Officially, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and historically, Ceylon, Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia.

It sits in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, removed from the Indian peninsula by the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar.

Often referred to as the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean" due to its beauty and natural resources, the country is most known for its ancient ruins like Sigiriya rock fortress, its stunning beaches, diverse wildlife, especially leopards in Yala National Park, its high-quality tea production and landmarks like the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.