Steemit Engagement Challenge (SEC) | S12W6- "My country; My Home"

Hey Steemian friends!

I'm not really sure how many people out there have even heard of a country named “Sri Lanka”. It's a teeny tiny island in the Indian Ocean next to India. Its country filled with loads of history, culture, and nature. Stay with me for these 04 questions from @steem4nigeria and I will share you my country in my eyes.

^{Map source}

👉 Tell us about your Home (country), a brief history, will be an added advantage

Do you know “Ramayana” from Hindu Literature? It is a famous Indian book which has written over 7000+ years ago. That is where one of Sri Lankan king fight against mighty Rama. So guess what, our country’s history dates back to such long years! Of course, we can't take all that mythological stuff too seriously, but we do have some legit history. Lord Buddha, for instance, left his mark here over 2500 years ago. And then all over history this place mentioned as "Pearl of the Indian Ocean" because it has been a crucial hub along the maritime Silk Road.

However with all this fame, we had some uninvited guests. Time to time, all the world super powers wanted to concurred the nation and gain power over maritime silk route. Because of that Sri Lanka had to face several inventions from Portuguese, Dutch and finally the English. Till then Sri Lanka had many names such as Taprobane, Serendipity, Ceylon and finally Sri Lanka.

^{Now the busiest road in Sri Lanka back in the days! source}

In 1948, Sri Lanka gained its freedom back but left with colonial mentality. The proud history was long forgotten and corrupt politics ruin the country for generations. 30 years of civil war with the Tamil Tigers, devastating tsunamis, and even an ISIS bomb attack made everything worst for Sri Lankans. Currently, we're grappling with an economic crisis we cannot seem to find any solution. Once a paradise like land is now in the edge of bankrupt nation.

👉 Why do you think your country is unique? Share at least 3 points.

01. Natural Diversity:

Even though we're this tiny dot on the map, when it comes to natural diversity we've got it all! From scorching 30+ degrees Celsius on the coastal areas to comfortable 10 degrees Celsius up in the misty highlands, we've got every kind of weather in every one hour journey in our country. Then we've got this amazing variety in landscapes featuring mountains, waterfalls, jungles, and fields of rice as far as you can see. And don't get me started on our tea plantations, we make some of the world's best tea – Ceylon Tea! We've also got the best cinnamon, coconuts, and rubber. I can go on but in short, this island has it all!

^{The beauty of the central highlands is simply breathtaking! | source}

02. Rich Cultural Heritage:

Our cultural heritage has a lot of influences from Buddhism! Ancient temples, stupas, and sacred places are all over the country. The most iconic and the most visited place in the country is the Sigiriya rock fortress. Once it was even considered one of the world's eight wonders. We also have festivals like Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Procession of Kandy & Vesak each loaded with loads of traditions. And our food culture? Oh man, they have flavors that cater to every palate. Specially the spicy one! 🌶️😉

^{A must visit place for everyone!}

03. Hospitality and Warmth:

Now, The best part about Sri Lanka? The people! we're known for our hospitality. In villages you'll always see happy faces and hear "Come, have some tea!" or "Let's share a plate of rice and curry!" those are common words in the village community and being nice to each other is always there for them. But, hey, don't expect the same level of friendliness in the city areas, there can be scammers for foreign people. Still, I'd say about 80% of us are super friendly.

👉 Would you leave your country to settle in another if an opportunity shows up? Back up your answer with reasons.

I've had the opportunity to explore other countries like Singapore and Bangladesh, they're pretty cool countries, no doubt. But there's something about Sri Lanka that keeps pulling me back. I don’t think there’s any country like Sri Lanka. Into my eyes this is one of the best places to live if you're a nature lover. You can live that stress-free life in Sri Lanka because it is greenery everywhere with rich soil which will grow anything without fertilizers. Since coming back I never wanted to leave again this country.

But lately, things have gotten kinda frustrating. “Do we have future here?” that is a question I asked myself so often now. Recent years economic challenges and corrupt governance made me thinking of leaving the country. It's not an easy decision at all to leave everything here. But if opportunity arises, I will definitely pack my bags. Because, I want my future kids to grow up in a developed country, not an economically crumbled one.

👉 What areas of your home (country) would you love to see an improvement?

The major areas that need improvement in Sri Lanka would be our political system. We need a transparent and accountable system that truly serves the interests of the nation and not by the party or individuals. We need leaders who genuinely love the country and current system is just keep producing people who has no vision for the country. It is purely based on power than the education or the experience. If someone has money, they spend it to get in to the parliament and then do everything to stay on power while doing business for themselves.

^{We've had this same education system for decades now, no kidding! | source}

Another crucial area is our education system. We've clung to an outdated British curriculum which has exams based on memorization rather than practical knowledge. It's high time we adapt to the new technologies, practical learning, and let students explore their passions. This change can prepare our youth for the challenges of the future and help our nation progress seamlessly because to be honest we have quite naturally talented people in our country.

To conclude, my home Sri Lanka is a place of incredible beauty, history, and culture. Despite the challenges we face, it's a land that we cannot blame for anything. Yet, in uncertain times, we must consider our options and change accordingly. I hope for a brighter future my country though it is very far and unrealistic.

Thank you for this interesting contest @steem4nigeria. I would like to invite @ciru2014, @enveng & @mariagood to participate in this contest.

Thank you.

Peace to all 🙏

^{Proper sourcing has been ensured for all the pictures used in the content.}