Sri Lanka is an island nation in South Asia. It is popularly referred to as the Pearl of Indian Ocean as it located about 31 km off the southern coast of India. Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia. Sri Lanka has been a center of Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times. Sri Lanka is famous for the production of tea, coffee, rubber and coconuts. It boasts a progressive and modern industrial economy and the highest per capita income in South Asia. Sri Lanka is a world famous tourist destination because of the natural beauty of the country's tropical forests, beaches, and landscapes, as well as its rich cultural heritage. Sri Lanka's climate can be described as tropical and quite hot. January is the coolest month while May is the hottest period, precedes the summer monsoon rains. The rainfall pattern is influenced by the monsoon winds of the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. Sri Lanka has one of the most literate populations amongst developing nations. An education system which dictates 9 years of Compulsory Schooling for every child is in place, with 99% of the children entering the first grade. A free education system initiated in 1945. Most secondary schools in Sri Lanka provide education grades 1 to 13 in the same institution. Sri Lanka has a large number of public universities.
