| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Asia |
| Geographical Location |
7° 00' North Latitude
81° 00' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
65,610 sq km |
| Climate |
Tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October) |
| Natural Resources |
Limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka |
| Capital City |
Colombo; Note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital |
| Government Type |
Republic |
| Administrative Divisions |
8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western;
Note - North Eastern province may have been divided in two - Northern and Eastern |
| Independence Day |
4 February 1948 (from UK) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
20,064,776 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
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) |
| Religion |
Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, 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 |
| Population Growth Rate |
0.79% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Sri Lankan rupee (LKR) |
| Industries |
Rubber processing, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, and banking; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco |
| Labor Force |
7.26 million (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 38%, industry 17%, services 45% (1998 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef |
| Export Commodities |
Textiles and apparel; tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products; rubber manufactures, fish |
| Export Partners |
US 31%, UK 12.9%, India 5.1%, Belgium 4.9%, Germany 4.9% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Textile fabrics, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and transportation equipment |
| Import Partners |
India 14%, Singapore 8%, China 7.6%, Hong Kong 5.9%, Malaysia 4.6%, Japan 4.6% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
1,449 km |
| Highways |
11,650 km |
| Pipelines |
- |
| Airports |
14 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+94 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.lk |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning 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 seized power in the north and established a Tamil kingdom. Occupied 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 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. Tens of thousands have died in an ethnic conflict that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting,
the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam formalized a cease-fire in February 2002, with Norway brokering peace negotiations. |
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