Name of the country |
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is the most popular name which means Holy Resplendent land.
Sri Lanka was earlier known as Ceylon |
|
Location |
Sri Lanka is a small island in the Indian Ocean, situated between 5 0 55' and 9 0 55' northern latitude and between 79 0 42' and 81 0 52' eastern longitude. |
|
Area |
65,610 sq km |
|
Dimensions |
The height from North to South is 435 km, breadth 225 km from west to east. It stretches around 1700 km. |
|
National flag |
|
|
Greeting |
Ayubowan ( May you have a long life ) is traditional greeting among the Sinhalese, done with the hands folded upwards in front of the chest. |
|
Relief |
The central part of the country is the highland.
It is approximately 1/3 of the land of the whole country.
All rivers spring from this central highland.
Highest peak : Piduruthalagala - 2224 km
Longest river : Mahawali - 335 km |
|
Climate |
Low lands - 26 0 C - 28 0 C
Central hills - 15 0 C - 20 0
Sri Lanka is a tropical country. There are 2 monsoon rains. South West monsoon and North East monsoon.
The South West monsoon brings rain to the western, southern and central regions from May to July, while the North East monsoon occurs in the North and East in December and January.
Sri Lanka boasts of a good climate for holiday makers throughout the year. |
|
Capital |
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. |
|
|
Commercial Capital |
|
|
Population |
20 million |
|
Population density |
311 people per sq km |
|
Life expectancy at birth |
Female 74 years, Male 64 years. |
|
Literacy rate |
91.8% |
|
Ethnic mix |
Sinhalese 74% , Tamils 18% , Moors 7% , Others 1% |
|
Languages |
Sinhala and Tamil
English is used as a link language |
|
Religious groups |
Buddhists 69.3% , Hindus 15.5% , Christians 7.5% , Islam 7.5% , Others 0.1% |
|
Currency |
Rupee ( 1 Rupee has 100 cents )
1 US $ = approximately 112 |
|
Industries |
Processing of rubber, tea, coconuts and other agricultural commodities, clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco. |
|
Agriculture Products |
Rice, sugar cane, grains, pulses, oilseed, roots, spices, tea, rubber , coconuts. |
|
Major exports |
Textiles and garments, tea, petroleum products, rubber, coconuts, gems and spices. |
|
Labor Force |
Agriculture 37%, Industry and Commerce 44%, Services 19% |
|
Annual per Capita GNP |
US $ 1197 |
|
Visa |
Residents from 72 countries can enter Sri Lanka on holiday without prior visa and remain 30 days with no fee charged.
Department of immigration and Emigration Sri Lanka.
http//www.immigration.gov.lk/htm/visa/fees.htm#SATOP |
| |
|
