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 "Ayubowan!! (pronounced Ah-you-bo-wun). I am   Maya. I live on the 

island of Sri Lanka.  "Ayubowan!" is the traditional way to greet 

someone in Sri Lanka. We do this by joining two hands together in a 

prayer-like manner, while bowing with the head 

I am six years old. I live with my mother and father. I am bi-lingual, 

and I can speak Sinhalese and English. Another language spoken in Sri 

Lanka is Tamil.   Sinhalese is only spoken in Sri Lanka. 

I go to an all girls school and I like to learn and play with my friends.

I take walks to the beach by the Indian Ocean. The water feels warm 

on my feet. I try to find pretty shells and watch people surfing in the 

high waves.

Do you like to go to the beach?

The elephants are dressed up in a procession for a Buddhist festival. 

My favorite time of the year is July or August when I can watch 

cultural dances and fire dances in the city of Kandy. There is a special 

Buddhist temple where they keep the sacred tooth of Lord Buddha. 

There are many other local temple parades each month with traditional 

drummers and dances.

I am excited to see many elephants. I hope I can ride an elephant one 

day with my friends. 

Did you know Asian elephants are endangered and their habitats are 

shrinking?

My family and I like to eat rice and curry on most days. It is traditional to use our fingers 

to eat rice and curry. Some use a spoon and a fork to eat their rice and curry.   The lunch 

meal usually has rice, green vegetables, local yams, legumes, and fish or meat. Dinner consists 

of local favorites;Hoppers, String-hoppers, thosai, etc eaten with curry and accompaniments. 

Others prefer western food for dinner; spaghetti, lasagna, pizza, noodles, etc.

The fishermen travel in boats early in the morning to catch fish from the Indian Ocean. 

Chicken, beef, pork, goat, vegetables and fruits are sold in the markets.

Have you tried rice and curry? The curry can be mild, medium or very spicy? The island has 

a variety of tropical fruits. Have you heard of the stinky fruits "Durian?"   and ripe sweet 

"Jack?" These fruits are considered delicacies by some natives.   I like to have sweet 

mangoes, the delicious varieties of plantains, pineapples and many other exotic fruits for 

dessert.

My mother wears sari to work, and for special 

occasions. The saris are very beautiful and come in 

many fabrics and designs. There are many different 

ways to wear sari.

My father and many boys like to wear sarongs, mostly 

for relaxing at home.   Some people wear sarong when 

they go out. Many wear trousers and shirts, skirts and 

blouses. Children wear uniforms when they go to school. 

Do you like to dress-up in clothes from other cultures?

There are many religions practiced in Sri Lanka. 70.19%   of the people 

are Buddhists. 12.6% practice the Hindu religion, 9.7% are Muslims, 

and 7.4% are Christians, and the others practice a few different 

religions.There are many buddhist temples, Christian churches, Hindu 

kovils, and mosques in Sri Lanka.

Most of the people in Sri Lanka are Buddhists. Buddha told his 

followers to be kind and live peacefully with everyone. People who 

belong to the Buddhist religion wear white clothing on holy days. It is 

respectful to remove shoes before entering a temple. Dresses or 

shirts with sleeves and clothing below the knee is accepted.

Have you been to a Buddhist Temple?

We have beautiful gems and jewelry in our island. There 

is a special blue sapphire called the "Ceylon Sapphire."

People wear gold jewelry, and rings with beautiful gems 

for weddings and special parties.

My mother has pretty jewelry which I can share with 

her when I am all grown up.

What are some of your favorite jewels?

Sri Lanka is famous for "Ceylon Tea." The tea factories 

have their tea grown on the mountain areas of the 

island. There are many varieties of black tea. My father 

is a Tea Taster. He buys large amounts of tea at the 

Tea Auction House. He tastes many different kinds of 

tea, just like how a winemaker tastes wine. He decides 

which teas are going to be sent to other countries. 

Most people on the island like to drink tea with milk 

and sugar, and some like it plain.

Have you tasted any teas? 

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