General Information

Country Name

:

Conventional long form

:

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Conventional short form

:

Sri lanka

Former

:

Ceylon

distance

:

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.

the 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, a language of Indo-Aryan origin is the language of the majority. Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in North-east Sri Lanka. English is widely spoken and understood. Place names and sign-boards on buses and trains are usually in all three languages.

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 Sat.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 am - 4.15 pm ,, Monday to Friday

Banks

:

9.00 am to 1.00 pm or 3.00 pm Monday to Saturday

Post Office

:

8.30 am- 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday 8.30 am - 1.00 pm on Saturday. The Central Mail Exchange, at DRWijewardene 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 center, with height exceeding 2,500 meters, surrounded by broad plains. Palm fringed beaches surround the island and the sea temperature rarely falls below 27 ° C.