| Country
Name |
| Conventional long form: Democratic
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka |
conventional short form: Sri
Lanka
former: Ceylon |
|
| Size |
65,525
sq km |
| Capital |
Sri Jayawardenepura |
| Commercial
Capital |
Colombo |
| Government |
Sri Lanka,
is a free, independent and sovereign nation with a
population of 18.774 million (1998 mid year estimates).
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 defense. 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 mast 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 Mr. Ananda Samarakoon. |
 |
Click on the Speaker Icon to listen
to a few bars of the Anthem |
|
|
| National Flower |
| the Blue Water Lily
(Nymphaea stellata) is the National Flower. |
 |
|
| Population |
19 million |
| Population
density |
309 people
per sq km |
| Life
expectancy at birth |
74 female,
64 male |
| Literacy
rate |
91.8% |
| Languages |
Sinhala
& Tamil English is widely spoken throughout Sri
Lanka, with the exception of remote villages. |
| Ethnic
mix |
Sihalese-
74 per cent; Tamil- 18 per cent; Muslim -7 per cent;
Burgher (descendants of Dutch and Portuguese colonist)
and others- 1 per cent |
| Religion |
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 occurs in the
north and east in December and January. Sri Lanka
has a good climate 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. 2,10,20,50,100,200,
500 and 1000. Coins 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 |
Residents
from countries are issued visas on arrival. 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 9.00 a.m. -5.00 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. |
|
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