World Atlas: Sri Lanka

Information about Sri Lanka

Here you can find online selected information about the geography, inhabitants, government, economy and history of Sri Lanka. Included are selected statistics, an overview map and the detailed map of Sri Lanka. But let's start with the flag of Sri Lanka here:

Sri Lanka - Overview:

What you should know about Sri Lanka? Let's start with this: The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (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 established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century and the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. 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. Both the LTTE and the government unofficially abrogated the ceasefire and violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006, but the government regained control of the Eastern Province in 2007. The government officially withdrew from the cease-fire agreement in January 2008 and by May 2009, the remnants of the LTTE had been defeated. 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. In addition to efforts at reconstructing its economy, the government has resettled more than 95% of those civilians displaced during the final phase of the conflict and released the vast majority of former LTTE combatants captured by Government Security Forces. Slow progress continues on more contentious and politically difficult issues such as reaching a political settlement with Tamil elected representatives and holding accountable those alleged to have been involved in human rights violations and other abuses during the conflict.

Geography of Sri Lanka

Where on the globe is Sri Lanka? The location of this country is Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India. Total area of Sri Lanka is 65,610 sq km, of which 64,630 sq km is land. So this is not a large country. How could we describe the terrain of the country? This way: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interio. The lowest point of Sri Lanka is Indian Ocean 0 m, the highest point Pidurutalagala 2,524 m. And the climate is tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October).

Inhabitants of Sri Lanka

Let's take a look how many people live in Sri Lanka. The number is: 22,409,381 (July 2017 est.). So quite a lot people live here. Who lives here? Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.). What are the languages in Sri Lanka? Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (official and national language) 18%, other 8%. And the religions: Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.). How old are the people in average? 32.8 years. We have to add that this number is the median - so one half of the people is older than this, one half is younger. And what is their life expectancy (at birth)? This: 76.9 years. Where the people live in Sri Lanka? Here: the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north. The major urban areas of Sri Lanka are: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) 128,000 (2014); Colombo (capital) 707,000 (2015).

Government and Economy of Sri Lanka

The capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (administrative capital) and the government type presidential republic. Let's take a look at the administrative divisions - 9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western. Regarding the economy of Sri Lanka, important industrial products are processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction. Important agricultural products are rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, vegetables, fruit, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish. The most important export commodities are textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish and the most important export partners are US 27.3%, UK 10.2%, India 7.3%, Germany 5%, Italy 4.2% (2016). The most important import commodities are petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs and the most important import partners are India 21.7%, China 12.1%, UAE 6.1%, Singapore 5.9%, Japan 5.4% (2016). How rich is Sri Lanka and how rich are people in this country? The most important number here is GDP per capita (PPP): $13,000 (2017 est.). This is quite good. Let's add that this means Gross Domestic Product per person, which is recalculated with respect to the relative cost of local goods and services. And one more important number - population below poverty line: 6.7% (2012 est.).

Map of Sri Lanka