2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

note

in 1998 the Government of Sri Lanka proposed a merger of the former Northern and Eastern provinces; while this merger was never ratified, the Government treats North Eastern Province as a de facto singular administrative unit

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.1% (male 2,488,689/female 2,379,233) 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 6,727,399/female 7,140,751) 65 years and over: 7.3% (male 687,842/female 798,326) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

16 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2006)

total

14

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2

under 914 m

2 (2006)

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 A.D. 1000) 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 into war in 1983. Tens of thousands have died in the ethnic conflict that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire in February 2002, with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006, but neither side has formally withdrawn from the cease-fire. Geography Sri Lanka

Birth rate

15.51 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$7.095 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$4.762 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

6 56 N, 79 51 E

name

Colombo

note

Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

time difference

UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

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

Coastline

1,340 km

Constitution

adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978

Country name

conventional long form

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

conventional short form

Sri Lanka

former

Serendib, Ceylon

local long form

Shri Lamka Prajatantrika Samajaya di Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu

local short form

Shri Lamka/Ilankai

Currency (code)

Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)

Currency code

LKR

Current account balance

$-1.118 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

6.52 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$12.23 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Robert O. BLAKE, Jr.

embassy

210 Galle Road, Colombo 3

mailing address

P. O. Box 106, Colombo

telephone

[94] (11) 249-8500

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Bernard GOONETILLEKE

telephone

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

Disputes - international

none

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 more market-oriented policies, export-oriented trade, and encouragement of foreign investment. Recent changes in government have brought some policy reversals, however. Currently, the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party has a more statist economic approach which seeks to reduce poverty by steering investment to disadvantaged areas, developing small and medium enterprises, promoting agriculture, and expanding the already enormous civil service. The government has halted most privatizations. Although suffering a brutal civil war that began in 1983, Sri Lanka saw GDP growth average 4.5% in the last ten years, with a brief interruption during the global downturn in 2001. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took about 31,000 lives, left more than 6,300 missing and 443,000 displaced, and destroyed an estimated $1.5 billion worth of property. Growth, partly spurred by reconstruction, reached 5% in 2005 and more than 6% in 2006. Sri Lanka's most dynamic sectors now are food processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages, port contstruction, telecommunications, and insurance and banking. In 2005, plantation crops made up only about 15% of exports (compared with more than 90% in 1970), while textiles and garments accounted for more than 60%. About 800,000 Sri Lankans work abroad, 90% in the Middle East. They send home about $1 billion a year. The struggle by the Tamil Tigers of the north and east for a largely independent homeland continues to cast a shadow over the economy.

Electricity - consumption

7.174 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

7.714 billion kWh (2004)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Marine Life Conservation

Ethnic groups

Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Exchange rates

Sri Lankan rupees per US dollar - 102.987 (2006), 100.498 (2005), 101.194 (2004), 96.521 (2003), 95.662 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister

chief of state

President Mahinda RAJAPAKSE (since 19 November 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Ratnasiri WICKREMANAYAKE (since 21 November 2005) holds the ceremonial title of prime minister

election results

Mahinda RAJAPAKSE elected president; percent of vote - Mahinda RAJAPAKSE 50.3%, Ranil WICKREMESINGHE 48.4%, other 1.3%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 17 November 2005 (next to be held 2011)

head of government

President Mahinda RAJAPAKSE (since 19 November 2005)

Exports

$7.076 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products, rubber manufactures, fish

Exports - partners

US 31.1%, UK 12.2%, India 8.9%, Germany 4.3% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 232-7181

[94] (11) 243-7345

consulate(s)

New York

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

17.3%

industry

27.3%

services

55.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.3% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$23.52 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$93.33 billion (2006 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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,500 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

28% (1995)

lowest 10%

3.5%

IDPs

500,000-600,000 (both Tamils and non-Tamils displaced due to long-term Tamil conflict renewed in 2006) (2006) This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$9.655 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

textile fabrics, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and transportation equipment

Imports - partners

India 20.7%, Singapore 8.3%, Hong Kong 7.3%, China 7.1%, Iran 5.9%, Malaysia 4.4%, Japan 4.3% (2005)

Independence

4 February 1948 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

7.1% (2006 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

12.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

15.18 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.97 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.1% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

AsDB, BIMSTEC, C, CP, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.lk

Internet hosts

6,526 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (2000)

Internet users

280,000 (2005) Transportation Sri Lanka

Investment (gross fixed)

28.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

7,430 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

8.214 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

38%

industry

17%

services

45% (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

13.96%

other

70.8% (2005)

permanent crops

15.24%

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 - SLFP and JVP (no longer in formal UPFA alliance) 45.6%, UNP 37.83%, TNA 6.84%, JHU 5.97%, SLMC 2.02%, UPF 0.54%, EPDP 0.27%, others 0.93%; seats by party - UNP 68, SLFP 57, JVP 39, UNP dissident 1, TNA 22, CWC 8, JHU 7, JHU dissidents 2, SLMC 6, SLMC dissidents 4, Communist Party 2, LSSP 2, MEP 2, NUA 2, UPF 2, EPDP 1

elections

last held 2 April 2004 (next to be held by 2010)

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.12 years (2006 est.)

male

70.83 years

total population

73.41 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

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

5,153,597 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

4,933,217

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

4,281,043 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

3,789,627

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

167,201 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

174,049

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

30.9 years (2006 est.)

male

28.7 years

total

29.8 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, cargo 17, container 2, petroleum tanker 2

foreign-owned

7 (Germany 5, UAE 2)

registered in other countries

5 (Panama 5) (2006)

total

22 ships (1000 GRT or over) 144,066 GRT/196,418 DWT

Military branches

Sri Lankan Army, Sri Lankan Navy, Sri Lankan Air Force (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$606.2 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.6% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Sri Lanka

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 February (1948)

Nationality

adjective

Sri Lankan

noun

Sri Lankan(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

80,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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 Perumuna or JVP [Somawansa AMARASINGHE]; Lanka Sama Samaja Party or LSSP; Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (People's United Front) or MEP [D. GUNAWARDENE]; National Heritage Party or JHU [Tilak KARUNARATNE]; National Unity Alliance or NUA [Ferial ASHRAFF]; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE [D. SIDHARTHAN]; Sihala Urumaya or SU; 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 [R. SAMPANTHAN]; Tamil United Liberation Front or TULF [V. ANANDASANGAREE]; United National Party or UNP [Ranil WICKREMASINGHE]; Up-country 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

20,222,240

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 and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought refuge in the West (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

22% (1997 est.)

Population growth rate

0.78% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Colombo, Galle Military Sri Lanka

Public debt

90.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM, FM, Shortwave combined 34 (2006)

Radios

3.85 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2005)

total

1,449 km

Religions

Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.81 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

78,802 km

total

97,287 km

unpaved

18,485 km (2003)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 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 and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing; telephone density remains low (2006)

general assessment

telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country.

international

country code - 94; submarine cables to Indonesia, Djibouti, India and Maldives; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,509,913 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4,284,256 (2006)

Television broadcast stations

14 (2006)

Televisions

1.53 million (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.84 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.6% (2006 est.)

Waterways

160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2005)