About Sri Lanka
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 tens of thousands of internally displaced persons and has undertaken a number of massive infrastructure projects to reconstruct its economy.
Geography ::Sri Lanka
Location:
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Geographic coordinates:
7 00 N, 81 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 65,610 sq km
country comparison to the world: 122
land: 64,630 sq km
water: 980 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
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 extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
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 sq km (2008)
Total renewable water resources:
50 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 12.61 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%)
per capita: 608 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
occasional cyclones and tornadoes
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
Environment - 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
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
People ::Sri Lanka
Population:
21,283,913 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.9% (male 2,705,953/female 2,599,717)
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.)
Median age:
total: 30.8 years
male: 29.7 years
female: 31.8 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.934% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Birth rate:
17.42 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Death rate:
5.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Net migration rate:
-2.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Urbanization:
urban population: 14% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities - population:
COLOMBO (capital) 681,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/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.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 149
male: 10.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.73 years
country comparison to the world: 81
male: 72.21 years
female: 79.38 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.2 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
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)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 98% of population
rural: 88% of population
total: 90% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2% of population
rural: 12% of population
total: 10% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 88% of population
rural: 92% of population
total: 91% of population
unimproved:
urban: 12% of population
rural: 8% of population
total: 9% of population (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Sri Lankan(s)
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)
Religions:
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
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)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Sri Lanka
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
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005); 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
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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]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE [P. SIVAPARAN, Chief of International Secretariat; V. RUDRAKUMARAN, legal advisor]; note - this insurgent group suffered military defeat in May 2009; some cadres remain scattered throughout country;
other: Buddhist clergy; labor unions; radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups
International organization participation:
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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaliya Chitran WICKRAMASURIYA
chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028
FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia A. BUTENIS
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500
FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345
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 anthem:
name: "Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka)
lyrics/music: Ananda SAMARKONE
note: adopted 1951
Economy ::Sri Lanka
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 growth rates in the postwar period.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$106.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$97.6 billion (2009 est.)
$94.02 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$49.68 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
3.8% (2009 est.)
6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
$4,600 (2009 est.)
$4,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.8%
industry: 29.4%
services: 57.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
8.074 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 32.7%
industry: 26.3%
services: 41% (December 2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
5.7% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
23% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 39.7% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 26
46 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
27.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Budget:
revenues: $7.386 billion
expenditures: $11.32 billion (2010 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
14.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-7.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Public debt:
81.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
86.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
3.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
7.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 20
15% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
15.67% (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$4.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$3.628 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money:
$19.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$16.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$19.02 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$16.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$8.133 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 85
$4.326 billion (31 December 2008)
$7.553 billion (31 December 2007)
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.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Electricity - production:
9.901 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Electricity - consumption:
8.417 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Oil - consumption:
90,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Oil - exports:
968.4 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Oil - imports:
87,690 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Current account balance:
-$1.691 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
-$291 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$8.039 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$7.085 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish
Exports - partners:
US 20.5%, UK 12.8%, Italy 5.5%, Germany 5.3%, Belgium 4.4%, India 4% (2009)
Imports:
$12 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$9.186 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
India 17.5%, China 15.9%, Singapore 7.7%, Iran 7.1% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$7.22 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$5.358 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$17.81 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$17.35 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -
113.36 (2010)
114.95 (2009)
108.33 (2008)
110.78 (2007)
103.99 (2006)
Communications ::Sri Lanka
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.523 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 45
Telephones - mobile cellular:
15.868 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 46
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
Internet hosts:
8,865 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 131
Internet users:
1.777 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 77
Transportation ::Sri Lanka
Airports:
18 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 140
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Railways:
total: 1,449 km
country comparison to the world: 80
broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2010)
Roadways:
total: 91,907 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 53
Waterways:
160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 101
Merchant marine:
total: 22
country comparison to the world: 98
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 3
foreign-owned: 5 (Germany 5) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Colombo
Military ::Sri Lanka
Military branches:
Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 5-year service obligation (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,342,147
females age 16-49: 5,466,409 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,177,432
females age 16-49: 4,574,833 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 167,026
female: 162,587 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 56
Transnational Issues ::Sri Lanka
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 460,000 (both Tamils and non-Tamils displaced due to long-term civil war between the government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)) (2007)
