Educational aspects of Sri Lanka

There are times when parents need to justify a day off school here or there in order to persuade head teachers that a trip is of educational value. Sad fact, but true. Anyway, here are some reminders of some of the curricular and extra curricular benefits of taking your family to Sri Lanka, either as your own inspiration or just in case you need to do some convincing at school. Not that we are condoning skipping school, of course. We would never do that…

With schools increasingly studying global politics and human rights, Sri Lanka is a fascinating place to visit. Times may be more peaceful, but there are still major concerns over human rights here and, in 2011, the UN announced that both sides in the Sri Lankan civil war committed atrocities against civilians and called for an international investigation into possible war crimes. The go ahead for this full investigation into alleged abuse of human rights on both sides was only finally announced by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in June 2014. It is hoped that this will finally allow ghosts to be put to rest, and for Sri Lanka to become a thriving, multi ethnic beacon of reconciliation and restoration. For more details on the UN decision, see Amnesty International.

Travelling around Sri Lanka with a guide is like having the coolest geography teacher ever. Even weather patterns become interesting. The humid, tropical climate, the fact that it has two monsoons, and the different coastal and mountainous weather patterns.

Moving onto topography, Sri Lanka is one colossal case study. An island in the Indian Ocean, its tropical mountainous interior is carved into deep valleys and gorges, and the highest point, Pidurutalagala, is at 2,518m along with Adam's Peak at 2,243m. Horton Plains National Park is a great spot for hiking through cloud forest up to magical spots such as Baker’s Falls. These dip down to a flat coastal plain with a ring of endless beaches, and some gushing rivers en route. White water rafting field trips compulsory for closer inspection. And then, of course, there are the cause and impacts of the tragic 2004 tsunami.

If ever there was a time to splash out on good art materials and photographic equipment for the talented visual artists in your family, this is it. Photographing wildlife includes chances to see elephants, water buffalo, crocodiles, monkeys and, if you are lucky, leopards. As well as a photographer’s dreamy array of birdlife. With a tropical climate, the light changes all the time with quick showers adding a shiny glow to the luscious hills, or sunsets giving their gift of gold over the sea at night. Traditional art forms will be of interest too, of course, from wood carving to gemstone work. It’s a visual fiesta in Sri Lanka.

Helene Cooper from our supplier, Stubborn Mule: “There are so many educational aspects to Sri Lanka holidays. For starters: the cultural side and the interaction with local people, as we always recommend staying in a family homestay. You learn to cook with the mother of the household and play football with the kids running around. We recommend a place to stay in the heart of a tea plantation, it’s just gorgeous, not posh at all but an old family house and totally wonderful. You literally walk out of your bedroom into the tea plantation, and we could see the tea pickers picking the tea. You can hire bikes there, go on guided walks around the plantation and see the tea factory, you can do cookery classes and so much more. Even the street scenes are fascinating for children, such as when you see giant monitor lizards that stop the traffic because they are waddling across the road!”