Sri Lanka is often known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. The world famous writer Michael Ondaatje comes from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is the world’s largest tea exporter. Sri Lanka was the first country in the world to have a democratically elected head of state who was a woman. Sri Lankas national flag is considered to be one of the oldest flags in the world. There are eleven universities located in Sri Lanka. The spice cinnamon originated in Sri Lanka and was discovered by the Egyptians. The currency of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee. The most common meal in Sri Lanka is a spicy curry served with rice and a small side dish of vegetables. Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon before 1972.