• Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon until 1972
• The Sigiriya rock fortress is over 1,500 years old
• It is one of the world top tea exporters
• The island has the highest density of leopards in some parks
• Cinnamon native to Sri Lanka was once worth its weight in gold
• Adam Peak is sacred to four different religions
• Sri Lanka has eight UNESCO World Heritage sites
• Blue whales and sperm whales gather off its coasts
• The train ride through the hill country is rated among the world most scenic
• It is shaped like a teardrop in the Indian Ocean