Srilanka overview

General inforamation:

Official Name: Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka short form: Sri Lanka in Tamil: Ilankai former: Serendib, Ceylon ISO Country Code: lk Actual Time: Fri-Nov-6 13:02 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-Kotteis 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 theUK) 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: 20.6 million (2010) 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% 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. Currency:

Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR)