Map of Sri Lanka | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C. probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C. and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the island were controlled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796 became a crown colony in 1802 and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. After two decades of fighting the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire in February 2002 with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006 but the government regained control of the Eastern Province in 2007. By May 2009 the government announced that its military had defeated the remnants of the LTTE. Since the end of the conflict the government has resettled more than 75 percent of internally displaced persons and has undertaken a number of massive infrastructure projects to reconstruct its economy.


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Location: Southern Asia island in the Indian Ocean south of India

Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N 81 00 E

Map reference: Asia

Area
Total: 65,610 km²
Rank: 122
Land: 64,630 km²
Water: 980 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1340 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

Terrain: mostly low flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Natural resources: limestone graphite mineral sands gems phosphates clay hydropower

Land use
Arable land: 13.96%
Permanent crops: 15.24%
Other: 70.8% (2005)

Irrigated land: 5,700 km² (2008)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 50 km³ (1999)

Natural hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Geography
Note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes


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Population: 21,283,913 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 57
Growth rate: 0.934% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 121
Below poverty line: 23% (2008 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Sri Lankan
Adjective: Sri Lankan

Ethnic groups: Sinhalese 73.8% Sri Lankan Moors 7.2% Indian Tamil 4.6% Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9% other 0.5% unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Languages: Sinhala (official and national language) 74% Tamil (national language) 18% other 8%
Note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population

Religions: Buddhist 69.1% Muslim 7.6% Hindu 7.1% Christian 6.2% unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 24.9%
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 6,993,668/female 7,313,440)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 720,219/female 950,916) (2011 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 30.8 years
Male: 29.7 years
Female: 31.8 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.934% (2011 est.)
Rank: 121

Birth rate: 17.42 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 115

Death rate: 5.92 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 166

Net migration rate: -2.16 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 166

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 14% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 1.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Environmental Modification Hazardous Wastes Law of the Sea Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.04 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 9.7 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 149
Male: 10.68 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 8.68 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.73 years
Rank: 81
Male: 72.21 years
Female: 79.38 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 105

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 0.492 physicians/1000 population (2006)
Rank: 124

Hospital bed density: 3.1 beds/1000 population (2004)
Rank: 71

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 157
People living with hivaids: 2,800 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 129
Deaths: fewer than 200 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 104

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
Vectorborne disease: dengue fever and chikungunya
Water contact disease: leptospirosis
Animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 21.1% (2007)
Rank: 30

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 90.7%
Male: 92.3%
Female: 89.1% (2001 census)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 13 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 13 years (2004)

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Conventional short form: Sri Lanka
Local long form: Shri Lamka Prajatantrika Samajaya di Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu
Local short form: Shri Lamka/Ilankai
Former: Serendib Ceylon

Government type: republic

Capital
Name: Colombo
Geographic coordinates: 6 56 N 79 51 E
Time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)
Note: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Central Eastern North Central Northern North Western Sabaragamuwa Southern Uva Western

Dependent areas

Independence: 4 February 1948 (from the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day 4 February (1948)

Constitution: adopted 16 August 1978 certified 31 August 1978; amended 20 December 2001

Legal system: mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law English common law and Jaffna Tamil customary law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA ; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Dissanayake Mudiyanselage JAYARATNE holds the largely ceremonial title of prime minister (since 21 April 2010)
Head of government: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (two-term limit); election last held on 26 January 2010 (next to be held in 2016)
Election results: Mahinda RAJAPAKSA reelected president for second term; percent of vote - Mahinda RAJAPAKSA 57.88% Sarath FONSEKA 40.15% other 1.97%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of an open-list proportional representation system by electoral district to serve six-year terms)
Elections: last held on 8 April 2010 with a repoll in two electorates held on 20 April 2010 (next to be held by April 2016)
Election results: percent of vote by alliance or party - United People's Freedom Alliance 60.93% United National Party 29.34% Democratic National Alliance 5.49% Tamil National Alliance 2.9% other 1.94%; seats by alliance or party - United People's Freedom Alliance 144 United National Party 60 Tamil National Alliance 14 Democratic National Alliance 7

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: Coalitions and leaders: Democratic National Alliance led by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Somawansa AMARASINGHE]; Tamil National Alliance led by Illandai Tamil Arasu Kachchi [R. SAMPANTHAN]; United National Front led by United National Party [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE]; United People's Freedom Alliance led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party [Mahinda RAJAPAKSA]

International organization participation: ABEDA ADB ARF BIMSTEC C CP FAO G-11 G-15 G-24 G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC MIGA MINURSO MINUSTAH MONUSCO NAM OAS (observer) OPCW PCA SAARC SACEP SCO (dialogue member) UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNIFIL UNISFA UNMISS UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chancery: 2,148 Wyoming Avenue NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 483-4,025 through 4,028
In the us fax: [1] (202) 232-7,181
In the us consulate general: Los Angeles
In the us consulate: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia A. BUTENIS
From the us embassy: 210 Galle Road Colombo 3
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 106 Colombo
From the us telephone: [94] (11) 249-8,500
From the us fax: [94] (11) 243-7,345

Flag description: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity the strength of the nation and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness friendliness happiness and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils green the Sri Lankan Moors; dark red represents the European Burghers but also refers to the rich colonial background of the country; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag

National symbols: lion

National anthem
Name: 'Sri Lanka Matha'
Lyricsmusic: Ananda SAMARKONE
Note: adopted 1951

National heritage


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Economy overview: Sri Lanka is engaging in large-scale reconstruction and development projects following the end of the 26-year conflict with the LTTE including increasing electricity access and rebuilding its road and rail network. Additionally Sri Lanka seeks to reduce poverty by using a combination of state directed policies and private investment promotion to spur growth in disadvantaged areas develop small and medium enterprises and promote increased agriculture. High levels of government funding may be difficult as the government already is faced with high debt interest payments a bloated civil service and historically high budget deficits. The 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession exposed Sri Lanka's economic vulnerabilities and nearly caused a balance of payments crisis which was alleviated by a $2.6 billion IMF standby agreement in July 2009. The end of the civil war and the IMF loan however have largely restored investors' confidence reflected in part by the Sri Lankan stock market's recognition as one of the best performing markets in the world. Sri Lankan growth rates averaged nearly 5% in during the war but increased government spending on development and fighting the LTTE in the final years spurred GDP growth to around 6-7% per year in 2006-08. After experiencing 3.5% growth in 2009 Sri Lanka's economy is poised to achieve high g

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 69
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 9

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 147
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 12.8%
Industry: 29.4%
Services: 57.8% (2010 est.)

Agriculture products: rice sugarcane grains pulses oilseed spices vegetables fruit tea rubber coconuts; milk eggs hides beef; fish

Industries: processing of rubber tea coconuts tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications insurance banking; tourism shipping; clothing textiles; cement petroleum refining information technology services construction

Industrial production growth rate: 8.4% (2010 est.)
Rank: 38

Labor force: 8.074 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 56
By occupation agriculture: 32.7%
By occupation industry: 26.3%
By occupation services: 41% (December 2008 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.7% (2009 est.)
Rank: 52

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 23% (2008 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3.1%
Highest 10: 32.9% (2007)

Distribution of family income gini index: 46 (1995)
Rank: 61

Budget
Revenues: $7.386 billion
Expenditures: $11.32 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -7.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 185

Taxes and other revenues: 14.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 186

Public debt: 86.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 19

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.4% (2009 est.)
Rank: 162

Central bank discount rate: 15% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 14

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 15.67% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 43

Stock of narrow money: $2.871 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 103

Stock of broad money: $16.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 83

Stock of domestic credit: $16.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 80

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 71

Current account balance: -$291 million (2009 est.)
Rank: 155

Exports: $7.085 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 97
Commodities: textiles and apparel tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products fish
Partners: US 19.6% UK 10.4% Italy 5.1% India 4.9% Germany 4.9% Belgium 4.1% (2010)

Imports: $9.186 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 84
Commodities: petroleum textiles machinery and transportation equipment building materials mineral products foodstuffs
Partners: India 19.4% China 15.1% Singapore 9.1% Iran 7% Japan 4.9% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $5.358 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 77

Debt external: $17.21 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 75

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $NA

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 8.893 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Production rank: 93
Consumption: 7.885 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 93
Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 165
Consumption: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 131
Exports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 73
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 121

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 3.579 million (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 44
Mobile cellular: 17.359 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 49

Telephone system
General assessment: telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country
Domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing
International: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia Australia Middle East Europe US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Broadcast media: government operates 2 television channels and a radio network; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services are obtainable; 8 private TV stations and about a dozen private radio stations in operation (2008)

Internet
Country code: .lk
Hosts: 8,865 (2010)
Hosts rank: 131
Users: 1.777 million (2009)
Users rank: 77

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2006)
Rank: 56

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; 5-year service obligation (2010)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 18 (2010)
Rank: 140
With paved runways total: 14
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 6
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 4
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 3 (2010)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 1449 km
Rank: 80
Broad gauge: 1449 km 1.676-m gauge (2010)

Roadways
Total: 91,907 km
Rank: 52

Waterways: 160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2008)
Rank: 101

Merchant marine
Total: 22
Rank: 98
By type: bulk carrier 4 cargo 14 chemical tanker 1 petroleum tanker 3
Foreign owned: 5 (Germany 5) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Colombo


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Idps: 460,000 ) (2007)

Illicit drugs