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PEOPLE & PLACES
Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranayake was the first woman ever in any country to become head of government. On juy 21, 1960, Bandaranayake first became Prime Minister of Ceylon, as Sri Lanka was then called. She championed the Sinahlese majority to the detriment of the Tamil minority through the Sinhala Only Act, and repatriation of the “estate Tamils” to India. Leader of the Freedom Party, Bandaranayake was re-elected twice to the post of Prime Minister, first in 1970 and again in 1994. She died in 2000 at age 84.
Cricket
There's just no doubt about it -- Sri Lankans are crazy about cricket. Sri Lanka will co-host the 2011 Cricket World Cup, along with India and Bangladesh. In 1996, Sri Lanka won the Cricket World Cup, beating Australia. A decisive factor that victory was Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya who is regarded internationally as one of the best all-rounders in the sport.
From July to October, hundreds of wild elephants gather every evening along the banks of the Minneriya reservoir for food, water, shelter. The Gathering, as it is known, takes place during the dry season in the North Central/Eastern Province. The elephants gather as their natural water resources in the area dry up. The Minneriya Reservoir was constructed in the 3rd century AD and is filled by the monsoon rains.
Michael Ondaatje, Author
Michael Ondaatje is an internationally renowned author who was born in Sri Lanka and now lives in Canada. One of Ondaatje's best known and acclaimed works is Running in the Family, a poetic memoir of his childhood in Sri Lanka. His award-winning novel, The English Patient, was adapted into a movie that was honoured with the Academy Award for Best Picture. His works often reflect his deep roots in Sri Lanka, and immigrant newcomer experience in Canada.
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