One World
Nations Online

Sri Lanka flag detail
Home Earth Continents Asia Sri Lanka

 
View from Sigiriya, Matale District, Sri Lanka
The ‎archaeological remains of the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka.
Image: Eleleleven
 

___ Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Flag
Flag of Sri Lanka
Location map of Sri Lanka. Where in Asia is Sri Lanka?
Location map of Sri Lanka
Destination Sri Lanka, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located between the Laccadive Sea in west and the Bay of Bengal in east. The island is situated about 30 km (19 mi) south east of the southern coast of India. Sri Lanka consists of a main island and a number of smaller islands. Until 1972 the country was known as Ceylon.

The islands cover an area of 65,610 km², compared the country is about 1.5 times the size of Denmark, or slightly larger than the U.S. state West Virginia.

Sri Lanka has a population of 21.2 million people (in 2016), capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, a satellite city of Sri Lanka's largest city Colombo. Spoken languages are Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (a national language) 18%, other 8%, about 10 % of the population speak English as a second language.


Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka


Country Profile



Background:
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 (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire in February 2002, with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006, but neither side has formally withdrawn from the cease-fire.

In May 2009 government forces defeated the LTTE. Since the end of the conflict, the government has enacted an ambitious program of economic development projects, many of which are financed by loans from the Government of China.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

related countries: China, India, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom
 
 

Official Name:
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
short form: Sri Lanka
in Tamil: Ilankai
former: Serendib, Ceylon

ISO Country Code: lk, lka

Actual Time: Mon-Mar-18  05:38
Local Time = UTC +6h

Country Calling Code: +94

Capital: Colombo (pop. 1.3 million--urban area)
(former names: Kalan-totta, Kola-amba-thota)
The city of Sri Jayewardenepura-Kotte is the officially designated capital city and is the seat of Sri Lanka's Parliament, but it is currently just the administrative center.

Other Cities:
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia (210 000), Moratuwa (200 000), Kandy (150 000), Jaffna (100 000), Galle (80 000), Anuradhapura (50 000).

Government:
Type: Republic
Independence: 4 February 1948 (from the UK)
Constitution: 31 August 1978.

Geography:
Location: Asia, south of the Indian subcontinent.
Area: 65,610 km² (25,332 sq. mi.)
Terrain: Coastal plains in the northern third of country; hills and mountains in south-central Sri Lanka rise to 2 133 meters (7 000 ft.).

Climate: Tropical; rainy seasons--light in northeast, fall and winter, with average rainfall of 50 in.; heavy in southwest, summer and fall, with average rainfall of 200 in.

People:
Nationality: Sri Lankan(s).
Population: 21.2 million (2016)
GNI per capita PPP: $ 4145 (year)
Ethnic groups: Sinhalese (74%), Tamils (18%), Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%.
Religions: Buddhism (69%), Hinduism (15%), Christianity (8%), and Islam (7%).
Languages: Sinhala and Tamil (official), English.
Literacy: 91%

Natural resources:
Agricultural products: Paddy, maha, yala, rubber, tea, coconut.

Agriculture products: Rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef.

Industries: Rubber processing, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco.

Exports - commodities: textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish.

Exports - partners: USA 26%, UK 9%, India 7.2%, Germany 4.3% (2015)

Imports - commodities: petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs.

Imports - partners: India 24.6%, China 20.6%, UAE 7.2%, Singapore 5.9%, Japan 5.7% (2015)

Currency: Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR)

Sri Lanka in numbers
Sri Lanka key statistical data.


Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Official Sites of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Government
The official web portal of the government of Sri Lanka.

President of Sri Lanka
The official website of the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Parliament
The Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides information on Sri Lanka.

Diplomatic Missions
Embassy of Sri Lanka in the U.S.
Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C.
Sri Lanka Missions Abroad
Address list of Sri Lankan Missions.
Diplomatic Missions in Sri Lanka
List of foreign embassies in Sri Lanka.

Statistics
Department of Census and Statistics
Sri Lanka in figures.

Weather
Meteorological Department - Sri Lanka
Weather Forecasts and Astronomical Information.


Maps

profile Sri Lanka Administrative Map
Administrative Map of Sri Lanka.
profile Sri Lanka Map
Reference map of Sri Lanka.
Google Earth Google Earth Sri Lanka
Searchable map and satellite view of Sri Lanka.
Google Earth Google Earth Colombo
Searchable map and satellite view of Sri Lanka's capital city.

Map of Southeast Asia
Map of the Southeast Asia region.
profile Map of Asia
Reference Map of Asia.

Elephants in the rain in Kaudulla National Park
Elephants in the Kaudulla National Park, in the drought period Sri Lankan elephants move to the Minneriya lake to drink and feed. The Elephant is the national animal of Sri Lanka.
Image: Christophe Meneboeuf
 
 

News from Sri Lanka


Colombo Page
Sri Lankan Internet Newspaper.
Daily Mirror
Sri Lankan news paper.
Daily News
The widest coverage in Sri Lanka (Lake House Newspapers).
The Island
Daily national and international news.
Lanka Business Online
Sri Lanka businesse news.
Official Sri Lanka News
by the Department of Information - Sri Lanka.

The Sunday Observer
(by Lake House Newspapers)
The Sunday Times
Weekly News

TamilNet
With news related to the conflict of the Tamil people with the predominantly Sinhalese government.

Sinhala Newspapers:
Divaina
Lakbima

Radio
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
Radio Ceylon.

International News Sources
BBC News Country Profile: Sri Lanka
With links to Sri Lanka related news and background information.
Reuters AlertNet - Sri Lanka
Reuters news.


Human Rights
Amnesty International: Sri Lanka
Amnesty International Reports.
Human Rights Watch: Sri Lanka
Background Briefings.
IRINnews Sri Lanka
UN humanitarian news and analysis.

Press freedom
Reporters sans frontières - Sri Lanka
Annual report about Press freedom in the country.
 

Bookmark/share this page
Instagram

 

Arts & Culture


National Library of Sri Lanka
The National Library and Documentation Centre.

Pandith Amaradeva (dead link)
Master musician and most influential force in Sri Lankan music (died 3 November 2016 (aged 88)).

Sports
Sri Lankan Cricket
The Official Home of Sri Lankan Cricket.

Language

Sinhala-english dictionary
Online dictionary for sinhala, singhalese.
Sinhala and Tamil fonts
Free fonts for download.

Native

WWW Virtual Library - Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan People and Ethnic Groups.
Veddhas: The unspoilt children of nature
Sri Lanka's aboriginal inhabitants.

Tamil

EelamWeb
The Tamil point of view.
TamilNet
Issues concerning the Tamil people and developments in the war-torn northeast.
 
Mihintale, Sri Lanka
Mihintale, the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
© Sri Lanka Tourist Board
 

Business & Economy


__Banks
Central Bank of Sri Lanka
National Development Bank of Sri Lanka
Promotes the industrial, agricultural and commercial development in Sri Lanka.

__Chambers of Commerce
National Chamber of Commerce

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

__Import and Export
Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association
Import and Export Control Department
Sri Lanka Export Development Board - EDB
Sri Lanka Business Portal of the premier state organisation dealing with the promotion and development of exports.

__Investment
Board of Investment of Sri Lanka

__Sri Lanka Products
Sri Lanka Teaboard
Akbar
Largest exporter of Ceylon tea.
Dilmah
Ceylon Tea.
Mabroc Teas
Trading and marketing of Ceylon Tea.

__Sri Lanka business news
Lanka Business Online
SL business news.

__Yellow Pages
Lanka Link
Sri Lanka's largest web directory and search engine.
Sri Lanka Yellow Pages

__Transportation
Airline
Sri Lankan Airlines
The former Sri Lankan flag carrier Air Lanka. Site provides flight schedules, reservations, vacation information and more.

__Port
Sri Lanka Ports Authority
Sri Lanka has four commercial sea ports, Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee and Kankasanthurai. These ports are managed by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
 

Girl selling coconuts, Sri Lanka
Girl selling coconuts
© Sri Lanka Tourist Board
 
Stupa and sitting Buddhas in the cave monasteries of Dambulla, Sri Lanka
Stupa with sitting Buddhas in the Dambulla cave monasteries in Sri Lanka.
Image: Lankapic

Travel and Tour Consumer Information


Destination Sri Lanka - Travel and Tour Guides


Discover Sri Lanka also known as Serendib the "resplendent land": the "harbour with mango trees" Colombo (Kola-amba-thota), Dambulla, Galle, Jaffna (Yazhppanam), Kandy (Kanda Uda Rata), Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya.
Links to accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards, adventure, ayurveda, buddhism, temples, elephant riding, and much more.


Sri Lanka Tourist Board
The Ceylon Tourist Board web sIte provides travel and tourism information.

atSriLanka
A travel portal with comprehensive information on travel and tourism in Sri Lanka.

info.lk
Sri Lankan community portal with broad information on country and society.

Sri Lanka Web Server
Sri Lanka portal.

Sri Lanka UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Golden Temple of Dambulla
Site about the Royal Rock Temple of Dambulla, a sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries.

Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993.

Ancient City of Sigiriya
The 'Mount of Remembrance' Sigiriya or Sihigiriya, the ancient rock fortress near Dambulla, the former capital of Sri Lanka, it was built by King Kassapa (or Kasyapa).


City Guides
Jaffna
Site with comprehensive information about the city of Jaffna.

Kandy City
Official website of Kandy, the city formerly named Senkadagalapura or Kanda Uda Rata.
Sri Dalada Maligawa 
Official web site of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic; Kandy.

 

Sri Lanka Kandy Perahera
Kandy Perahera Pageant
© Sri Lanka Tourist Board

 
Deepavali Festival, Sri Lanka
Deepavali Festival
© Sri Lanka Tourist Board
 

Education


Lanka Academic Network
Our mission is to enhance educational opportunities in Sri Lanka
University of Colombo
The oldest campus in Sri Lanka
University of Moratuwa
The University has its origins in the Ceylon Technical College of Maradana, which was established in 1893
University of Peradeniya
Successor to the University of Ceylon, the first institution of its kind in the country, founded in 1942.

Science and Research
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Initiate, facilitate and support scientific research by universities, science and technology institutions and scientists.
 
Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka
Monk at Yapahuwa
© Sri Lanka Tourist Board
 

Environment & Nature


Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society
Organization to conserve and preserve the dwindling biodiversity of Sri Lanka.
The Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's leading biodiversity exploration and research institution and natural- history publisher.
 
 
 

History


Sri Lanka History
Wikipedia an overview of the various periods of Sri Lanka's history.
History & Archaeology - Sri Lanka Explorer
Links to history of Ceylon/Sri Lanka
great site History & Archaeology
by WWW Virtual Library Sri Lanka.
The People of Sri Lanka ... a historical perspective
History of Sri Lanka and its people.
Sri Lanka: The untold story
Background information about Sri Lanka's cultural and social development by Asia Times.
 
Rock Temple Dambulla, Sri Lanka
A Buddha of the Royal Rock Temple Dambulla
© goldenchannelsrilanka.org

 
 

Search

InfoLanka
A gateway to Sri Lanka.
Lanka Link
Sri Lanka's largest web directory and search engine.
Our Lanka
Sri Lanka web directory.

Sources and additional Information on Sri Lanka


Amnesty International: Sri Lanka

BBC Country profile: Sri Lanka

Human Development Reports (HDR): Sri Lanka

Human Rights Watch: Sri Lanka

globalEDGE: Sri Lanka

The Heritage Foundation: Sri Lanka

OEC: Sri Lanka

Reporters Without Borders: Sri Lanka

Wikipedia: Sri Lanka

CIA World Factbook -- Sri Lanka

WWW Virtual Library - Sri Lanka
 
 Support UNICEF

Other Countries in South Central Asia:
AfghanistanBangladesh | Bhutan | India | Iran | Kazakhstan | Kyrgyzstan
Maldives | Nepal | Pakistan | Tajikistan | Turkmenistan | Uzbekistan
 
Major Cities in Southern Central Asia
Chandigarh, Chennai, Colombo, Dhaka, New Delhi, Islamabad, Karachi, Kathmandu, Kolkata,
Lahore, Male, Mumbai, Thimphu,
 
 
up