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Sri Lanka

Why Short Eats Are an Emblem of Sri Lankan Identity

Short Eats in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, short eats can be had at all times and for all meals. You can find them by the beach and on busy roads, at birthday parties and high teas. They bind communities together, hold stories of the nation’s centuries-long history and have emerged as a symbol of the Sri Lankan identity.

Sri Lanka’s Uncomfortable Relationship With Its Disappeared

Sri Lanka’s Disappeared

Over three decades, more than 30 mass graves have been found in Sri Lanka, believed to be of those who disappeared during the civil war and armed communist rebellions. But efforts to uncover the truth are continually obstructed by the authorities, making families — seeking closure — live and die without answers.

Human-Elephant Conflict Is Rising in Sri Lanka

Human-Elephant Conflict Is Rising in Sri Lanka

Historically, elephants and humans lived in harmony in Sri Lanka, but deforestation, haphazard cultivation methods and massive development projects have now led to increasing human-elephant conflict.

In Sri Lanka, Economic Crisis Alters the Taste of Tea

In Sri Lanka, Economic Crisis Alters the Taste of Tea

If there is one thing that illustrates the story of the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, it’s milk powder. Integral to the country’s tea culture, it is unaffordable now, forcing locals to find alternatives.

In Sri Lanka, Tamils Are Divided Over the Tigers’ Militant Legacy

In Sri Lanka, Tamils Are Divided Over the Tigers’ Militant Legacy

Every year, Nov. 27 is commemorated as “Maaveerar Naal” or “Heroes Day,” when Tamils in Sri Lanka remember the fallen LTTE cadres. Since the civil war ended in 2009, the day has taken on additional significance. But who gets to be a “hero” is complicated and contested.

Sri Lanka’s Fishers Face a Tangled Future

Sri Lanka’s Fishers Face a Tangled Future

The perilous combination of climate change, pollution and overfishing means that the catches themselves have been dwindling as well. There are fewer commercially viable species like snappers, tuna and prawns in the more shallow waters adjacent to the coast — places that have sustained thriving communities for centuries.