Country Name

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.  Former - Ceylon.

Size

65,525 sq km

Capital

Sri Jayawardenepura.

Commercial Capital

Colombo.

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.

National Flower

The Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea Stellata).

Population

19 million.

Population Density

309 people per sq km.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female 74 years, male 64 years.

Literacy Rate

91.8%

Languages

Sinhala, Tamil & English is widely spoken throughout Sri Lanka, with the exception of remote villages.

Ethnic mix

Sinhalese - 74%, Tamil - 18%, Muslim - 7%, Burgher (descendants of Dutch and Portuguese colonist) and others - 1%

Religion

Buddhism - 70%, Hinduism - 16%, Christianity - 7%, Islam -7%

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

Location

An island off the south-eastern cost shores of India, 880 km north of the equator, in the Indian Ocean.