2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western; note - North Eastern province may have been divided in two - Northern and Eastern

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.2% (male 2,543,336; female 2,431,223) 15-64 years: 67.9% (male 6,518,145; female 6,890,424) 65 years and over: 6.9% (male 641,708; female 717,603) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef

Airports

15 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2002)

total

14

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1

under 914 m

1 (2002) Military Sri Lanka

Area

land

64,740 sq km

total

65,610 sq km

water

870 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Background

The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa 1000 A.D.) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty seized power in the north and established a Tamil kingdom. Occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century, the island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted in violence in the mid-1980s. Tens of thousands have died in an ethnic war that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam began a ceasefire in December 2001, with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Geography Sri Lanka

Birth rate

16.12 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

revenues

$2.8 billion

Capital

Colombo; note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital

Climate

tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

Coastline

1,340 km

Constitution

adopted 16 August 1978

Country name

conventional long form

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

conventional short form

Sri Lanka

former

Serendib, Ceylon

Currency

Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)

Currency code

LKR

Death rate

6.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$9.8 billion (2002)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador E. Ashley WILLS

embassy

210 Galle Road, Colombo 3

mailing address

P. O. Box 106, Colombo

telephone

[94] (1) 448007

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Devinda R. SUBASINGHE

consulate(s)

New York

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34.4 (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

$577 million (1998)

Economy - overview

In 1977, Colombo abandoned statist economic policies and its import substitution trade policy for market-oriented policies and export-oriented trade. Sri Lanka's most dynamic sectors now are food processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages, telecommunications, and insurance and banking. By 1996 plantation crops made up only 20% of exports (compared with 93% in 1970), while textiles and garments accounted for 63%. GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.5% in the early 1990s until a drought and a deteriorating security situation lowered growth to 3.8% in 1996. The economy rebounded in 1997-2000 with average growth of 5.3%, but 2001 saw the first contraction in the country's history, -1.4%, due to a combination of power shortages, severe budgetary problems, the global slowdown, and continuing civil strife. Growth recovered to 3.2% in 2002. About 800,000 Sri Lankans work abroad, 90% in the Middle East. They send home about $1 billion a year.

Electricity - consumption

5.915 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

6.36 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

51.7%

hydro

48.3%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Marine Life Conservation

Ethnic groups

Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%

Exchange rates

Sri Lankan rupees per US dollar - 95.66 (2002), 89.38 (2001), 77.01 (2000), 70.64 (1999), 64.45 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister

chief of state

President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994); note - Ranil WICKREMASINGHE (since 9 December 2001) is the prime minister; the president is considered both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA reelected president; percent of vote - Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (PA) 51%, Ranil WICKREMASINGHE (UNP) 42%, other 7%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 21 December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2005)

head of government

President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994); note - Ranil WICKREMASINGHE (since 9 December 2001) is the prime minister; the president is considered both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$4.6 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

textiles and apparel, tea, diamonds, coconut products, petroleum products

Exports - partners

US 39.1%, UK 12.9%, Belgium 4.7%, Germany 4.5% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 232-7181

[94] (1) 437345

chancery

2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 483-4025 (through 4028)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Sri Lanka

Flag description

yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels Economy Sri Lanka

GDP

purchasing power parity - $73.7 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

20%

industry

26%

services

54% (2001)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

7 00 N, 81 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes People Sri Lanka

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

91,860 km

total

96,695 km

unpaved

4,835 km (1999)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

250 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

4,800 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

28% (1995)

lowest 10%

3.5%

Imports

$5.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities

textiles, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Imports - partners

India 11%, Hong Kong 7.6%, Singapore 7.1%, China 6.3%, Taiwan 5.9%, South Korea 5.7%, Japan 5.3%, Iran 4.2% (2002)

Independence

4 February 1948 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

1.1% (2002)

Industries

rubber processing, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco

Infant mortality rate

female

13.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

16.45 deaths/1,000 live births

total

15.22 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.6% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.lk

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (2000)

Internet users

121,500 (2001) Transportation Sri Lanka

Irrigated land

6,510 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Labor force

6.6 million (1998)

Labor force - by occupation

services 45%, agriculture 38%, industry 17% (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

13.43%

other

70.79% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

15.78%

Languages

Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%

note

English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population

Legal system

a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of a modified proportional representation system by district to serve six-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party or electoral alliance - UNP, SLMC and CWC 46.8%, PA and EPDP 38%, JVP 9.1%, TNA 3.89%, PLOTE 0.19%; seats by party or electoral alliance - UNP, SLMC and CWC 114, PA and EPDP 79, JVP 16, TNA 15, PLOTE 1

elections

last held 7 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.29 years (2003 est.)

male

70.09 years

total population

72.62 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

90% (2003 est.) Government Sri Lanka

male

94.8%

total population

92.3%

Location

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 NM

continental shelf

200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

29.7 years (2002)

male

27.7 years

total

28.7 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Germany 9, Hong Kong 1, UAE 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

cargo 13, container 1, petroleum tanker 1

total

15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 62,157 GRT/84,898 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$719 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

4.2% (FY98) Transnational Issues Sri Lanka

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

5,383,661 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

4,172,921 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

186,691 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 February (1948)

Nationality

adjective

Sri Lankan

noun

Sri Lankan(s)

Natural hazards

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Natural resources

limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower

Net migration rate

-1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

75,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)

Political parties and leaders

All Ceylon Tamil Congress or ACTC [KUMARGURUPARAM]; Ceylon Workers Congress or CWC [Arumugam THONDAMAN]; Communist Party or CP [D. GUNASEKERA]; Democratic United National (Lalith) Front or DUNLF [Shrimani ATULATHMUDALI]; Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP [Douglas DEVANANDA]; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front or EPRLF [Suresh PREMACHANDRAN]; Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Tilvan SILVA]; National Unity Alliance or NUA [Ferial ASHRAFF]; People's Alliance or PA [Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA]; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE [leader NA]; Sihala Urumaya or SU [Tilak KARUNARATNE]; Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP [Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA]; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC [Rauff HAKEEM]; Sri Lanka Progressive Front or SLPF [P. Nelson PERERA]; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization or TELO [SABARATNAM]; Tamil National Alliance or TNA [Nadarajah RAVIRAJ]; Tamil United Liberation Front or TULF [R. SAMPATHAN]; United National Party or UNP [Ranil WICKREMASINGHE]; Upcountry People's Front or UPF [P. CHANDRASEKARAN]; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties, represented in either Parliament or provincial councils

Political pressure groups and leaders

Buddhist clergy; labor unions; Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE [Velupillai PRABHAKARAN](insurgent group fighting for a separate state); radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups

Population

19,742,439 (2003 est.)

note

since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island; as of yearend 2000, approximately 65,000 were housed in 131 refugee camps in south India, another 40,000 lived outside the Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought refuge in the West (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

22% (1997 est.)

Population growth rate

0.83% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee

Radio broadcast stations

AM 26, FM 45, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

3.85 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

1,449 km 1.676-m gauge

narrow gauge

59 km 0.762-m gauge (2002)

total

1,508 km

Religions

Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 7% (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and two fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems; telephone density remains low at 2.6 main lines per 100 persons (1999)

general assessment

very inadequate domestic service, particularly in rural areas; likely improvement with privatization of national telephone company and encouragement to private investment; good international service (1999)

international

submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (1999)

Telephones - main lines in use

494,509 (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

228,604 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

21 (1997)

Televisions

1.53 million (1997)

Terrain

mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

8% (2002)

Waterways

430 km (navigable by shallow-draft craft)