The Population of the country is nearly about 21 million. The Main features of Sri Lankan Cultures are
- Multi ethnic and multi religious
- Multi Lingual (Sinhala, Tamil and English)
- Comparatively more religious
- Rituals and Pre Buddhist cult practices
- Conservative
- Deep family roots and extended families
- More concern of the children than their personal luxuries.
- Clear about distinct of behavioral patterns of men and women(Women are shy)
- Eating habits, rice and curries, spicy
- Traditional treatments (Helawedakama or Ayurveda)
- Astrology plays a major role
Except some areas within the country most of the area has village life style.
There are still some villages in the dry zone, which have some original characters, with a cluster houses, tanks and temples and simple living.
Farmers are involving in Paddy cultivation and Slash and burn cultivation. Grow rice, grains, condiments/pulses and vegetables in the farming lands. Coconuts, fruits and jack trees in the home gardens. Animal husbandry: Cattle, goats, chicken. Use cows for milk and bulls for working in paddy fields and also use as main commodity in barter system.
They have good knowledge of weather patterns, rainfall cultivation done in two seasons.
Hunting and fishing– fishing from the waterways and tanks or reservoir,
Barter system- using barter system to sell their surplus and purchase salt, cloths bangles and other daily needs. Though physical money involves still they practicing barter system up to certain level. Especially farmers
Village Headmen – “Parumaka or “Gambara”.
Blacksmith- provides tools, plough, bullock wheels sickles, knifes and weapons.
Indigenous Doctor (Wedana)- very respected person in the village.
Astrologer/healer- He Prepare the horoscope, provides auspicious times. Though Buddhism was their spiritual way of life villagers were practicing many traditions, customs and rituals for their daily activities. Which may have come from pre Buddhist believes.
Temple- village temple was built in the highest place of the village. The monk played major role of village life, while attending to the spiritual life of the people, he advised and organized their social activities.
Temple was the centre of learning- people went on pilgrimages to sacred places. Bullock cart was the main mode of transportation. Their social life has been developed slowly with various influences.