2018 Edition

Background

The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (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 Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century followed by 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. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in July 1983. Fighting between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued for over a quarter century. Although Norway brokered peace negotiations that led to a ceasefire in 2002, the fighting slowly resumed and was again in full force by 2006. The government defeated the LTTE in May 2009. During the post-conflict years under President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, the government enacted an ambitious program of infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from the Government of China. In 2015, a new coalition government headed by President Maithripala SIRISENA of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE of the United National Party came to power with pledges to advance economic, governance, anti-corruption, reconciliation, justice, and accountability reforms; however, progress on many of these reforms has been uneven. In October 2018, President SIRISENA attempted to oust prime Minister WICKREMESINGHE, swearing in former President RAJAPAKSA as the new prime minister. This action sparked a seven-week constitutional crisis until RAJAPAKSA resigned and WICKREMESINGHE was reinstated in December.

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

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: Indian Ocean

mean elevation

228 m

note

2524 highest point: Pidurutalagala

Environment Current Issues

deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; coral reef destruction; 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

Geographic Coordinates

7 00 N, 81 00 E

Geography Note

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes; Adam's Bridge is a chain of limestone shoals between the southeastern coast of India and the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka; geological evidence suggests that this 50-km long Bridge once connected India and Sri Lanka; ancient records seem to indicate that a foot passage was possible between the two land masses until the 15th century when the land bridge broke up in a cyclone

Irrigated Land

5,700 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

arable land: 20.7% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 15.8% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 7% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

43.5% (2011 est.)

forest

29.4% (2011 est.)

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

Population Distribution

the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0-14 years

23.75% (male 2,734,114 /female 2,627,695)

15-24 years

14.6% (male 1,677,547 /female 1,618,922)

25-54 years

41.46% (male 4,596,388 /female 4,762,913)

55-64 years

10.22% (male 1,067,258 /female 1,239,204)

65 years and over

9.98% (male 951,213 /female 1,301,338) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

14.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

20.5% (2016)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

61.7% (2016)

Death Rate

6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

14.1 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

7.1 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

51.2 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

37.2 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 98.5% of population

rural: 95% of population

total: 95.6% of population

unimproved: urban: 1.5% of population

rural: 5% of population

total: 4.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2016)

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

3.5% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

<.1% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

<500 (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

3,500 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

3.6 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

8.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Sinhala (official and national language) 87%, Tamil (official and national language) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)

note

data represent main languages spoken by the population aged 10 years and older; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; English is commonly used in government and is referred to as the "link language" in the constitution

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

80.8 years (2018 est.)

male

73.7 years (2018 est.)

total population

77.1 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

91.7% (2015 est.)

male

93.6% (2015 est.)

total population

92.6% (2015 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies (2016)

degree of risk

high (2016)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A (2016)

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever (2016)

water contact diseases

leptospirosis (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

600,000 COLOMBO (capital), 103,000 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

30 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

34.4 years (2018 est.)

male

31.8 years

total

33.1 years

Mother S Mean Age At First Birth

25.6 years (2016 est.)

note

median age at first birth among women 30-34

Nationality

adjective

Sri Lankan

noun

Sri Lankan(s)

Net Migration Rate

-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

5.2% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.88 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

22,576,592 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.73% (2018 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

improved: urban: 88.1% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 96.7% of population (2015 est.)

total: 95.1% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 11.9% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 3.3% of population (2015 est.)

total: 4.9% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

14 years (2013)

male

14 years (2013)

total

14 years (2013)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.86 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.74 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.05 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

29.2% (2016 est.)

male

17.1% (2016 est.)

total

21.6% (2016 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.85% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

18.5% of total population (2018)

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 (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Sri Lanka

dual citizenship recognized

no, except in cases where the government rules it is to the benefit of Sri Lanka

residency requirement for naturalization

7 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of its total membership, certification by the president of the republic or the Parliament speaker, and approval in a referendum by absolute majority of valid votes; amended many times, last in 2015; note - deliberations by a constitutional assembly tasked with revising the constitution in March 2016 had stalled by August 2018 (2018)

history

several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978 (2018)

Country Name

conventional long form

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

conventional short form

Sri Lanka

etymology

the name means "resplendent island" in Sanskrit

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 Alaina B. TEPLITZ (since 1 November 2018); 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

3025 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Sarath DISSANAYAKE (since 27 October 2017)

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

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; Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE (since 9 January 2015)

election results

Maithripala SIRISENA elected president; percent of vote - Maithripala SIRISENA (SLFP) 51.3%, Mahinda RAJAPAKSA (SLFP) 47.6%, other 1.1%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by preferential majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 January 2015 (next to be held by January 2020)

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

presidential 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 courts

Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 9 justices); note - the court has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation

judge selection and term of office

chief justice nominated by the Constitutional Council (CC), a 9-member high-level advisory body, and appointed by the president; other justices nominated by the CC and appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice; all justices can serve until age 65

subordinate courts

Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; municipal and primary courts

Legal System

mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, Jaffna Tamil customary law, and Muslim personal 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 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by coalition/party - UNFGG 45.7%, UPFA 42.4%, JVP 4.9%, TNA 4.6%, SLMC 0.4%, EPDP 0.3% other 1.7%; seats by coalition/party UNFGG 106, UPFA 95, TNA 16, JVP 6, SLMC 1, EPDP 1; composition - men 214, women 11, percent of women 4.9%

elections

last held on 17 August 2015 (next to be held by August 2020)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

Ananda SAMARKONE

name

"Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka)

note

adopted 1951

National Holiday

Independence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948)

National Symbol S

lion, water lily; national colors: maroon, yellow

Political Parties And Leaders

Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP [Douglas DEVANANDA]Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front [Suresh PREMACHANDRAN]Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE]Jathika Hela Urumaya or JHU [Karunarathna PARANAWITHANA and Ven Hadigalle WIMALASARA THERO]Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP [Maithripala SIRISENA]Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC [Rauff HAKEEM]Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna or SLPP [G. L. PEIRIS]Tamil National Alliance or TNA [Rajavarothiam SAMPANTHAN] (alliance includes Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi [Mavai SENATHIRAJAH], People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam [D. SIDDARTHAN], Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization [Selvam ADAIKALANATHAN])United National Front for Good Governance or UNFGG [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE] (coalition includes JHU, UNP)United National Party or UNP [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE]United People's Freedom Alliance or UPFA [Maithripala SIRISENA] (coalition includes SLFP)

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

16.88 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

12.07 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

7.25% (30 November 2017)

6% (31 December 2015)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

11.6% (31 December 2017 est.)

10.49% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

-$2.31 billion (2017 est.)

-$1.743 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$51.72 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$45.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

39.2 (2012 est.)

46 (1995)

Economy Overview

Sri Lanka is attempting to sustain economic growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability under the IMF program it began in 2016. The government's high debt payments and bloated civil service, which have contributed to historically high budget deficits, remain a concern. Government debt is about 79% of GDP and remains among the highest of the emerging markets. In the coming years, Sri Lanka will need to balance its elevated debt repayment schedule with its need to maintain adequate foreign exchange reserves.In May 2016, Sri Lanka regained its preferential trade status under the European Union’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus, enabling many of its firms to export products, including its top export garments, tax free to the EU. In 2017, Parliament passed a new Inland Revenue Act in an effort to increase tax collection and broaden the tax base in response to recommendations made under its IMF program. In November 2017, the Financial Action Task Force on money laundering and terrorist financing listed Sri Lanka as non-compliant, but reported subsequently that Sri Lanka had made good progress in implementing an action plan to address deficiencies.Tourism has experienced strong growth in the years since the resolution of the government's 26-year conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. In 2017, the government promulgated plans to transform the country into a knowledge-based, export-oriented Indian Ocean hub by 2025.

Exchange Rates

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -

154.1 (2017 est.)

145.58 (2016 est.)

145.58 (2015 est.)

135.86 (2014 est.)

130.57 (2013 est.)

Exports

$11.36 billion (2017 est.)

$10.31 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

US 24.6%, UK 9%, India 5.8%, Singapore 4.5%, Germany 4.3%, Italy 4.3% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

21.9% (2017 est.)

government consumption

8.5% (2017 est.)

household consumption

62% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-29.1% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.3% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

10.2% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

7.8% (2017 est.)

industry

30.5% (2017 est.)

services

61.7% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$87.35 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$12,900 (2017 est.)

$12,600 (2016 est.)

$12,200 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$275.8 billion (2017 est.)

$267 billion (2016 est.)

$255.6 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

3.3% (2017 est.)

4.5% (2016 est.)

5% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

33.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

32.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

28.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

32.2% (2012 est.)

lowest 10%

32.2% (2012 est.)

Imports

$20.98 billion (2017 est.)

$19.18 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

India 22%, China 19.9%, Singapore 6.9%, UAE 5.7%, Japan 4.9% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

4.6% (2017 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

6.5% (2017 est.)

4% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

8.937 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

27%

industry

26%

services

47% (31 December 2016)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$18.9 billion (30 September 2017 est.)

$23.67 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$18.81 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

6.7% (2012 est.)

Public Debt

79.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

79.6% of GDP (2016 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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

$7.959 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$6.019 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$5.19 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$5.184 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

note

NA

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$NA (31 December 2016)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$53.53 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$46.21 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$5.19 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$5.184 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

13.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

4.4% (2017 est.)

4.4% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

25.19 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

33,540 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

93% (2013)

electrification - total population

94% (2013)

electrification - urban areas

99% (2013)

population without electricity

1,334,100 (2013)

Electricity Consumption

12.67 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

52% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

42% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

3.998 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

13.66 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

116,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

3,871 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

66,280 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

34,210 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (2017 est.)

total

1,220,504 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

government operates 5 TV channels and 19 radio channels; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 25 private TV stations and about 43 radio stations; 6 non-profit TV stations and 4 radio stations (2017)

Internet Country Code

.lk

Internet Users

percent of population

32.1% (July 2016 est.)

total

7,126,540 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

national trunk network consists of digital microwave radio relay and fiber-optic links; fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing (2018)

general assessment

telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country (2018)

international

country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3, SEA-ME-WE-4, SEA-ME-WE-5, FLAG, and the Bay of Bengal Gateway submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2018)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

2,603,178 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

126 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

28,199,083 (2017 est.)

Airports

19 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

6 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

7 (2013)

over 3,047 m

2 (2013)

total

15 (2013)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

total

4 (2013)

under 914 m

3 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

4R (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant Marine

by type

bulk carrier 8, container ship 1, general cargo 9, oil tanker 10, other 54 (2017)

total

82 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

381,381,300 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

4,911,730 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

25 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

3 (2015)

Pipelines

7 km refined products

Ports And Terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Colombo (5,734,923) (2016)

major seaport(s)

Colombo

Railways

broad gauge

1,562 km 1.676-m gauge (2016)

total

1,562 km (2016)

Roadways

paved

16,977 km (2010)

total

114,093 km (2010)

unpaved

97,116 km (2010)

Waterways

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

Military Branches

Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy (includes Marine Corps), Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Coast Guard (2016)

Military Expenditures

2.14% of GDP (2017)

2.44% of GDP (2016)

2.55% of GDP (2015)

2.41% of GDP (2014)

2.15% of GDP (2013)

Military Service Age And Obligation

18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 12-year service obligation (2018)

Disputes International

none

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

IDPs

42,000 (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) (2017)

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 the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Afghanistan to work in the construction, garment, and domestic service sectors are subsequently subjected to forced labor or debt bondage (incurred through high recruitment fees or money advances); some Sri Lankan women are forced into prostitution in Jordan, Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore, and other countries; within Sri Lanka, women and children are subjected to sex trafficking, and children are also forced to beg and work in the agriculture, fireworks, and fish-drying industries; a small number of women from Asia, Central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East have been forced into prostitution in Sri Lanka in recent years

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; in 2014, Sri Lanka was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; law enforcement continues to demonstrate a lack of understanding of trafficking crimes and inadequate investigations, relying on trafficking cases to be prosecuted under the procurement statute rather than the trafficking statute, which carries more stringent penalties; authorities convicted only one offender under the procurement statute, a decrease from 2013; the government approved guidelines for the identification of victims and their referral to protective services but failed to ensure that victims were not jailed and charged for crimes committed as a direct result of being trafficked; no government employees were investigated or prosecuted, despite allegations of complicity (2015)

Terrorist Groups Home Based

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

aim(s): revive the movement to establish a Tamil homelandarea(s) of operation: presence is primarily in the east where members occasionally plot attacks (April 2018)