Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya / Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu

Meaning of Name "Sri Lanka" means "Holy Island" in Sanskrit

Location about 20 mi (32 km) off the southeastern coast of India
Area 25,332 sq mi (65,610 sq km)
Greatest Distance E-W 142 mi (229 km)
Greatest Distance N-S 274 mi (441 km)
Highest Point Pidurutalagala; 8,281 ft (2,524 m)
Lowest Point sea level
Natural Resources limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower

Nationality Sri Lankan
Population (July 2015 est) 22,053,488
Largest Cities Colombo
Ethnic Groups Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Moors, Indian Tamil, Sri Lankan Tamil
Religions Buddhist (official), Muslim, Hindu, Christian
Languages Sinhala (official and national language), Tamil (national language)

Capital Colombo
Form of Government republic
Present Constitution Adopted August 16, 1978
Chief of State and Head of Government President Maithripala Sirisena (since January 9, 2015)
Cabinet appointed by President
Legislature unicameral Parliament
Judiciary Supreme Court, Court of Appeals
Local Administration 9 provinces

Currency Sri Lankan Rupee
Per Capita Income $10,400
Industries processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction
Agricultural Products rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, vegetables, fruit, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish
Export Commodities textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish
Import Commodities petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs

Independence from Great Britain Achieved February 4, 1948
National Holiday Independence Day, February 4
Flag yellow with two panels -- the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves, symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country, stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green the Sri Lankan Moors; dark red represents the European Burghers, but also refers to the rich colonial background of the country; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag

SEE ALSO
India
Great Britain

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This page was last updated on 06/06/2017.