SRI LANKA - FACTS AT A GLANCE
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
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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.
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, 1000 and 2000. 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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