Sri Lanka, South Asian State; 65,610 km2, 21.7 million residents (2019).Sri Lanka consists of the main island (Ceylon) and a number of small islands in the Indian Ocean. The capital is Sri Jayawardenapura, part of Colombia’s urban area.
Country facts
- Sri Lanka Prajathanthrika Samajavadi Janarajaya / Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
- Country abbreviation: LK
- Area: 65 610 km2
- Population (2019): 21.7 million residents
- Capital: Sri Jayawardenapura (Colombo)
- Main languages: Sinhala, Tamil
- State: Republic
- Head of State and Head of Government: Gotabaya Rajapakse (President)
- Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 4 102
- GNI per capita (2018): 4,060
- Currency unit: 1 rupee = 100 cents
- Currency code: LKR
- Country number (telephony): 94
- Internet domain name: lk
- Time difference compared to Sweden: +4.5
- National Day: February 4 (Independence Day, 1948)
Nature
- Land use: forest (32%), agricultural land (36%), other (32%)
- Highest mountain: Pidurutalagala (2,524 m above sea level)
- Longest river: Mahaveli (332 km)
Population
- Population density (2019): 331 residents per km2
- Natural population growth (2019): 0.9%; birth rate 15 ‰, death rate 6 ‰
- Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (25%), 15-64 (67%), 65- (8%)
- Average life expectancy (2019): 74 years; men 71 years, women 77 years
- Infant mortality (2019): 9 per 1,000 live births
- Population forecast 2050: 20 million residents
- HDI (2017): 0.770 (place 76 of 189)
- Urbanization rate (2019): 19%
- Most populous cities (2012): Colombo 752,900 residents), Dehiwala – Mount Lavinia (246,000), Moratuwa (207,800)
Business
- Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (8%), industry (30%), service (62%)
- Export (2017): USD 11 360 million
- Main export products: textiles, tea, rubber products, precious stones
- Main exporting countries: USA, UK, India
- Imports (2017): US $ 20 980 million
- Main import products: oil, raw materials for the textile industry, machinery and transport
- Main importing countries: India, China, Singapore
- Railway network (2016): 1 600 km
Most of Sri Lanka is lowland, only in the central parts are highlands. The coast has long beach tracks with lagoons, sand dunes and damp sinks inside. To the east are wavy plains with isolated mountains. Sri Lanka has many but relatively short rivers, often with series of waterfalls. The climate is humid tropical.
Sri Lanka’s president, elected for a maximum of two six-year terms, holds a strong position. The elected parliament, which stands for legislative power, is elected for six years. The country became independent in 1948.
Sri Lanka’s economy is mainly agricultural-based, but the light industry and the service sector are also important. The dominant industry in the service sector is tourism, which despite the political turmoil is significant. In the industrial production, the textile industry dominates, but in recent years the IT industry has made great progress. The country’s export revenue does not cover import costs, and the country depends on foreign aid and loans.
Sri Lanka Map
