Official Name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Capitals :
Colombo – (Commercial Capital)
Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte – (legislative capital)
Population : (2023 est.) 22,638,000
Currency: Sri Lankan rupee
Government Type: presidential republic
Official Languages: Sinhala, Tamil
Recognized Languages: English
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $296.595 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita : $13,400 (2021 est.)
Area :
Total: 65,610 sq km
Land: 64,630 sq km
Water: 980 sq km
Ethnic Groups :
Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Muslims 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, others 0.5% (2012 est.)
Religions :
Buddist (official) 70.2%, Hindhu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, others Christian 1.3%, others 0.05% (2012 est.)
Administrative Divisions | Nine Provinces :
Western Province, Southern Province, Eastern Province, Northern Province, Central Province, North Central Province, North Western Province, Sabaragamuwa Province, Uva Province,
National Holiday
Independence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948)
Selected World Heritage Sites :
- Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
- Ancient City of Sigiriya
- Sacred City of Anuradhapura
- Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
- Sacred City of Kandy
- Sinharaja Forest Reserve
- Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple
- Central Highlands of Sri Lanka
Agricultural Products
Tea, Rice, Coconuts, Cassava, Sugar Cane, Plantains, Milk, Maize, Poultry, Coir & More
Industries
Tea, Processing of rubber, Coconuts, Tobacco & other agricultural commodities; Tourism, Telecommunications, Banking, Insurance, Shipping; Clothing, Textiles, Cement, Information Technology Services, Petroleum refining, Construction
At a crossroads of maritime (of or relating to the navigation of the sea) routes covering the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has also been exposed to cultural (to reveal the true nature of) influences from other Asian societies. Ancient Greek geographers called it Taprobane.
Arabs appertained to it as Serendib. Later European mapmakers called it Ceylon, a name still used sometimes for trade (an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands) purposes. It officially turned Sri Lanka in 1972.
The distinctive civilization (the way people live at a particular time and place) of Sri Lanka, with roots that can be traced back to the 6th century BCE, is characterized by two factors the preservation (the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition) of Theravada Buddhism and the development over two glories of a sophisticated (having a wide and refined knowledge of the world especially from personal experience) system of irrigation in the drier (marked by little or no precipitation or humidity) parts of the country.
This civilization was further amended by the influences (the power to bring about a result on another) of Hinduism and Islam.
In 1948, after nearly 150 times of British rule, Sri Lanka became an independent country, and it was admitted to the United Nations seven times latterly. The country is a member of The (SAARC) South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation & The Commonwealth.
Prevailing pressures between the Sinhalese maturity and Tamil secessionists erupted into war in July 1983. Fighting between the government and Liberation Barracuda of Tamil Eelam( LTTE) continued for over a quarter century.
Although Norway brokered peace accommodations that led to a check-fire in 2002, the fighting sluggishly proceeded and was again in full force by 2006. The government (lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation)) defeated the LTTE in May 2009.
Tourism Sri Lanka
Ø Tourism Districts
• Kandy
• Galle
• Trincomalee
Ø Botanical Gardens
• Henarathgoda Botanical Garden (Gampaha Botanical Garden)
• Mirijjawila Botanical Garden or Dry Zone Botanic Garden
• Seethawaka Botanical Garden, or Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanic Garden
• Hakgala Botanical Garden
• Royal Botanic Garden
Ø Beautiful Waterfalls
• Bambarakanda Falls
• Diyaluma Falls
• Bopath Ella
• Devon Falls
• Ravana Falls
• Dunhinda Falls
• Baker’s Falls
• Hunnas waterfall
• St. Clair’s Falls
• Ramboda Falls
Ø Beautiful Beaches
• Koggala Beach
Ø Beautiful Wildlife
• Kumana National Park
• Minneriya National Park
• Udawalawe National Park
• Wilpattu National Park
• Wasgamuwa National Park
• Yala National Park
Ø Historical Places
• Sigiriya or Sinhagiri (Lion Rock)