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 an ethnic conflict that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam formalized a cease-fire in February 2002, with Norway brokering peace negotiations.

Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
conventional short form: Sri Lanka
former: Serendib, Ceylon

Government type:
Republic

Capital:
Colombo; note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital

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

Independence:
4 February 1948 (from UK)

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

Geographic coordinates:
7 00 N, 81 00 E

Climate:
Sri Lanka enjoys a tropical climate. There are no seasonal variations. The bi-annual monsoon rains provide the only seasons. Colombo and the South West experience rain from April to May and September to October. The East coast gets its share of rainfall from November to January. Being closer to the equator, the temperature is high throughout the year. The average temperature in Colombo is 27 degrees centigrade (80 degrees Fahrenheit). This is accompanied by high levels of humidity. However, in the different parts of the island, the temperature and the climate vary according to the terrain. The higher you go, the cooler it gets. In the mountainous regions of Nuwara Eliya, the temperature averages 16 degrees centigrade (61 degrees Fahrenheit).

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 65,610 sq km
land: 64,740 sq km
water: 870 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,340 km

Terrain:
Mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

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

Economy:
Sri Lanka economy is based on agriculture and trade. Sri Lanka exports tea, coconut, rubber, spices, clothes, and gems to overseas.

Currency:
The Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs.) is divided into 100 cents. The coins and notes fall into the following denominations:

Coins: 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, 1 Rupee, 2 Rupees, 5 Rupees, 10 Rupees
Notes: 10 Rupees, 20 Rupees, 50 Rupees, 100 Rupees, 500 Rupees, 1,000 Rupees

* Please note that 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents and 10 cents coins are barely in circulation today.

Time Difference:
Sri Lanka standard time is 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Medical Facilities:
The professional standards of doctors and surgeons are excellent, and many of them hold British qualifications. Good private facilities are also available at reasonable rates.

Airport:
Bandaranika International Airport, 34km from city centre.

Visa Regulations:
Visitors coming to Sri Lanka should have a valid passport. Seventy nationalities are exempt from visa fee (only for tourist visa) for a period of 30 days on arrival at Colombo Airport as following:
Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark Estonia Finland, France Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (China), Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia There are two types of visa: tourist and business visas valid for 30 days. Visitors can request to extend their stay by applying to the Department of Immigration & Emigration, 23 Station Road, Colombo 3 (tel: (11) 2597 513; fax: (11) 2437 040). This is issued at the discretion of the authorities who must be satisfied that the applicant has at least US$30 per day for the stay and holds an onward or return ticket for travel. Fees for visa extension vary depending on nationalities. Visitors from an area infected with yellow fever like Central Africa and parts of South America are required to have certification showing they have been vaccinated against the yellow fever to enter the country.

Customs Formalities:
Green channel for non residents who have nothing to declare. Baggage should not contain goods in commercial quantities and goods that are prohibited and restricted. You are permitted to take out what you have declared and brought into the country and whatever you have purchased locally such as gems, jewellery and Sri Lanka products out of foreign currency.

Banks:
Open from 9.00 hrs to till 15.00 hrs Monday to Friday. Banks at Airport open 24 hours. Bank of Ceylon - Tourist Bank in York Street Colombo open from 9.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs all days of the week and holidays.

Credit Cards:
Most international credit cards are accepted in merchandising establishments within and outside Colombo including all major hotels.

Communication Facilities:
Internet, E-mail, International telephone and Fax facilities are available in Colombo and all provincial towns.

Electricity:
220-240V 50 Cycles A/C

Holidays:
Saturdays Sundays and every full moon day (called Poya day) are holidays in SriLanka. On Poya days all public places of entertainment are closed and selling of alcohol is prohibited. However hotels make special arrangements for their in house guests.

Natural resources:
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower

Natural hazards:
occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Population: 19,905,165

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.8% (male 2,526,143; female 2,414,876)
15-64 years: 68.2% (male 6,589,438; female 6,976,487)
65 years and over: 7% (male 655,636; female 742,585) (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.81% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
15.88 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
6.47 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.89 years
male: 70.34 years
female: 75.57 years (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 4,800 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective: Sri Lankan

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

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

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 92.3%
male: 94.8%
female: 90% (2003 est.)