Facts at a glance

Facts at a glance

Country Name Sri Lanka
Size 65,525 sq km
Location An island off the south-eastern cost shores of India, 880 km north of the equator, in the Indian Ocean.

Capital Sri Jayawardenepura
Commercial Capital Colombo
Government
Sri Lanka is a free, independent and sovereign nation with a population of 20,926,315 (July 2007 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 inclusive of defence. Sri Lanka enjoys a multi party system, and the people vote to elect a new government every six years.
National Flag
National Flag of Sri Lanka is the Lion Flag. A Lion bearing a sword in its right hand is depicted in gold on red background with a yellow border. Four Bo leaves pointing inwards are at the four corners. Two vertical bands of green and orange at the left end represent the minority ethnic groups. It is an adaptation of the standard of the last King of Sri Lanka.
National Anthem
"Sri Lanka Matha" composed by late Ananda Samarakoon.
Click on the Speaker Icon to listen to a few bars of the Anthem
National Flower The Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea stellata).
Population 20,926,315 million
Population growth rate 1.3%
Population Density 309 people per sq km
Life Expectancy at Birth 74 female, 64 male
Literacy rate :-
Female 87.9
Male 92.5
Highest waterfall
bambarakanda 241 meters
Highest Peak Piduruthalagala 2524 m
Longest river Mahaweli 335 Km
Rainy Season S W Monsoon( May to August )
NE Monsoon (November -Feb)
Languages
Sinhala, Tamil and English are widely spoken throughout Sri Lanka, with the exception of remote villages where it might be Sinhala only or Tamil only.
Ethnic Groups
Sinhalese- 74 per cent; Tamil- 18 per cent; Muslim -7 per cent; Burgher (descendants of Dutch and Portuguese colonist) and others- 1 per cent
Religions
Buddhism- 70 per cent; Hinduism- 16 per cent; Christianity- 7 per cent; Islam-7 per cent
Climate
Low Lands – tropical, average 27C
Central Hills – cooler, with temperatures dropping to 14C. The south-west monsoon brings rain to the western, southern and central regions from May to July, while the north-eastern monsoon is from December t0 January. Sri Lanka climate is ideal for holiday-makers throughout the year.
Annual per capita GNP US$870
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 system in Rupees (Rs.) and cents (Cts.) with 100 cents equal to a rupee. Currency notes are available in the denominations of Rs.10,20,50,100,200, 50, 1000 & 2000. Coins are issued in values of Cts. 25 and 50 and Rs.1,2,5 and 10. The intervention currency continuously will be the US Dollar.
Visa
Residents from permitted countries are issued visas on arrival. Consult your local Sri Lanka embassy, consulate, tourist office or your travel agent.
Working Days Five working days (Monday to Friday)
Business Hours Government offices 9.00 am. -5.00 pm, Monday to Friday
Banks 9.00 am. to 1.00pm. or 3.00pm
Monday to Saturday
Post Office 8.30am- 5.00pm
Monday to Friday
8.30am – 1.00pm on Saturday. The Central Mail Exchange, at D.R.Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo 10, (Telephone : 2326203) is open 24-hours.