History of Sri Lanka - Originally known as Heladiva - Ceylon History of Sri Lanka About Mahavamsa | Mahavamsa Chapters | Mahavamsa Simplified Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. known as Ceylon before 1972 is an island nation in South Asia, located about 31 kilometers (18½ mi) off the southern coast of India. Originally known as Heladiva, it is home to around twenty million people. Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia and has been a centre of Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times. Today, Sri Lanka is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation, with a fifth of the population following faiths other than Buddhism – notably Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. The Sinhalese community forms the majority of the population (around 78%), with Tamils, who are mostly concentrated in the north and east of the island, forming the largest ethnic minority. Other communities include the Muslim Moors and Malays as well as Burghers. English is widely spoken and is studied as a compulsory secondary language in school.

Island has a pleasant tropical climate and average temperature of the low lands ranges between 25-30 degrees Celsius. Famous for the production and export of tea, coffee, rubber and coconuts, Sri Lanka boasts a progressive and modern industrial economy. The natural beauty of Sri Lanka’s tropical forests, beaches and landscape, as well as its rich cultural heritage make it a world famous tourist destination. Sri Lanka’s Per Capita GDP is presently US$ 900 – the highest in South Asia and the Literacy rate is 92% – the highest in South Asia and second highest in Asia. According to the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) Forecast 1998, Sri Lanka’s Business Environment ranks 11th in the region, and 42nd in the world, ahead of India, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Pakistan. After over two thousand years of rule by local kingdoms, parts of Sri Lanka were colonized by Portugal and the Netherlands beginning in the 16th century, before the control of the entire country was ceded to the British Empire in 1815. During World War II Sri Lanka served as an important base for Allied forces in the fight against the Japanese Empire.

A nationalist political movement arose in the country in the early 20th century, with the aim of obtaining political independence, which was eventually granted by the British after peaceful negotiations in 1948. Since then Sri Lanka has enjoyed a stable democracy and continuous economic progress, despite the ongoing conflict between the Sri Lankan government and a separatist militant group known as the Tamil Tigers in the northeastern parts of the country. Naming of Sri Lanka Known as Lamka, Lankadeepa, taprobane .. etc In ancient times, Sri Lanka was known by a variety of names: ancient Greek geographers called it Taprobane and Arabs referred to it as Serendib (the origin of the word “serendipity”). Ceilão was the name given to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese when they arrived on the island in 1505, which was transliterated into English as Ceylon. In 1972, the official name of the country was changed to “Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic of Sri Lanka” whereas the island itself is referred to as lank?va, In 1978 it was changed to “Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka”.

The current name is derived from Sanskrit word lamk?, meaning “resplendent land”, which was also the name of the island as described in the ancient Indian epics Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Brief History Paleolithic human settlements have been discovered at excavations in several cave sites in the Western Plains region and the South-western face of the Central Hills region. Anthropologists believe that some discovered burial rites and certain decorative artifacts exhibit similarities between the first inhabitants of the island and the early inhabitants of Southern India. Recent bioanthropological studies have however dismissed these links, and have placed the origin of the people to the northern parts of India. One of the first written references to the island is found in the Indian epic Ramayana, which described the emperor Ravana as monarch of the powerful kingdom of Lanka. English historian James Emerson Tennent also theorized Galle, a southern city in Sri Lanka, was the ancient seaport of Tarshish from which King Solomon is said to have drawn ivory, peacocks and other valuables. The main written accounts of the country’s history are the Buddhist chronicles of Mahavansa and Dipavamsa.

The earliest-known inhabitants of the island now known as Sri Lanka were probably the ancestors of the Wanniyala-Aetto people, also known as Veddahs and numbering roughly 3,000. Linguistic analysis has found a correlation of the Sinhalese language with the languages of the Sindh and Gujarat, although most historians believe that the Sinhala community emerged well after the assimilation of various ethnic groups. Dravidian people may have begun migrating to the island from the pre-historic period. From the ancient period date some remarkable archaeological sites including the ruins of Sigiriya, the so-called “Fortress in the Sky”, and huge public works. Among the latter are large “tanks” or reservoirs, important for conserving water in a climate that alternates rainy seasons with dry times, and elaborate aqueducts, some with a slope as finely calibrated as one inch to the mile. Ancient Sri Lanka was also the first in the world to have established a dedicated hospital in Mihintale in the 4th century BCE. Ancient Sri Lanka was also the world’s leading exporter of cinnamon, which was exported to Egypt as early as 1400 BCE.

Sri Lanka was also the first Asian nation to have a female ruler in Queen Anula (47 – 42 BC) Since ancient times Sri Lanka was ruled by monarchs, most notably of the Sinha royal dynasty that lasted over 2000 years. The island was also infrequently invaded by South Indian kingdoms and parts of the island were ruled intermittently by the Chola dynasty, the Pandya dynasty, the Chera dynasty and the Pallava dynasty. The island was also invaded by the kingdoms of Kalinga (modern Orissa) and those from the Malay Peninsula. Buddhism arrived from India in the 3rd century BCE, brought by Bhikkhu Mahinda, who is believed to have been the son of Mauryan emperor Ashoka. Mahinda’s mission won over the Sinhalese monarch Devanampiyatissa of Mihintale, who embraced the faith and propagated it throughout the Sinhalese population. The Buddhist kingdoms of Sri Lanka would maintain a large number of Buddhist schools and monasteries, and support the propagation of Buddhism into Southeast Asia.

Sri Lanka had always been an important port and trading post in the ancient world, and was increasingly frequented by merchant ships from the Middle East, Persia, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia. The islands were known to the first European explorers of South Asia and settled by many groups of Arab and Malay merchants. A Portuguese colonial mission arrived on the island in 1505 headed by the Lourenço de Almeida the son of Francisco de Almeida. At that point the island consisted of three kingdoms, namely Kandy in the central hills, Kotte at the Western coast, and Yarlpanam (Anglicised Jaffna) in the north. The Dutch arrived in the 17th century. Although much of the island came under the domain of European powers, the interior, hilly region of the island remained independent, with its capital in Kandy. The British East India Company established control of the island in 1796, declaring it a crown colony in 1802, although the island would not be officially connected with British India. The fall of the kingdom of Kandy in 1815 unified the island under British rule.

European colonists established a series of tea, cinnamon, rubber, sugar, coffee and indigo plantations. The British also brought a large number of indentured workers from Tamil Nadu to work in the plantation economy. The city of Colombo was established as the administrative centre, and the British established modern schools, colleges, roads and churches that brought Western-style education and culture to the native people. Increasing grievances over the denial of civil rights, mistreatment and abuse of natives by colonial authorities gave rise to a struggle for independence in the 1930s, when the Youth Leagues opposed the “Ministers’ Memorandum,” which asked the colonial authority to increase the powers of the board of ministers without granting popular representation or civil freedoms. During World War II, the island served as an important Allied military base. A large segment of the British and American fleet were deployed on the island, as were tens of thousands of soldiers committed to the war against Japan in Southeast Asia. Following the war, popular pressure for independence intensified. On February 4, 1948 the country won its independence as the Commonwealth of Ceylon. Don Stephen Senanayake became the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

In 1972, the country became a republic within the Commonwealth, and the name was changed to Sri Lanka. On July 21, 1960 Sirimavo Bandaranaike took office as prime minister, and became the first female head of government in post-colonial Asia and the first female prime minister in the world. The island enjoyed good relations with the United Kingdom and had the British Royal Navy stationed at Trincomalee. Since 1983, there has been on-and-off civil war, predominantly between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, also known as the Tamil Tigers), a separatist militant (Terrorist) group who fight to create an independent state named Tamil Eelam in the North and East of the island. “History is the Best Teacher” HISTORY Sri Lanka Tea for Sale ï¿½ Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka has the worldï¿½s best variety of teas to offer. Black, White, Green, Flavored, Herbal, Organic, Decaffeinated, Single Estate, B.O.P., B.O.P.F., O.P.

come from few different brands of Dilmah, Lipton, Bogawantalawa, Mlesna and Mackwoods. Buy it now. FREE shipping Worldwide. Green Tea Flavored Tea Fresh ï¿½manufacture dateï¿½ teas, shipped directly from Sri Lanka. All tea orders, FREE Shipping to any country worldwide. Ceylon Tea Ceylon teas are hand picked to ensure a better selection of green leaf for the manufacture of tea ï¿½ an expensive and labour intensive process, which greatly influences the final product quality. Tea is serious business in Sri Lanka. Formerly a British colony known as Ceylon, this small Indian Ocean island is famed for producing the finest black tea in the world, grown and produced according to uncompromising, traditional methods and standards. Since the 1880s, Ceylon tea has been the countryï¿½s principal and most famous export; for generations, it formed the backbone of the Sri Lankan economy, and plays a major part, even today, in the countryï¿½s fortunes.

Bogawantalawa Tea Sri Lanka - Facts and History Sri Lanka Sri Lanka | Facts and History The skyline of Colombo, Sri Lanka as night falls over the financial district. Kevin Miller / Photodisc via Getty Images By Kallie Szczepanski Updated August 09, 2016. With the recent end of the Tamil Tiger insurgency, the island nation of Sri Lanka seems poised to take its place as a new economic powerhouse in South Asia. After all, Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) has been a key trading hub of the Indian Ocean world for more than a thousand years. Capital and Major Cities: Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, metro population 2,234,289 (administrative capital) Colombo, metro population 5,648,000 (commercial capital) Major Cities: Jaffna, 88,000 Government: The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has a republican form of government, with a president who is both head of government and head of state. Universal suffrage starts at age 18. The current president is Maithripala Sirisena; presidents serve six-year terms.

Sri Lanka has a unicameral legislature. There are 225 seats in Parliament, and members are elected by popular vote to six-year terms. The Prime Minister is Ranil Wickremesinghe. continue reading below our video What are the Seven Wonders of the World The president appoints judges to both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. There are also subordinate courts in each of the country's nine provinces. People: Sri Lanka's total population is approximately 20.2 million as of the 2012 census. Nearly three-quarters, 74.9%, are ethnic Sinhalese. Sri Lankan Tamils , whose ancestors came to the island from southern India centuries ago, make up about 11% of the population, while more recent Indian Tamil immigrants, brought in as agricultural labor by the British colonial government, represent 5%. Another 9% of Sri Lankans are the Malays and Moors, descendants of Arab and Southeast Asian traders who plied the Indian Ocean monsoon winds for more than a thousand years. There are also tiny numbers of Dutch and British settlers, and aboriginal Veddahs, whose ancestors arrived at least 18,000 years ago.

Languages: The official language of Sri Lanka is Sinhala. Both Sinhala and Tamil are considered national languages; only about 18% of the population speaks Tamil as a mother tongue , however. Other minority languages are spoken by about 8% of Sri Lankans. In addition, English is a common language of trade, and approximately 10% of the population are conversant in English as a foreign language. Religion in Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka has a complex religious landscape. Almost 70% of the population are Theravada Buddhists (mainly the ethnic Sinhalese), while most Tamils are Hindu , representing 15% of Sri Lankans. Another 7.6% are Muslims, particularly the Malay and Moor communities, belonging primarily to the Shafi'i school within Sunni Islam . Finally, about 6.2% of Sri Lankans are Christians; of those, 88% are Catholic and 12% are Protestant. Geography: Sri Lanka is a teardrop-shaped island in the Indian Ocean, southeast of India.

It has an area of 65,610 square kilometers (25,332 square miles), and is mostly flat or rolling plains. However, the highest point in Sri Lanka is Pidurutalagala, at an impressive 2,524 meters (8,281 feet) in altitude. The lowest point is sea level . Sri Lanka sits at the middle of a tectonic plate , so it does not experience volcanic activity or earthquakes. However, it was heavily impacted by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami , which killed more than 31,000 people in this mostly low-lying island nation. Climate: Sri Lanka has a maritime tropical climate, meaning that it is warm and humid throughout the year. Average temperatures ranges from 16°C (60.8°F) in the central highlands to 32°C (89.6°F) along the northeast coast. High temperatures in Trincomalee, in the northeast, can top 38°C (100°F).

The entire island generally has humidity levels between 60 and 90% year-round, with the higher levels during the two long monsoonal rainy seasons (May to October and December to March). Economy: Sri Lanka has one of the strongest economies in South Asia, with a GDP of $234 billion US (2015 estimate), a per capita GDP of $11,069, and a 7.4% annual growth rate . It receives substantial remittances from Sri Lankan overseas workers, mostly in the Middle East ; in 2012, Sri Lankans abroad sent home about $6 billion US. Major industries in Sri Lanka include tourism ; rubber, tea, coconut and tobacco plantations; telecommunications, banking and other services; and textile manufacturing. The unemployment rate and percentage of the population living in poverty are both an enviable 4.3%. The island's currency is called the Sri Lankan rupee. As of May, 2016, the exchange rate was $1 US = 145.79 LKR.

History of Sri Lanka: The island of Sri Lanka appears to have been inhabited since at least 34,000 years before the present. Archaeological evidence suggests that agriculture began as early as 15,000 BCE, perhaps reaching the island along with the ancestors of the aboriginal Veddah people. Sinhalese immigrants from northern India likely reached Sri Lanka around the 6th century BCE. They may have established one of the earliest great trade emporiums on earth; Sri Lankan cinnamon appears in Egyptian tombs from 1,500 BCE. By about 250 BCE, Buddhism had reached Sri Lanka, brought by Mahinda, the son of Ashoka the Great of the Mauryan Empire . The Sinhalese remained Buddhist even after most mainland Indians had converted to Hinduism. Classical Sinhalese civilization relied on complicated irrigation systems for intensive agriculture; it grew and prospered from 200 BCE to about 1200 CE. Trade flourished between China , Southeast Asia , and Arabia by the first few centuries of the common era . Sri Lanka was a key stopping point on the southern, or sea-bound, branch of the Silk Road .

Ships stopped there not only to restock on food, water and fuel, but also to buy cinnamon and other spices. The ancient Romans called Sri Lanka "Taprobane," while Arab sailors knew it as "Serendip." In 1212, ethnic Tamil invaders from the Chola Kingdom in southern India drove the Sinhalese south. The Tamils brought Hinduism with them. In 1505, a new kind of invader appeared on Sri Lanka's shores. Portuguese traders wanted to control the sea-lanes between the spice islands of southern Asia; they also brought missionaries, who converted a small number of Sri Lankans to Catholicism. The Dutch, who expelled the Portuguese in 1658, left an even stronger mark on the island. The legal system of the Netherlands forms the basis for much of modern Sri Lankan law. In 1815, a final European power appeared to take control of Sri Lanka. The British, already holding the mainland of India under their colonial sway , created the Crown Colony of Ceylon.

UK troops defeated the last native Sri Lankan ruler, the King of Kandy, and began to govern Ceylon as an agricultural colony that grew rubber, tea, and coconuts. After more than a century of colonial rule, in 1931, the British granted Ceylon limited autonomy. During World War II, however, Britain used Sri Lanka as a forward post against the Japanese in Asia, much to the irritation of Sri Lankan nationalists. The island nation became fully independent on February 4, 1948, several months after the Partition of India and the creation of independent India and Pakistan in 1947. In 1971, tensions between the Sinhalese and Tamil citizens of Sri Lanka bubbled over into armed conflict. Despite attempts at a political solution, the country erupted into the Sri Lankan Civil War in July of 1983; the war would continue until 2009, when government troops defeated the last of the Tamil Tiger insurgents. Nation formerly called Ceylon - crossword puzzle clues & answers - Dan Word «Let me solve it for you» Nation formerly called Ceylon Today's crossword puzzle clue is a quick one: Nation formerly called Ceylon.

We will try to find the right answer to this particular crossword clue. Here are the possible solutions for "Nation formerly called Ceylon" clue. It was last seen in The Wall Street Journal quick crossword. We have 1 possible answer in our database. Possible answer: Why 'Ceylon' Tea BOARD MEMBERS WHY CEYLON TEA Green and lushly fertile, the island republic of Sri Lanka lies in the Bay of Bengal, just below the southeastern tip of India. Sri Lanka was formerly a British crown colony known as Ceylon, a name it kept for nearly a quarter-century after independence. Why 'Ceylon' Tea Green and lushly fertile, the island republic of Sri Lanka lies in the Bay of Bengal, just below the southeastern tip of India. Sri Lanka was formerly a British crown colony known as Ceylon, a name it kept for nearly a quarter-century after independence. It was during the British era that tea first began to be cultivated and manufactured here. Tea from Ceylon soon gained the reputation of being the finest in the world, and tea exports became the mainstay of the colonial economy.

Housewives and restaurateurs across the globe grew familiar with the name of the country, learning that its appearance on a tin or packet reliably guaranteed the quality of the tea inside. Independence brought new markets, and production continued to increase. In 1965 Ceylon became, for the first time, the world’s largest exporter of tea. When the country changed its name to Sri Lanka in 1972, its premier industry was faced with a knotty problem. Ceylon was not only the former name of the country; it was also one of the world’s leading brands, familiar to consumers from Virginia to Vladivostok – a brand the industry had been actively promoting and investing in since the early 1930s. Abandoning it would deliver a setback from which there could be no easy recovery. And the cost of promoting and establishing an unfamiliar new brand – ‘Sri Lanka Tea’ – would be ruinous. Though opposed by some who demanded a complete break with the colonial past and a new start for the country, industry leaders managed to persuade the socialist government then in power to permit the continued use of the name Ceylon to refer to the country’s most famous product.

Tea from Sri Lanka would still be marketed as Ceylon Tea; a priceless world brand had been saved. A Legal Definition To qualify for the special, legal distinction denoted by the words ‘Ceylon Tea’, and for the famous Lion logo that goes with it, the tea must not only be grown and manufactured entirely in Sri Lanka; it must also conform to strict quality standards laid down and administered by the Sri Lanka Tea Board. It cannot, moreover, be mixed or blended with tea from any other part of the world. Even a blend that is 95% Sri Lankan cannot be described as Ceylon Tea. Tea bearing the Lion Logo must also be packed in Sri Lanka. Overseas importers and distributors cannot use the logo on their packaging, though if the contents are 100% Sri Lankan, the name ‘Ceylon Tea’ may still legally be used. These strictures are needed to help consumers distinguish real Ceylon Tea from the thousands of products, including many with international brand names that are available around the world, which contain tea of mixed, non-specific origin. These products are blended from whatever teas are available on the international markets.

The skill of the blender ensures a consistent product regardless of origin, while the firm enjoys economies of scale and suffers no supply-side anxieties. However, the level of quality rarely equals that attained by single-origin teas, and such blends can never emulate the character, so prized by connoisseurs, of pure Ceylon Tea. The Lion of Ceylon Indivisibly associated with the Ceylon Tea brand is the famous Lion of Ceylon logo, found only on packages of pure Ceylon tea packed in Sri Lanka prior to export. The logo is based on the Lion of Ceylon, an ancient heraldic device which decorates the national flag of Sri Lanka. It was first adopted by the Tea Propaganda Board, one of the precursors of the present Tea Board, and is a registered trademark in over a hundred countries around the world. Ceylon Orange Pekoe Black Tea-Simpson & Vail, Inc Quantity Detailed Description Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, has been providing excellent teas since the mid 1800's and is currently one of the largest tea producing countries in the world.

Prior to the introduction of tea plants to Sri Lanka, this country was primarily known for its crops of cinnamon and coffee. Due to economic changes, which affected the cinnamon crop, and a fungal disease, which devastated the coffee plants, Ceylon began experimenting with tea plants in 1839. It wasn't until 1867, when James Taylor, a British planter, began a tea plantation in Kandy, that tea was established as a viable industry. His venture was soon followed by other tea gardens in and around the area. Sri Lanka has 6 growing regions: Kandy, Uda Pussellawa, Uva, Ruhuna, Dimbula and Nuwara Eliya. The central highlands of Sri Lanka offer humidity, cooler temperatures and consistent rainfall, all of which provide a favorable environment for high quality teas. Ceylon teas are best paired with foods such as breakfast meals (breads, eggs, smoked fish, bacon, etc.), light savory foods, meats, eggs, cream cheese, pastries and fruit, to name a few.

The medium sized black-brownish leaves, of this high grown Ceylon Orange Pekoe Tea, produce a deep amber cup with a brisk, well-rounded, flowery taste. This is a tea that is comprised of teas from different growing areas, blended together to create a consistent, delicious taste profile year after year. Brew tea at 212ï¿½ - steep for 3 minutes. Product Reviews The Gold Standard 1/14/2017 This is pure, genuine tea that has not been doctored (or messed with). If you want to know what is the honest standard of all teas available, this is it. Everybody I know loves it, and nobody objects to it. My friends all ask where I get it, and I tell them loud and clear. For me, this is THE tea, the whole point of tea drinking. It is great hot, and miraculous when iced. No commercial brand can begin to compare to it. Your tea adventure should start here. - Dr. Bob Strippy, VA The best Orange Pekoe I have ever tried 1/7/2017 I have purchased multiple samples from Simpson & Vail as the verity they offer is very impressive.

All 4 samples very amazing, but my most favorite was Orange Pekoe. So aromatic, fresh, bold taste. - MARINA MITSEVICH, IL Real Winner 2/14/2016 Beautiful amber color; balanced, brisk flavor. It is a rich and delicious tea. I drink it as one of my afternoon tea choices. - J. STONE, NC Ceylon Pettiagalla Estate-Simpson & Vail, Inc Ceylon Pettiagalla Estate Quantity Detailed Description Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, has been providing excellent teas since the mid 1800's and is currently one of the largest tea producing countries in the world. Prior to the introduction of tea plants to Sri Lanka, this country was primarily known for its crops of cinnamon and coffee. Due to economic changes, which affected the cinnamon crop, and a fungal disease, which devastated the coffee plants, Ceylon began experimenting with tea plants in 1839. It wasn't until 1867, when James Taylor, a British planter, began a tea plantation in Kandy, that tea was established as a viable industry.

His venture was soon followed by other tea gardens in and around the area. Sri Lanka has 6 growing regions: Kandy, Uda Pussellawa, Uva, Ruhuna, Dimbula and Nuwara Eliya. The central highlands of Sri Lanka offer humidity, cooler temperatures and consistent rainfall, all of which provide a favorable environment for high quality teas. Ceylon teas are best paired with foods such as breakfast meals (breads, eggs, smoked fish, bacon, etc.), light savory foods, meats, eggs, cream cheese, pastries and fruit, to name a few. This tea comes from the Pettiagalla Estate, which is located in the town of Balangoda in the Ratnapura district, in the province of Sabaragamuwa. The estate tea bushes are located at altitudes ranging from 1670 to 3600 feet and the teas produced here are so consistent in high quality that Pettiagalla is considered one of the most prestigious tea gardens in Sri Lanka. The medium tightly curled leaves brew to an amber cup with a smooth, strong flavor that leaves the mouth feeling fresh and clean.

This wonderful all-day tea can be drunk as is or with a slice of lemon to enhance the flavor. Brew tea at 212ï¿½ - steep for 3 minutes. Product Reviews Beautifully Bold 10/3/2016 This is a bold, flavorful tea. Perfect for breakfast or in lieu of coffee. There is an almost nutty maltiness to the flavors with maybe even a hint of burnt toast. This is a very smooth and luscious bold black tea. Wonderful, even for beginners. - ANDREW, IL Smooth and Refreshing 4/2/2016 Recently at a small gathering the hostess served a lovely smooth and refreshing tea which she said was S&Vs Ceylon Pettiagalla. The tea was excellent so I included it in my order and have not been disappointed. It is aromatic with a bit of fruity/lemon/floral taste and has a hint of maltiness. This is one tea in which I would add a lemon slice or wedge. Hot or cold this is a very refreshing tea. - EAL, OH Part of my first order 2/26/2016 Perfect everyday cup! My favorite thus far!

- Kara, MO Tea | Black Tea | Ceylon Tea Exporters It’s simply the best! Pure Ceylon Tea, nothing compares with it!! Finest of Ceylon Black Tea Ceylon Tea, today acclaimed as the finest in the world was first introduced to the Island by the British colonial rulers in the early 1800’s. Ceylon, as it was referred to then, is an Island situated in the Indian Ocean, off the south eastern tip of the Indian sub continent. The country with its natural geographic situation and widely varying climatic conditions and altitudes offer a wide variety of teas from delicate to robust, each type with its distinctive intensity, flavor, aroma and taste. We at Black Tea Exports ensure that all our teas are handpicked and carefully selected from some of the finest tea plantations around the country and the Colombo Tea Auctions where the country’s finest teas are auctioned on a daily basis. Thereafter a stringent quality controlling process right through the blending, tasting and packing process carried out by a team of experienced professionals ensure a high quality end product that’s on par with international standards.

Our flagship brand “Hilltop” is our promise of an authentic Pure Ceylon Tea experience; lasting memories of probably the finest tea you have ever tasted. Our Teas CEYLON TEA PACKS We offer loose leaf tea foil packed in elegantly designed paper cartons, wooden boxes, paper canisters, metal tins and glass bottles. All the teas are hygienically and meticulously packed, so as to retain the freshness, aroma, taste and most importantly the goodness of the tea Sri Lanka (Ceylon) Tea Sri Lanka (Ceylon) Tea Map of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) Ceylon Black Tea "... the tea fields of Ceylon are as true a monument to courage as is the lion at Waterloo." -Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Known as Ceylon until 1972, the island of Sri Lanka lies a mere 19 miles from the southern coast of India. Blessed with ideal trade winds and geographic diversity, the humid, tropical climate is offset by mountains in the south rising to altitudes of over 8,000 feet.

Today, Sri Lanka is the world's fourth largest tea producer and its famous leaves (still called "Ceylon") are cherished for their taste and consistent quality. History Until the 1860s there was not a single tea farm in Sri Lanka. Coffee, the island-nation's cash crop, dominated agriculture. It was around this time that James Taylor, a young Scotsman working on a coffee plantation, began to experiment, developing other crops. He started with cinchona (a South American tree, the bark of which is used to produce quinine) and soon acquired tea seeds from the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya. For years, Taylor devoted himself to practicing the various methods of tea cultivation and processing (the original tea plants of his Loolecondera estate are, remarkably, still producing) he had learned from Indian tea growers. Despite its ambition, this was a minor experiment that might have been lost to history had fate not intervened. In 1869, a parasitic fungus, hemileia vastatrix, invaded the coffee fields of Ceylon, wiping out entire plantations and rendering the crop defunct.

Coffee farmers falling on financial ruin sought alternative cropsï¿½among them, the tea experiment at Loolecondera. Taylor, who by then had become famous for his seven acre plantation, was building a full-sized factory when he met a millionaire grocery mogul, Thomas Johnstone Lipton vacationing on the isle. Lipton was interested in cutting out the middleman and selling tea directly to the British consumer. At the time tea was a relative luxury, out of reach for the the working classï¿½an untapped market. The once-booming coffee plantations on the isle were now selling for a song. Lipton bought four and began converting them towards tea cultivation, installing machinery for high volume production. Now able to control supply, quality and price, the grocery baron devoted his energies to packaging. Bright tins, teabags (a relatively new invention) and the slogan "Straight from the tea gardens to the tea pot." By 1872, two unassuming crates packed with "Ceylon Tea" had arrived in London for auction.

By 1875 there were a thousand tea plantations in Ceylon, that number climbing to 300,000 by 1890. At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, the Lipton company distributed one million of its tea packets. Ceylon had solidified its name in the world of tea and seeing the potential, large British companies began buying up small farms, combining them into large estates. By 1971, British companies owned more than 80 percent of tea estates in the country. That year, the Sri Lankan government nationalized the majority of plantations. In 1990, a plan began to re-involve private companies in managing the state-owned plantations. This upheaval and uncertainty took its toll on Sri Lankan tea production. In 1993, the island fell from its status as the largest single producer of teas in the world to number eight. After failing to compete with India and Kenya in the low-cost production of CTC teas, many estates are now converting back to orthodox methods. With industrial tea production sweeping the globe, it's likely Sri Lanka will fall behind in numbers but distinguish itself through tradition and quality.

Today, Sri Lanka exports nearly all of its harvest and is fourth among tea producing countries in the world. Culture Sri Lanka is a unique country of origin because the tropical climate allows for continual, year-round harvesting. The island features striking microclimates ideal for tea production. Tea in Sri Lanka is classified by elevation: low, medium or high grown. Each is distinct, creating remarkable variety for a country which produces almost exclusively black tea. The government of Sri Lanka is heavily involved in grading standards (very similar to those of India's) and production quality of commercial farms. An organization called The Sri Lanka Tea Board performs rigorous inspections of would be "Ceylon" teas, emblazoning authentic goods with a Lion logo. Notable Sri Lankan Teas Pahata Rata "Low Country" (Sea Level-2,000 ft) Teas grown in the plains and foothills of Sri Lanka produce full bodied, colorful and hearty cups of tea, perfect for cream and sugar. The leaves are often larger, fuller and more wiry in appearance. In recent years, a lovely silver-tipped tea from the Ratnapura region has grown in popularity here in the U.S.

Medarata "Midland" (2,000-4,000 ft) - Like James Taylor's very first tea garden at Loolecondera, these medium-altitude teas tend towards the medium and full bodied with a refreshing citrusy tang, brisk fruity notes and balanced astringency. Our Ceylon Sonata (from Taylor's Kandy region) is a classic example of this well-loved tea type. Example Ceylon Sonata . Udarata "High Country" (over 4,000 ft) The higher elevation teas from Uva, Dimbula and Nuwara Eliya can resemble a Darjeeling with their golden liquors and fresh, sweet aromas. The colorful dry leaf can even appear similar to the autumn hues of Himalayan teas. Like most Ceylons, these lean more toward a citrus note than muscat grape, the signature of a Darjeeling. Pleasantly crisp, medium bodied and floral - the perfect afternoon cup of tea.

E2=Educational & Entertainment Hub: Interesting Facts and Former Names of Countries of the World Monday, August 29, 2011 Interesting Facts and Former Names of Countries of the World Here’s a list of the former names and meaning of the names of selected countries of the world plus some interesting facts. 1. The former name of Thailand is Siam, named after a 19th century king. Thailand means “land of the free”. It is the only Southeast Asian country to have never been colonized. is formerly known as Mesopotamia. 3. The former name of Sri Lanka is Ceylon. It was under European rule for about 450 years. In 1972 the name was change to Sri Lanka. 4. San Marino was named after Marinus, a Christian stonemason who founded the place in 301 CE. 5. Malawi means “flaming water” and is named for the sun setting on Lake Malawi, Africa’s 3rd largest lake. which means “rich coast” is the world’s greenest country. 9. Myanmar in Southeast Asia is formerly known as Burma.

is the old name of France and Helle is the old name of Greece. 11. China’s ancient name is Cathay. China was taken from Chin dynasty. was named after Simon Bolivar, the liberator of many South American countries. 13. Asia Minor is the present day Turke y while Malaysia is formerly known as Malaya. means "Land of the South Slavs". It was originally Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, created by joining Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro . It became Yugoslavia in 1929. It subsequently split into its constituent states in the years 1992-2006. Tanganyika and Zanzibar joined to become what is now known as Tanzania. Egypt and Syria were briefly joined as the United Arab Republic . 18. Malaya merged with Singapore and the northern Borneo territories of Sabah and Sarawak to become Malaysia in 1963. 19. Bangladesh in South Asia is formerly known as East Pakistan from 1955 to 1971. It was also known as East Bengal. 20.

The name of Belarus is Byelorussia until 1991. It is also called White Russia. 21. The name of Belize until 1973 is British Honduras . 22. Benin is known as Dahomey until 1975. 23. Botswana in Africa is formerly known as Bechuanaland . 24. The former name of Burkina Faso is Upper Volta . Its present name was adopted in 1984. Burkina Faso means “land of honest men”. 25. Cambodia is known as Khmer Republic from 1971 to1975 and Kampuchea from 1975 to 1991. 26. Colombia was known as New Granada until 1819. 27. The former name of the Republic of the Congo is Middle Congo. 28. Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly known as Zaire between 1971 and 1997. It was previously called Belgian Republic. 29. Until 1977, Djibouti is known as Portuguese Guinea until 1974. 36.

Until 1966, Guyana 37. Indonesia, until 1945, is called Netherlands East Indies 38. Although Iran is locally known as Iran since before the Sassanids (3rd to 7th centuries AD), it also called Persia until officially named Iran in 1935. 39. Until 1948, Israel is part of the British Mandate of Palestine. It was previously renamed by the Romans to Palestine from Kingdom of Israel and Judea. 40. Before 1937, Ireland is known as Irish Free State and was at one time referred to in English as Eire. 41. The former name of Jordan is Transjordan. is known as the Gilbert Island before independence in 1979. 43. Lesotho, an African country, is previously called Basutoland . 44. Until 1964, Malawi is called Nyasaland . , in Africa is known until 1960 as French Sudan. 46. Mexico, in North America, is known until 1821 as New Spain . is known until 1991 as Moldovia. 48.

The former name of Namibia is South-West Africa. 49. Until 1997, Samoa 50. Serbia and Montenegro is from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 2003. Split into two nations, Serbia and Montenegro , in 2006. 51. The former name of Singapore , a Southeast Asian country, is Temasik. 52. Until 1972, Sri Lanka in South Asia is called Ceylon .

Question: Which country was formerly called Ceylon?
Answer: Sri Lanka