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 enacted an ambitious program of economic development projects many of which are financed by loans from the Government of China. In addition to efforts to reconstruct its economy the government has resettled more than 95% of those civilians who were displaced during the final phase of the conflict and released the vast majority of former LTTE combatants captured by Government Security Forces. At the same time there has been little progress on more contentious and politically difficult issues such as reaching a political settlement with Tamil elected representatives and holding accountable those alleged to have been involved in human rights violations and other abuses during the conflict.


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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

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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1340 km

Maritime claims
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 highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Natural resources: limestone graphite mineral sands gems phosphates clay hydropower

Land use
Permanent crops: 14.94%
Other: 66.77% (2011)

Irrigated land: 5,700 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 52.8 km³ (2011)

Natural hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Geography
Note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes


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Population: 21,866,445 (July 2014 est.)
Rank: 57
Growth rate: 0.86% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 130
Below poverty line: 8.9% (2010 est.)

Nationality
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%

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

Demographic profile

Age structure
15-24 years: 14.9% (male 1,651,901/female 1,606,465)
25-54 years: 42.1% (male 4,504,395/female 4,708,288)
55-64 years: 9.5% (male 966,295/female 1,117,310)
65 years and over: 8.7% (male 812,669/female 1,092,689) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 38.1 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 13.2 %
Potential support ratio: 7.6 (2014 est.)

Median age
Male: 30.6 years
Female: 32.9 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.86% (2014 est.)
Rank: 130

Birth rate: 16.24 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 122

Death rate: 6.06 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 163

Net migration rate: -1.54 migrant(s)/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 157

Population distribution

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 1.36% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: COLOMBO (capital) 693,000; Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) 126,000 (2011)

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 signed but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 25.4

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 147
Male: 9.98 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 8.02 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 83
Male: 72.85 years
Female: 79.99 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.13 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 107

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 68% (2006/07)

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 0.49 physicians/1000 population (2006)

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

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2012 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 144
People living with hivaids: 3,000 (2012 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 134
Deaths: 200 (2012 est.)
Deaths rank: 113

Major infectious diseases
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
Vectorborne disease: dengue fever
Water contact disease: leptospirosis
Animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 5.1% (2008)
Rank: 155

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 21.6% (2009)
Rank: 28

Education expenditures: 1.7% of GDP (2012)
Rank: 168

Literacy
Total population: 91.2%
Male: 92.6%
Female: 90% (2010 census)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 13 years
Female: 14 years (2012)

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional short form: Sri Lanka
Local long form: Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu
Local short form: Shri Lanka/Ilankai
Former: Serendib Ceylon

Government type: republic

Capital
Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N 79 50 E
Time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)

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: several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978 certified 31 August 1978; amended many times last in 2010 (2010)

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
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 eligible for a second term; election last held on 26 January 2010 (next to be held in 2016)
Election results: Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA re-elected president; percent of vote - Mahinda Percy 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 1.34%; 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
Judge selection and term of office: the chief justice appointed by the president; the other justices appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; all justices hold office until age 65
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrate's Courts; municipal and primary courts

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: ABEDA ADB ARF BIMSTEC C CD CP FAO G-11 G-15 G-24 G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (national committees) ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) 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 (NGOs) 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 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
Lyrics and music: Ananda SAMARKONE

National heritage


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Economy overview: Sri Lanka continues to experience strong economic growth following the end of the 26-year conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The government has been pursuing large-scale reconstruction and development projects in its efforts to spur growth in war-torn and disadvantaged areas develop small and medium enterprises and increase agricultural productivity. The government's high debt payments and bloated civil service have contributed to historically high budget deficits but fiscal consolidation efforts and strong GDP growth in recent years have helped bring down the government's fiscal deficit. However low tax revenues are a major concern. The 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession exposed Sri Lanka's economic vulnerabilities and nearly caused a balance of payments crisis. Agriculture slowed due to a drought and weak global demand affected exports and trade. In early 2012 Sri Lanka floated the rupee resulting in a sharp depreciation and took steps to curb imports. A large trade deficit remains a concern but strong remittances from Sri Lankan workers abroad help offset the trade deficit. Government debt of about 80% of GDP remains among the highest in emerging markets.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 65

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 32

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 145

Gross national saving:
Rank: 39

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 13.2%
Investment in fixed capital: 29%
Investment in inventories: 1.7%
Exports of goods and services: 20.1%
Imports of goods and services: -33.7%: (2013 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 32.4%
Services: 57% (2013 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: 10% (2013 est.)
Rank: 15

Labor force: 8.528 million (2013 est.)
Rank: 55
By occupation industry: 25.8%
By occupation services: 42.4% (June 2012)

Unemployment rate: 4% (2012 est.)
Rank: 49

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 8.9% (2010 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: 39.5% (2009)

Distribution of family income gini index: 46 (1995)
Rank: 22

Budget
Expenditures: $12.57 billion (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -6.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 182

Taxes and other revenues: 12.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 201

Public debt: 79.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 29

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 9.2% (2012 est.)
Rank: 152

Central bank discount rate: 7.5% (19 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 35

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 14.4% (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 44

Stock of narrow money: $3.539 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 111

Stock of broad money: $20.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 81

Stock of domestic credit: $28.86 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 69

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 62

Current account balance: -$3.931 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 151

Exports: $9.774 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 93
Commodities: textiles and apparel tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products fish
Partners: US 20.4% UK 9.9% India 5.8% Italy 4.7% Belgium 4.3% Germany 4.3% (2012)

Imports: $19.19 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 81
Commodities: petroleum textiles machinery and transportation equipment building materials mineral products foodstuffs
Partners: India 22.7% Singapore 8.8% UAE 7.7% China 7% Iran 6.1% Malaysia 4.5% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $6.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 83

Debt external: $29.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 70

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $N/A

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $N/A

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 11.8 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Production rank: 92
Consumption: 8.927 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Consumption rank: 91
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 116
Imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 126
Installed generating capacity: 2.685 million kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 94
Generation sources fossil fuels: 53.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 146
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 61
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 44.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 54
Generation sources other renewable sources: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 77

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 159
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 95
Crude oil imports: 36,380 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 60
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 115

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 35,440 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 86
Products consumption: 89,620 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 81
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 163
Products imports: 44,270 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 73

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Production rank: 113
Consumption: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 130
Exports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 77
Imports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 172
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 122

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 13.1 million Mt (2011 est.)

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 2.796 million (2013)
Main lines in use rank: 52
Mobile cellular: 19.533 million (2013)
Mobile cellular rank: 51

Telephone system
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) (2011)

Broadcast media: government operates 8 TV channels and a radio network; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 35 private TV stations and about 50 radio stations (2012)

Internet
Country code: .lk
Hosts: 9,552 (2012)
Hosts rank: 136
Users: 1.777 million (2009)
Users rank: 77

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures:
Rank: 30

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 5-year service obligation (Air Force) (2012)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 19 (2013)
Rank: 138
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 6
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways: 3 (2013)

Heliports: 1 (2013)

Pipelines

Railways
Rank: 80
Broad gauge: 1449 km 1.676-m gauge (2007)

Roadways
Rank: 41
Paved: 16,977 km
Unpaved: 97,116 km (2010)

Waterways: 160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2012)
Rank: 101

Merchant marine
Rank: 94
By type: bulk carrier 4 cargo 13 chemical tanker 1 container 1 petroleum tanker 2
Foreign owned: 8 (Germany 8) (2010)

Ports and terminals
Container port: Colombo (3,651,963)


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs