has a long local history. The distinction between “national sport” and “most popular sport” often causes confusion — here, volleyball is the formally designated national sport, while cricket is the most prominent on the world stage.

Sigiriya — often referred to as the “Lion Rock” — is an ancient rock fortress in the central Matale District built on a massive column of rock rising about 200 metres above the plain. Commissioned by King Kashyapa in the 5th century CE, the site features remarkable frescoes, engineered gardens, water systems and the remnants of a monumental lion gateway (hence the name). Sigiriya is one of Sri Lanka’s most famous archaeological and tourist sites and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sri Lanka is widely known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” because of its strategic maritime location, natural beauty, rich biodiversity, and historical importance in regional trade. The island’s long history of producing valuable commodities (like spices and gems) and its scenic landscapes have contributed to that evocative nickname. Other poetic names (e.g., “Resplendent Isle”) have also been used in literature and travel writing.

The majority of Sri Lankans follow Theravada Buddhism, particularly among the Sinhalese majority. Buddhism has been a major cultural and religious force in Sri Lanka for well over a thousand years and shapes many national festivals, rituals, monastic institutions and art forms. Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are also practiced by significant minorities, but Buddhism remains the dominant faith by population.

Sri Lanka (historically “Ceylon”) is world-famous for its tea — particularly Ceylon tea — which became a major export after the 19th-century expansion of plantation agriculture under British rule. Tea grown in the country’s central highlands (areas like Nuwara Eliya, Uva and Kandy) is prized for its quality and variety. While Sri Lanka also has notable gemstone deposits (including sapphires), tea is the most emblematic natural product associated with the island internationally.

The name “Serendib” (and variants like Sarandib or Serendip) is a medieval Arabic–Persian form for the island and was commonly used by Arab and Persian traders and travellers. Ibn Battuta — the 14th-century Moroccan traveller — visited the region and used names derived from those traditional forms in his writings. (Side note: the English word serendipity was later coined by Horace Walpole based on the Persian tale “The Three Princes of Serendip,” which used the island’s historical name.)