Sri Lanka

"Sri Lanka’s new government has begun to address some of the country’s chronic human rights problems, but much remains to be done. The pervasive culture of fear is largely gone and positive measures have been adopted, but the previous government’s disastrous restructuring of independent state institutions needs to be fully dismantled."

"Less than seven percent of Sri Lanka’s population now lives in poverty, but there is still a lot of work to be done for the country to eradicate it completely and secure long-term economic prosperity"

"As illustrated on the attached map from Hofstra University, the island nation of Sri Lanka is astride the main maritime trade routes of the Indian Ocean, with fast-growing economic and strategic significance as that area of the world experiences rapid growth. China is making major inroads already in Sri Lanka, but our distinguished visitors wish to make sure that relations with the United States are improved even more strongly."

"The fact is about this country that there is a chance of success because the war is over, the terrorism has finished, the fighting is done. Now what's needed is generosity and magnanimity from the Sri Lankan government to bring the country together. And I think coming here, listening to these people, hearing these arguments, helps to draw attention to their plight. I think the spotlight has been shone on Sri Lanka and people can see the good and the bad."

"We should be less concerned about adding years to life, and more about adding life to years. I have been very fortunate to have witnessed some of humanity's greatest achievements during the 20th century that is nearing its end. Yet we must admit that it has also been the most savage century in the history of our kind. If I can have one more wish, I want to see lasting and meaningful peace achieved in Sri Lanka as early as possible. But I am aware that peace cannot just be wished; it involves hard work, courage and persistence. As we welcome 2001, let us harness our collective energies to create a culture of peace and a land of prosperity."

"This new research provides an important platform of evidence and analysis to strengthen our partnership with the government to help design policies aimed at improving job opportunities for the poor and other disadvantaged segments of the population, while promoting sustainable growth. The findings of the reports also reinforce the need [for] further measures aimed at improving the government’s effectiveness, transparency, accountability and establishing strong institutions so all Sri Lankans can take part in the country’s increasing prosperity."

"We have been a country where people just came in and went out. And that was a very, very healthy way of running our tourism. So this is new to Sri Lanka. So we are anxious to see how it works."

"“Warm, friendly people.” The hackneyed phrase flows easily from the travel writer’s pen when describing Sri Lanka. So, too, does ‘tropical paradise’ and, I must confess, those were words I used when I visited the country first in 1980."

"King Devanampiyatissa sent his nephew Arittha on the important mission of bringing Theri Sangamitta to Sri Lanka to establish the Bhikkuni Sasana and along with her the Maha Bodhi Sapling."

"Sri Lanka is in the early part of a rebuilding phase, so don’t expect any quick fixes. I am very aware what a huge challenge it is. A lot of hard work needs to be done. It’s very important that this team building is done on a very solid foundation, so patience is required. I know there is an abundance of talent within the system, but it is about identifying those who have got the mental toughness to go on and become consistent players and match-winners at international level. It’s quite a long process which is required. A lot of hard work, not just for me but all involved, particularly Jerome [Jerome Jayaratne, Sri Lanka Cricket's head of coaching] who has been involved in Sri Lanka cricket for a long time, knows the players so well and has a wealth of knowledge technically and tactically. It’s important to have his input, and also to have the selectors and the board all working together to ensure the long-term process can take place so that we can take Sri Lanka back to the top of the international stage"

"I am very aware what a huge challenge it is. I think Sri Lanka cricket finds itself in a very early stage of a very important rebuilding phase. A lot of hard work needs to be done. I think it is very important that this rebuilding phase is done on an extremely solid foundation. So patience is important."

"The immaculate perceptions of Sri Lanka presented to the West through holiday brochures, are merely a superficial insight into a country that has in recent history endured decades of fighting; firstly for its independence, then throughout a civil war that lasted for twenty five years. Finally, it had to reclaim life and its normalities back after the devastation caused by the Tsunami in 2004. However, underlying these hardships is a rich ancient culture based upon a foundation of Buddhist beliefs. Furthermore the island's geographical location means that, despite its small size, it is incredibly rich in biodiversity. It bodes a population who are both aware and active in the conservation, and in the celebration, of their culture and the beauty of their homeland."

"There is no denying that various influences from other continents are also having an impact. From Chinese electronic goods, to the usual European and American global brands, as well as Middle Eastern luxury lifestyle, there is something for everyone. For example, the Krrish Tower, Sri Lanka's tallest building, is a project that has now been approved and has already caused many controversies before even being built. It would, for the first time, offer luxury apartments shopping malls and a new lifestyle to the modernised society of this country."

"Now we are vacating our backyard for the Chinese to rebuild all of a booming post-war Sri Lanka"

", the street in the in which the 's office is situated, and which was the first I became acquainted with on landing, is decorated like many others in and , with shady avenues of a fine mallow, '; the large yellow or red blossoms strew the earth in every direction. Chatham Street also contains those shops which alone possessed any interest for me in all Colombo — windows full of photographs, and stalls with living animals. Within a few hours of my arrival in Ceylon, I had the very great pleasure of forming an idea, from the photographs in the windows, of the finest points in the wild highlands and the picturesque coast, as well as of the astounding marvels of its magnificent vegetation: s and , ' and s, tree-ferns, s, etc. Nor did I, naturally, find less attraction in making myself acquainted, before I had been many hours in the island, with some of its most interesting animals; above all, the apes, the dappled , the parrots and the gorgeously coloured pigeons."

"As far as tourists are concerned they have various destinations they can choose for their holiday. No tourist will come to a country where violence is taking place."

"So many people in Sri Lanka would not have had the opportunity for independent living had it not been for his [Robert Burns] continued efforts."

"I can sing about songs with gunshots in the background because I heard them. It's almost like my music has been a way to smoke out the hatred that's been bubbling underneath what's going on in Sri Lanka. If there's 300,000 people who are trapped and they're dying, it should be talked about, it should be brought to the table, and I don't see anything wrong in sticking up for 300,000 dying people."

"I have looked forward very much to a visit to this beautiful country. Although I have been here before, they were fleeting visits during which I was able to see only a little of this beautiful and historic Island. But this visit has afforded me the opportunity to see much more and I am gratified and happy to find here so many things that are common to Malaysia as well. I feel very much at home here."

"The ties of friendship between India and Sri Lanka go back centuries and have matured over time to include all areas of contemporary relevance. I am confident that the renewed vigour in the Sri Lankan polity under your leadership will not only allow you to realize your vision for Sri Lanka but also strengthen the partnership between India and Sri Lanka for the mutual benefit of the people of our two countries. I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that, as a close friend and neighbour, we support your vision for Sri Lanka."

"Had he come we would have been really happy. This decision is taken because of [India's] internal political reasons, but it will not affect the success of this programme, we don't think it is a problem."

"Every day for the last 30 years people were dying... so we have stopped it, we will take our time and we will investigate into 30 years of war,"

"My country has been influenced by the core Buddhist values of non-violence, loving kindness, compassion, equanimity and mindfulness. With this sense of direction, our Government has committed itself "Towards a new Sri Lanka", guided by a vision of peace, where every Sri Lankan citizen may live with dignity and self-respect, in freedom and without fear, free of want, and where every child may enjoy childhood and grow up with hope and expectation."

"One of the central messages of Ramayana lore is that Rama refused to take possession of Lanka: after liberating his wife Sita, he left the Lankans to their own devices and handed over the throne to Ravana’s brother who was the only member of Ravana’s family to survive. This is not a peripheral detail but a highly significant application of the Hindu theory of sovereignty: all nations and communities, even conquered states, should be given their autonomy and the freedom to maintain their own mores and traditions (svadharma)."

"I had a choice at this summit to stay away and allow President Rajapaksa to set the agenda he wanted or to go and shape the agenda by advancing our interests with our Commonwealth partners. I chose to go, to stand up for our values and do all I could to advance them. That was, I believe, the right decision for the Commonwealth, Sri Lanka and for Britain."

"Sri Lanka’s biggest threat in 2006 was from Pakistan. In 2010 Sri Lanka’s main rivals were India. This year Sri Lanka possesses a fine team and has been practicing hard. Not having enough time to train has been the main draw back. We hope to give a strong challenge at the SAG"

"Indigenous Sri Lankan culture received multifaceted influences from foreign cultures, mainly due to international cultural routes passing in the vicinity of the island. Their influences spread into hinterland through water and land routes, and were adsorbed by societies, transforming Sri Lankan Culture into a multifaceted heterogeneous culture with rich tangible and intangible elements."

"Transcontinental cultures began to penetrate into the island during proto-historic period itself, and reached its climax during the period of consolidation of Sri Lankan culture in Early Christian Period. Main source of facilitator was the Silk Road on the Sea, which enabled trade between Far East and the west."

"A second wave of cultural contamination was visible during early medieval period, utilising hinterland routes as well as sea routes of India and Sri Lanka. Infiltration of Chola and Pallava cultures, along with Hindu Art and Architecture was one of the most prominent outcomes of this process."

"Muslim travellers who made pilgrimages to a sacred mountain in central hills of Sri Lanka spread the message and encouraged subsequent invading Europeans to settle down in Maritime Provinces and spread their cultures across the island. Final result was a multiethnic, multi-religious Sri Lankan society."

"The first major legendary reference to Sri Lanka is found in the great Indian epic, the Ramayana (Sacred Lake of the Deeds of Rama), which was written around 500 B.C. It refers to a conquest of Lanka in 3000 B.C. by Rama, to liberate his abducted wife, Sita, from Ravana, the demon god of Lanka. It is believed that this poetic account is an indicator of the early southward expansion of Brahmanic civilization. Many place names in Sri Lanka, very especially in and around Sri Lankan cities such as Galle, and Nuvara Eliya have close resemblance and relationship with this legendary.Islamic folklore maintains that Adam and Eve were offered refuge on the island as solace for their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Asian poets called it the "pearl upon the brow of India.""

"Sri Lankan chronicles refer to many Royal Missions between India and Sri Lanka during proto-historic period, and include the introduction of Buddhism, transferring of the Branch of Sri Maha Bodhi Tree sapling from India; and the bringing of Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha to the island."

"The extremists in the south and the north have caused the loss of thousands of young lives ... We must ensure reconciliation and harmony so that we will never go back to war. I believe now, through our past bitter experiences, we must prepare ourselves for future challenges,"

"Sri Lanka will have to ‘swim upstream’ as the external global environment becomes more hostile and funds flow out of developing countries and China’s economy becomes unstable"

"The potential for tourism in Sri Lanka is huge. International arrivals are multiplying year after year, and with all parts of this beautiful island now open to tourists, the country offers incredible opportunities. We look forward to playing a major role in the country's bright future."

"Colombo Fashion Week is the premier fashion event in Sri Lanka and has been instrumental in bringing Sri Lankan design and talent to the forefront of the world fashion stage. It's a great opportunity for Sri Lankan designers, especially the new comers, to showcase alongside international designers... Sri Lanka is a country that's gifted with many resources that could be utilised in the fashion sector...traditional crafts of Sri Lanka is another area that needs to be revived and has potential of being linked with contemporary fashion."

"This is not a multireligious country. This is a Sinhalese country."

"… he (Ambassador Rapp) listened to eyewitness accounts about serious human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those that occurred at the end of the war. In that context the government of the United States encourages the government of Sri Lanka to seek the truth through independent and credible investigations, and where relevant, have prosecutions."

"Sri Lanka is so jam-packed with alluring outdoorsy activities that visitors often high-tail it out of the capital a day or two after arriving, choosing instead to spend their vacation days lounging on a southern beach, whale-watching off the coast or leopard-spotting in a national park... Ceylon tea may be famous, but in the 1860s Sri Lanka (Ceylon, until it changed its name in 1972) was the world’s biggest coffee producer. It was only after blight struck that the British converted their acreage to tea."