Govenment

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Capital (Commercial)

Colombo

Capital (Legistative)

Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte

Administrative Divisions

8 Provinces (Central,North Central,North East,North Western,Sabaragamuwa,Southern,Uva,Western)

Independence

4th February 1948 (from United Kingdom)

President

Mahinda Rajapaksa

Prime Minister

Ratnasiri Wickremanayake

Geographic coordinates

5° 55'N - 9° 55' N and longitudes 79° 42' and 81° 52'

Area

65,610 Sqkm (25,332 Sq miles)

Maritime

1340 k.m.

Highest Point

Piduruthalagala (2524 m)

Land Use

Arable land 13.86 %

Permanent crops

15.7 %

Irrigated Land

6510Sqkm

Climate

Tropical monsoon

Northeast monsoon (December to March)

Southwest monsoon (June to October)

Population(2005 Estimate)

20,743,000

Population Growth Rate

0.78%

Birth Rate

15.51 Births / 1000 Population

Infant Mortality Rate

13.97 deaths / 1000 Live births

76.4 female, 71.7 male (2001 est)

Ethnic mix

73.8 % Sinhalese

8.5 % Tamil

7.2 % MoorS

10.5 % Other

Religions

69.1 % Buddhist

7.1 % Hindu

6.2 % Christian

7.6 % Muslim

10 % Other

92.5%(2003 est)

Labour Force

8.08 million

Unemployment Rate

8.4 %

Electricity Production

7.308 billion kWh

Electricity Consumption

6.796 billion kWh

Railways

1449 km

Highways

11650 km

Ports – Harbors

Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee

International Airports

1 - Bandaranayake International airport

"Sri Lanka Matha" Composed by late Mr. Ananda Samarakoon.

Time Zone

GMT/UTC +5.5

Daylight Saving Start/End

Not in use

Languages

Sinhalese (official)

Tamil (official)

English (Secondary)

Currency

Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs)

Calling Code

+94

Electricity

230-240V, 50 cycles