Sri Lanka: The Teardrop with its Smiling People

Sri Lanka is a magical paradise of breathtaking beauty and cultural complexity, where traditions clash and coexist amid temples, forts, jungles, and beaches. In these captivating stories the past and present of Sri Lankans intertwine, offering a glimpse behind the scenes of a society navigating the intricate dynamics between Tamils and Sinhalese, and the four major religions all shaped by diverse cultures. The tales delve into unique marriage customs, full moon celebrations, and a life guided by horoscopes in a world where time is elastic and truth is fluid. The Portuguese, Dutch and British colonizers brought the Burghers, exiled royal families from Indonesia, and Malays to defend the land, when slavery was common, and baptized elephants were sold abroad. Today, Sri Lanka's strategic location along Indian Ocean trade routes has made it a geopolitical chessboard for China, India, and the US. Yet, the Sri Lankan people remain resilient and hospitable.