Background: The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (from about 200 B.C. to about A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about A.D. 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a South Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century, followed 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; the name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Fighting between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued for over a quarter-century. Although Norway brokered peace negotiations that led to a cease-fire in 2002, the fighting slowly resumed and was again in full force by 2006. The government defeated the LTTE in 2009. During the post-conflict years under then-President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, the government initiated infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from China. His regime faced allegations of human rights violations and a shrinking democratic space for civil society. In 2015, a new coalition government headed by President Maithripala SIRISENA of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE of the United National Party came to power with pledges to advance economic, political, and judicial reforms. However, implementation of these reforms was uneven. In 2019, Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA won the presidential election and appointed his brother Mahinda prime minister. Civil society raised concerns about the RAJAPAKSA administration’s commitment to pursuing justice, human rights, and accountability reforms, as well as the risks to foreign creditors that Sri Lanka faced given its ongoing economic crisis. A combination of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic; severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel; and power outages triggered increasingly violent protests in Columbo beginning in 2022. In response, WICKREMESINGHE -- who had already served as prime minister five times -- was named to replace the prime minister, but he became president within a few months when Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA fled the country.

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

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 1,340 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
Highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 228 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 48.6% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 22.2% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 19.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Forest: 34.4% (2023 est.)
Other: 16.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 5,700 km² (2012)

Natural hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Geography
Note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes; Adam's Bridge is a chain of limestone shoals between the southeastern coast of India and the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka; geological evidence suggests that this 50-km (31-mi) bridge once connected India and Sri Lanka; ancient records seem to indicate that a foot passage was possible between the two land masses until the 15th century, when the land bridge broke up in a cyclone

Population
Total: 21,982,608 (2024 est.)
Male: 10,642,043
Female: 11,340,565
Distribution: the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north
Growth rate: 0.39% (2024 est.)

Languages: Sinhala (official) 87%, Tamil (official) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)
Note: data represent main languages spoken by the population aged 10 years and older; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; English is commonly used in government and is referred to as the 'link language' in the constitution

Religions: Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 22.6% (male 2,537,918/female 2,423,615)
15-64 years: 65% (male 6,954,869/female 7,336,897)
65 years and over: 12.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,149,256/female 1,580,053)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 53.8 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 34.7 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 19.1 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 5.2 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 34.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 32.2 years
Female: 35.8 years

Population growth rate: 0.39% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 14.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north

Urbanization
Urban population: 19.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 103,000 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) (2018), 633,000 COLOMBO (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 18 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 73.7 years
Female: 79.9 years

Total fertility rate: 2.13 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 12.8% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 10.7% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 17.1% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5% (2024 est.); 6% (2023 est.); 4.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Colombo (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)
Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 79 50 E
Time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the origin of Colombo's name is unclear; it may derive from the Sinhalese words kola (leaves) and amba (mango), referring to local mango trees, or from the name Kelantotta, referring to a ferry that crossed the Kelani River; the name was corrupted to Kolambu by Arab traders, and 16th-century Portuguese settlers then called it Colombo, possibly referring to explorer Christopher COLUMBUS; the legislative capital's name, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, is composed of the Sanskrit honorific sri, the name of Sri Lankan President J.R. JAYEWARDENE, and the Hindi word pura (town)

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

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

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (since 23 September 2024)
Head of government: Prime Minister Harini AMARASURIYA (since 24 September 2024)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by preferential majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
Most recent election date: 21 September 2024
2024: Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE elected president; percent of vote after reallocation - Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (JVP) 55.9%, Sajith PREMADASA (SJB) 44.1%
2022: Ranil WICKREMESINGHE elected president by Parliament on 20 July 2022; Parliament vote - WICKREMESINGHE (UNP) 134, Dullas ALAHAPPERUMA (SLPP) 82
Expected date of next election: 2,029

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 225 (196 directly elected; 29 indirectly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 5 years
Most recent election date: 11/14/2024
Parties elected and seats per party: National People's Power (Jathika Jana Balawegaya, NPP) (159); Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) (40); Other (26)
Percentage of women in chamber: 9.8%
Expected date of next election: November 2,029

Flag description: yellow with two panels; the smaller panel on the left has two equal vertical bands of green (left side) and orange; the larger panel has a yellow lion holding a sword on a maroon field, with a yellow bo leaf in each corner

National anthem
Title: 'Sri Lanka Matha' (Mother Sri Lanka)
Lyrics/music: Ananda SAMARKONE (Sinhala),M. NALLATHAMBY (Tamil)/Ananda SAMARKONE
History: adopted 1951

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 8 (6 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 5% (2024 est.); -2.3% (2023 est.); -7.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 5% (2024 est.); -2.3% (2023 est.); -7.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 68.7% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 7% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 18.8% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 8.2% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 19.9% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -22.5% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 8.3% (2024 est.)
Industry: 25.5% (2024 est.)
Services: 57.5% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; tourism; clothing and textiles; mining

Industrial production growth rate: 11% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 8.499 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 5% (2024 est.); 6% (2023 est.); 4.6% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5% (2024 est.); 6% (2023 est.); 4.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $9.387 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $17.144 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 9.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $17.327 billion (2023 est.); $16.169 billion (2022 est.); $14.974 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: garments, tea, precious stones, used rubber tires, rubber products (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $18.823 billion (2023 est.); $19.244 billion (2022 est.); $21.526 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, fabric, crude petroleum, packaged medicine, cotton fabric (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 5.326 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 15.763 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.457 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 49.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 40.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 2.323 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 2.238 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 100,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 19.153 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 5.15 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 14.003 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 12.372 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1.707 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 30 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 143 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 51% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 2.01 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.9% of GDP (2021 est.); 2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 18 (2025)

Heliports: 1 (2025)

Railways
Total: 1,562 km (2016)
Broad gauge: 1,562 km (2016) 1.676-m gauge

Merchant marine
Total: 96 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 5, general cargo 15, oil tanker 11, other 65