General Information

Country Name

:

Conventional long form

:

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Conventional short form

:

Sri Lanka

Former

:

Ceylon

Size

:

Area

:

65,610 sq km

Length

:

445 km

Breadth

:

225 km

Capital

:

Sri Jayewardenepura

Commercial Capital

:

Colombo

Government

:

Sri Lanka, is a free, independent and sovereign nation with a population of 20.3 million (2011 est). Legislative power is exercised by a Parliament, elected by universal franchise on proportional representation basis. A President, who is also elected by the people, exercises executive power including defense. Sri Lanka enjoys a multi party system, and the people vote to elect a new government every six years.

Population

:

20.3 million

Population Density

:

296 people per sq km

Life Expectancy at Birth

:

76.4 female, 71.7 male (2001 est)

Literacy Rate

:

92.7%(2003 est)

Languages

:

Sinhala & Tamil is widely spoken throughout Sri Lanka.

Ethnic Mix

:

Sihalese, 74.9%; Tamil, 15.4%; Muslim 9.2%; Burgher (descendants of Dutch and Portuguese colonist) and others 0.5% (2012 est)

Religion

:

Buddhism 70.19%; Hinduism 12.61%; Christianity 7.45%; Islam 9.71%

Climate

:

Low lands – tropical, average 27°C Central Hills – cooler, with temperatures dropping to 14°C. The south-west monsoon brings rain to the western, southern and central regions from May to July., while the north-eastern monsoon occurs in the north and east in December and January. Sri Lanka boasts of a good climate for holiday-makers throughout the year.

Annual per capital GNP

:

US $2580 (2011 est)

Industries

:

Processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco.

Agriculture - Products

:

Rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, roots, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, meat.

Currency

:

Sri Lanka follows decimal currency systilable in the denominations of Rs. 2,10,20,50,100,200, 500,1000,2000, and 5000 in Rupees (Rs.) and cents (Cts.) with 100 cents equal to a rupee. Currency notes are avaCoins are issued in values of Cts.1,2,5,10, 25 and 50 and Rs.1,2,5 and 10. The intervention currency continuously will be the US Dollar.

Visa

:

Consult your local Sri Lanka embassy, consulate, tourist office or your travel agent.

Working Week

:

Sri Lanka works a five-day week, from Monday to Friday.

Business Hours

:

Government offices 8.35 a.m. – 4.15 p.m,, Monday to Friday

Banks

:

9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. or 3.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday

Post Office

:

8.30 a.m.- 5.00 p.m., Monday to Friday 8.30 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. on Saturday. The Central Mail Exchange, at D.R.Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo 10, (Telephone : 326203) is open 24-hours.

Location

:

An island off the south-eastern cost shores of India, 880 km north of the equator, in the Indian Ocean. It lies between 5° 55' and 9° 55' north of the equator and between the eastern longitudes 79° 42' and 81° 52'.

Feature

:

Encompassed beautiful tropical beaches, verdant vegetation, ancient monuments and a thousand delights to please all tastes. The relief features of the island consist of a mountainous mass somewhat south of the centre, with height exceeding 2,500 metres, surrounded by broad plains. Palm fringed beaches surround the island and the sea temperature rarely falls below 27°C.