2015 Edition

Background

The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced 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 established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Potuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century and the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally 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. 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 the government regained control of the Eastern Province in 2007 and by May 2009, the remnants of the LTTE had been defeated. Since the end of the conflict, the government has enacted an ambitious program of economic development projects, many of which are financed by loans from the Government of China. In addition to efforts at reconstructing its economy, the government has resettled more than 95% of those civilians displaced during the final phase of the conflict and released the vast majority of former LTTE combatants captured by Government Security Forces. At the same time, there has been little progress on more contentious and politically difficult issues such as reaching a political settlement with Tamil elected representatives and holding accountable those alleged to have been involved in human rights violations and other abuses during the conflict.

Area

land

64,630 sq km

total

65,610 sq km

water

980 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate

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

Coastline

1,340 km

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

638.8 cu m/yr (2005)

total

12.95 cu km/yr (6%/6%/87%)

Geographic coordinates

7 00 N, 81 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

Irrigated land

5,700 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 20.7%; permanent crops 15.8%; permanent pasture 7%

agricultural land

43.5%

forest

29.4%

other

27.1% (2011 est.)

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

Natural hazards

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

52.8 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

24.58% (male 2,764,848/female 2,655,218)

15-24 years

14.77% (male 1,652,884/female 1,604,089)

25-54 years

41.9% (male 4,523,146/female 4,718,156)

55-64 years

9.72% (male 992,750/female 1,149,828)

65 years and over

9.04% (male 847,805/female 1,144,764) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

15.85 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

26.3% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

68.4% (2006/07)

Death rate

6.11 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

14.1%

potential support ratio

7.1% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

51.2%

youth dependency ratio

37.2%

Drinking water source

urban: 98.5% of population

rural: 95% of population

total: 95.6% of population

urban: 1.5% of population

rural: 5% of population

total: 4.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

1.7% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)

Health expenditures

3.2% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.03% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

100 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,300 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.6 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

7.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

9.75 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

note

English, spoken competently by about 10% of the population, is commonly used in government and is referred to as the link language in the constitution

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.19 years (2015 est.)

male

73.06 years

total population

76.56 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

91.7% (2015 est.)

male

93.6%

total population

92.6%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A

vectorborne disease

dengue fever

water contact disease

leptospirosis

Major urban areas - population

Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) 128,000 (2014); COLOMBO (capital) 707,000 (2015)

Median age

female

33.3 years (2015 est.)

male

30.9 years

total

32.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Sri Lankan

noun

Sri Lankan(s)

Net migration rate

-1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.8% (2014)

Physicians density

0.68 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

22,053,488 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.84% (2015 est.)

Religions

Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 88.1% of population

rural: 96.7% of population

total: 95.1% of population

urban: 11.9% of population

rural: 3.3% of population

total: 4.9% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2012)

male

13 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.96 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.86 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.74 male(s)/female

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.1 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

23.5% (2012 est.)

male

14%

total

17.3%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.72% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

18.4% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

Capital

geographic coordinates

6 55 N, 79 50 E

name

Colombo; note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital

time difference

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

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; amended many times, last in 2010 (2010)

Country name

conventional long form

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

conventional short form

Sri Lanka

former

Serendib, Ceylon

local long form

Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu

local short form

Shri Lanka/Ilankai

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Atul KESHAP (since 21 August 2015); note - also accredited to Maldives

embassy

210 Galle Road, Colombo 3

FAX

[94] (11) 243-7345

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 Prasad KARIYAWASAM (since 14 July 2014)

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

FAX

[1] (202) 232-7181

telephone

[1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister

chief of state

President Maithripala SIRISENA (since 9 January 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Ranil WICKREMESINGHE (since 9 January 2015) holds the title of prime minister

election results

Maithripala SIRISENA elected president; percent of vote - Maithripala SIRISENA (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) 51.3%, Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) 47.6%, other 1.1%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by preferential majority popular vote for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 January 2015 (next to be held by January 2021); note - the January 2015 election was held nearly 2 years ahead of schedule

head of government

President Maithripala SIRISENA (since 9 January 2015)

Flag description

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 maroon 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 Sri Lankan Moors, and maroon the Sinhalese majority; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag

Government type

republic

Independence

4 February 1948 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ABEDA, ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 10 justices); note - the court has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation

judge selection and term of office

the chief justice appointed by the president; the other justices appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; all justices hold office until age 65

subordinate courts

Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrate's Courts; municipal and primary courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and Jaffna Tamil customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament (225 seats; 196 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote using a preferential method in which voters select 3 candidates in order of preference; remaining 29 seats allocated to other political parties and groups in proportion to share of national vote; members serve 6-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats by alliance/party - UNP 106, UPFA 95, Tamil National Alliance 16, JVP 6, other 2

elections

last held on 17 August 2015 (next to be held in 2021)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Ananda SAMARKONE

name

"Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka)

note

adopted 1951

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 February (1948)

National symbol(s)

lion, water lily; national colors: maroon, yellow

Political parties and leaders

All Ceylon Muslim Congress [Rishad BAITHUTHEEN]

Democratic National Alliance, led by General (Retired) Sarath FONSEKA

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE]

Jathika Hela Urumaya or JHU [Patali Champika RANAWAKA]

Sri Lanka Freedom Party [Maithripala SIRISENA and Mahinda RAJAPAKSA claimed leadership as of January 2015]

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress [Rauff HAKEEM]

Tamil National Alliance [R. SAMPANTHAN]

United National Party [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE]

United People's Freedom Alliance or UPFA

Political pressure groups and leaders

Buddhist clergy

Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups

other

labor unions; hard-line nationalist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$14.14 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$9.978 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2013)

7.5% (19 December 2012)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.5% (31 December 2014 est.)

12.5% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.79 billion (2014 est.)

-$2.665 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$27.11 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$26.26 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

49 (2010)

46 (1995)

Economy - overview

Sri Lanka continues to experience strong economic growth following the end of the government's 26-year conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The government has been pursuing large-scale reconstruction and development projects in its efforts to spur growth in war-torn and disadvantaged areas, develop small and medium enterprises and increase agricultural productivity. The government's high debt payments and bloated civil service have contributed to historically high budget deficits, but fiscal consolidation efforts and strong GDP growth in recent years have helped bring down the government's fiscal deficit, but low tax revenues remain a concern. The 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession exposed Sri Lanka's economic vulnerabilities and nearly caused a balance of payments crisis. Agriculture slowed due to a drought and weak global demand affected exports and trade. In early 2012, Sri Lanka floated the rupee, resulting in a sharp depreciation, and took steps to curb imports. A large trade deficit remains a concern, but strong remittances from Sri Lankan workers abroad help offset the trade deficit. Government debt of about 80% of GDP remains among the highest in emerging markets.

Exchange rates

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -

130.4 (2014 est.)

129.07 (2013 est.)

127.6 (2012 est.)

110.57 (2011 est.)

113.06 (2010 est.)

Exports

$11.88 billion (2014 est.)

$10.39 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish

Exports - partners

US 25%, UK 10.2%, India 5.7%, Italy 5.6%, Germany 4.6% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

22.5%

government consumption

12.8%

household consumption

66.1%

imports of goods and services

-31.4%

investment in fixed capital

29.6%

investment in inventories

0.3%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

10.2%

industry

33.1%

services

56.7% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$10,400 (2014 est.)

$9,700 (2013 est.)

$9,000 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

7.4% (2014 est.)

7.3% (2013 est.)

6.3% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$74.59 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$217.4 billion (2014 est.)

$202.5 billion (2013 est.)

$188.7 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

23.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

26% of GDP (2013 est.)

23.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

39.5% (2009)

lowest 10%

1.6%

Imports

$19.24 billion (2014 est.)

$18 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

India 20.7%, China 17.8%, UAE 9.1%, Singapore 6.6%, Japan 4.9% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

9.4% (2014 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.3% (2014 est.)

6.9% (2013 est.)

Labor force

8.916 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

31.8%

industry

25.8%

services

42.4% (June 2012)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$18.48 billion (31 November 2013 est.)

$17.05 billion (31 December 2012)

$19.44 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

8.9% (2010 est.)

Public debt

78.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

78.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

note

covers central government debt, and excludes debt instruments directly owned by government entities other than the treasury (e.g. commercial bank borrowings of a government corporation); the data includes treasury debt held by foreign entities as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement; sub-national entities are usually not permitted to sell debt instruments

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$8.314 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$7.495 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$27.19 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$23.39 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$36.22 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$33.04 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$4.037 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.706 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

13.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

4% (2014 est.)

4.4% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

15.23 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

36,380 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

9.557 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

55.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

44.5% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

3.147 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

11.8 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

94,470 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

44,270 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

35,440 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

government operates 8 TV channels and a radio network; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 35 private TV stations and about 50 radio stations (2012)

Internet country code

.lk

Internet users

percent of population

19.9% (2014 est.)

total

4.4 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 15, FM 52, shortwave 4 (2007)

Telephone system

domestic

national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing

general assessment

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

international

country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

2.7 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

101 (2014 est.)

total

22.1 million

Television broadcast stations

12 (2009)

Airports

19 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

6

914 to 1,523 m

7 (2013)

over 3,047 m

2

total

15

Airports - with unpaved runways

3 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

4

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 4, cargo 13, chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 2

foreign-owned

8 (Germany 8) (2010)

total

21

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Colombo (3,651,963)

major seaport(s)

Colombo

Railways

broad gauge

1,447 km 1.676-m gauge (2014)

total

1,447 km

Roadways

paved

16,977 km

total

114,093 km

unpaved

97,116 km (2010)

Waterways

160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2012)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

5,466,409 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

5,342,147

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

4,574,833 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

4,177,432

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

162,587 (2010 est.)

male

167,026

Military branches

Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Coast Guard (2015)

Military expenditures

2.43% of GDP (2012)

2.89% of GDP (2011)

2.43% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 5-year service obligation (Air Force) (2012)

Disputes - international

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

up to 73,700 (civil war; more than half displaced prior to 2008; many of the more than 480,000 IDPs registered as returnees have not reached durable solutions) (2015)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Sri Lanka is primarily a source and, to a lesser extent, a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; some Sri Lankan adults and children who migrate willingly to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, and the US to work as domestic servants, construction workers, or garment factory workers subsequently face conditions of forced labor, including restrictions on movement, withholding of passports, abuse, and threats; some Sri Lankan women are forced into prostitution in Jordan, Singapore, Maldives, and other countries, while some foreign women are forced into prostitution in Sri Lanka; within Sri Lanka, women and children are also subjected to sex trafficking, and other children are forced to work in the agriculture, fireworks, and fish-drying industries

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Sri Lanka does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; modest trafficking prevention efforts in 2013 included updating a national action plan and launching awareness campaigns; law enforcement efforts were limited; no traffickers were convicted under the trafficking statute and none of those convicted under the procurement statute served prison time; labor recruitment regulations were rarely enforced; authorities did not approve guidelines developed in 2012 for the identification of victims and their referral to protective services; no government employees were investigated or prosecuted, despite allegations of complicity (2014)