- Country Name
- History
- Geographic Location
- Climate
- Government
- Economy
- Population
- Religion
- Languages
- The National Flag
- The National Anthem
- National Flower
- The National Emblem
Conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of
Sri Lanka
Conventional short form: Sri Lanka
Former names: Serendib, Ceylon
Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura
Commercial Capital: Colombo
Sri Lanka has an illustrious heritage of civilization and culture spanning more than two thousand years. Much of its deep- rooted heritage is eloquently documented in the “ Mahawansa” , the island’s ancient chronicle and medieval capitals , citadels, cities and sites.
The Mahavamsa – or “Great History” – which date backs to 543 B.C, commences with the arrival of the Indian Prince Vijaya in Sri Lanka. Although there is some evidence that the island was inhabited since pre-historic times, it is believed that the advent of Vijaya, theIndian Prince, with his 700 followers in 543 B.C. laid the foundation of the Sinhala race which constitutes the majority of the population of the country .
Some 300 years later, commenced the early Anuradhapura Period, with King Devanampiya Tissa as the first ruler. Buddhism, the main religion of Sri Lanka was officially introduced to the Island in the third century B.C. during the reign of King Devanam Piyatissa by Venerable Mahinda who was the son of Emperor Asoka of India. This considered the most important event, in Sri Lankan history as it set the country on the road to cultural greatness. The patronage and protection of Buddhism became the prime duty of Sri Lankan Kings. Massive Dagabas are a common feature of the heritage sites. Another highlights of the ancient Sri Lankan civilization was its sophisticated irrigation system, of reservoirs and feeder channels which sustained a thriving agriculture, vibrant economy and a society of wealth and elegance.
It was in this period that a sapling of the sacred Bo Tree, under which the Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, was brought to Sri Lanka. The late Anuradhapura Period, which began in the year 459, saw the reign of King Kasyapa, and the construction of Sigiriya, the Rock Fortress considered a wonder of the World
During the medieval period, Sri Lanka suffered again at the hands of South Indian invaders. The ongoing threat of invasion was finally broken in 1070 when King Vijayabahu defeated and sent out the south Indian Cholas, and established a new capital at Polonnaruwa. The capital prospered for over two centuries, especially under King Parakramabahu, who turned it into one of Asia's most splendid cities. However, Indian incursions resumed later and Polonnaruwa fell in 1215.
With internal strife and economic troubles from time to time the capital was transferred to other cities such as Ruhuna, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Gampola, Dedigama, Kotte, Seethawaka and Kandy.
The Portuguese Period
At this time Sri Lanka had three main kingdoms – the Kingdom of Jaffna in the north, the Kingdom of Kandy in the central highlands and Kotte, the most powerful, in the south-west. In 1505 the Portuguese, under Lorennco de Almeida established friendly relations with the king of Kotte and gained, for Portugal, a monopoly in the spice and cinnamon trade, which soon became of enormous importance in Europe. Attempts by the Kotte to utilize the strength and protection of the Portuguese only resulted in Portugal taking over and ruling not only these regions, but the rest of the island, except form the central highlands around Kandy. Because the highlands were remote and inaccessible, the kings of Kandy were always able to defeat the attempts by the Portuguese to annex the Kandian Kingdom , and on a number of occasions, drove the Portuguese right back down to the coast.
The Dutch Period
Attempts by Kandy to enlist Dutch help in expelling the Portuguese only resulted in the substitution of one European power for another. By 1658, 153 years after the first Portuguese contact in 1505 , the Dutch took control over the costal areas of the Island. During their 140-year-rule the Dutch, like the Portuguese, were involved in repeated unsuccessful attempts to bring Kandy under their control. The Dutch were much more interested in trade and profits than the Portuguese, who spent a lot of effort on spreading their religion and extending their physical control.
The British Period
The French revolution resulted in a major shake-up among the European powers and in 1796 the Dutch were easily supplanted by the British by an exchange of treaty.
In 1815 the kingdom of Kandy was ceded to the British and thus they established their rule over the whole island. Modern communications, western medical services, education in English, as well as the plantation industry (first coffee then tea, rubber and coconut) developed during British rule.
Independence
Between World War I and World War II, political stirrings started to push Sri Lanka towards eventual independence from Britain – but more in a considerably peaceful manner. By a process of peaceful, constitutional evolution, Sri Lanka won back her independence in 1948 and is now a sovereign republic, with membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations Organisation.
Sri Lanka is an island situated at the southern tip of India between 6° and 10° north and 80° and 82° east. The country is separated from India by the Palk Straits, 32km wide at its narrowest.
Sri Lanka measures 432 km north to south & 224 km east to west, covering a total area of 65,610 sq.km.
The island's strategic location in the Indian Ocean on the major air & sea routes between Europe & the Far East is an advantage in positioning Sri Lanka as a global logistics hub.
Sri Lanka has a pleasant tropical climate with two climatic zones - the wet & the dry. Temperatures range from 23-30 degrees Celsius in the lowlands & 16 - 25 degrees Celsius in the hill country. The average temperature in the country is approximately 27 degrees Celsius.
| Minimum | Maximum | |
| Low Country | 23.8 | 31.6 |
| Hill Country | 16.9 | 25.8 |
Government type: Republic
Sri Lanka, is a free, independent and sovereign nation. Legislative power is exercised by a Parliament, (225 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of a modified proportional representation system district to serve six-year terms) .Elections were last held on 2 April 2004 and the next be held by 2010
The Chief of State is a President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005); (The president is both the chief of state and head of government. The President ( who is elected by the people) who exercises thecexecutive power inclusive of defense.
Elections: The President elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 November 2005 (next to be held in 2011)
Prime Minister: Ratnasiri WICKREMANAYAKE (since 21 November 2005)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the Prime Minister
Independence: 4 February 1948
Constitution: Adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978
Legal system : A-highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman Dutch , Islamic, Sinhalese, and customary law
In 1977, Colombo abandoned its import substitution trade policy for a more market-oriented policy an export-oriented trade, and encouragement of foreign investment.
Today, Sri Lanka is ranked as the most liberalized economy in South Asia. Investors are provided with preferential tax rates, constitutional guarantees on investment agreements, exemptions from exchange control and 100% repatriation of profits. Sri Lanka's most dynamic sectors now are food processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages, port development, telecommunications, and insurance and banking. Sri Lanka's strategic location in the Indian Ocean on the major air & sea routes between Europe & the Far East gives it an advantage as a global logistics hub.
Structure of the Economy
GDP - composition by sector: (2006 est.)
Agriculture - 17.2%
Industry - 27.0%
Services - 55.8%
GDP - real growth rate: 7.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capital(PPP): $4,700 (2006 est.)
Sri Lanka’ s economy is dominated by the service sector, with a sizeable presence of industry and agriculture. The services sector is dominated by trade, port and telecommunication services, financial services, tourism and business services.Tourism is a highly developed industry in Sri Lanka and is one of the main foreign exchange earners.
The chief crop is rice in which the country is almost self sufficient. Tea, rubber and coconut are also important agricultural crops, with tea being a major foreign exchange earner to the economy. Sri Lanka is the world’s third largest tea producer and major player in the world of tea. The various teas from Sri Lanka are marketed world-wide under the term “ Ceylon Tea” and it has been said that Ceylon tea is Sri Lanka’s gift to the world.
Sri Lanka is also the largest producer and exporter of cinnamon, contributing to about 90% of the world’s cinnamon supply. The country also exports rubber products such as solid rubber tyres for off road vehicles.
In addition, other crops of importance are cocoa and spices such as, cardamons, nutmeg, pepper and cloves. Sri Lanka is also a major exporter of precious and semi-precious stones. Within the last few years remittances from Sri Lankans employed abroad have contributed a large share towards the foreign exchange earnings.
Exports - The value of total exports of Sri Lanka during 2006 was US$ 6829.5 Million
Export Commodities: Textiles and Apparel, Tea, Rubber, Coconut products, Gems, Spices, Ceramic products, Wooden articles, Activated carbon, Articles of leather, and Articles of steel, Semi-manufactured products , fish , fruits and vegitables
Export Partners: USA, UK ,India, Belgium
Imports - The value of total imports of Sri Lanka during 2006 was US$ 9867.7 Million
Import - commodities: Machinery and equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, synthetic yarn fabrics, wheat fertilizer, chemicals, building materials, food stuffs. transportation equipment
Import Partners: India, China, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, Hong Kong , Japan
Natural resources : Gems, clay, limestone, graphite, mineral sands, phosphates, Marine resources
Agriculture - Products : Rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, roots, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, meat.
Major Industries: Textiles & Garments, Processing of tea, rubber, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities, Tourism, Gem & Jewellery, clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco.
Currency: Decimal currency system in Rupees (Rs.) and cents (Cts.) with 100 cents equal to a rupee
| Nationality: | Sri Lankan |
| Mid-year population ('000) (2005): | 19,668 |
| Male ('000): | 9,361 (47.6%) |
| Female ('000): | 10,306 (52.4%) |
| Population Density (2005): | 314 persons per sq. km |
| Annual growth in the population: | 1.1 % |
| Life expectancy at birth: | 74 female, 64 male |
| Literacy rate: | 91.8% |
Source: Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic, multi religious country with a diverse & rich culture. The Sinhalese, the majority community, comprise 74.0% of the country's estimated 19.7mn population. The other ethnic groups that are part of Sri Lanka's social fabric are the Sri Lankan Tamils, Indian Tamils, Moors & other minorities including Malays & Burghers. Each of these groups has its own identity, customs & traditions.
| Sinhalese | 74.0 % |
| Sri Lankan Tamils | 12.6 % |
| Moors | 7.1 % |
| Indian Tamils | 5.5 % |
| Others | 0.08% |
Source: Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka
| Buddhists | 69.3% |
| Hindus | 15.5 % |
| Christians | 7.6 % |
| Muslims | 7.5 % |
| Others | 0.01% |
Source Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka
The two official languages are Sinhala & Tamil. Sinhala is the language of the majority of the population. Tamil is widely used in the northern & eastern parts of the country. English is widely spoken & understood in the urban centres. It is the language of business & commerce.
The National Flag of Sri Lanka is the Lion Flag. The National Flag is a symbol of the motherland and of the independence and the unity of its people. The Lion in the flag represents the Sinhala race. The vertical stripe of Orange represents the Minority Tamil race and the green vertical stripe represents the minority Muslim race .The bo-leaves at the four corners represent Buddhism and its influence on the nation. They also stand for the four virtues, kindness, friendliness, happiness and equanimity. The border round the flag, which is in yellow colour, represents the minority races..The maroon coloured portion of the flag manifests the other minor religions.
Sri Lanka Matha" composed by late Mr. Ananda Samarakoon.
Sri Lanka Matha, Apa Sri Lanka,
Namo... Namo... Namo... Namo Matha.
Sundara Siri Barini, Surandi Athi Sobamana Lanka
Dhanya Dhanaya Neka Mal Palathuru Piri, Jaya Bhoomiya Ramya.
Apa Hata Sepa Siri Setha Sadana, Jee Vanaye Matha!
Piliganu Mena Apa Bhakti Pooja,
Namo... Namo... Matha. - Apa Sri ……Lanka,
Namo.. Namo.. Namo.. Namo Matha,
Apa Sri Lanka, Namo Namo Namo Namo Matha.
Obave Apa Vidya Obamaya Apa Sathya, Obave Apa Shakti
Apa Hada Thula Bhakti - Oba Apa Aloke - Apage Anuprane
Oba Apa Jeevana Ve - Apa Muktiya Obave
Nava Jeevana Demine- Nnithina Apa Pubudu Karan Matha
Gnana Veerya Vadavamina Ragena Yanu Mena Jaya Bhoomi Kkara
Eka Mavekuge Daru Kela Bavina - Yamu Yamu Wee Nopama
Prema Vadamu Sama Bheda Durara Da - Namo.. Namo.. Matha
The Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea stellata) is the National Flower.
Nil Mahanel flower was declared the National Flower of Sri Lanka on February 26, 1986. Its botanical name is 'Nympheae Stelleta and grows in shallow waters and is found in all parts of the country. ' The flower which is purplish blue in colour has a heavy concentration of petals in the center. The Nil Mahanel flower is also considered a symbol of truth, purity and discipline. This flower is mentioned in many Sinhala, Pali and Sanskrit literary works. This flower which is also referred to as "Kuvalaya ", "indheewara", "Niluppala", "Nilothpala" and "Nilupul" occupies a pre eminent position in Buddhist literature too. It is said the 'Nil Mahanel Flower' was among the 108 ceremonial designs found on the footprint of Prince Siddhartha. It is believed that the damsels depicted in Sigiriya Frescoes also carry the Nil Mahanel flower in their hands. Traditional poetry known as "Sandesa Kavya" likens women's eyes to the Nil Mahanel flower which has also been used as an ear ornament.
Sri Lanka used the British emblem when it was a British Crown Colony and this continued after gaining independence in 1948. Only years of after a select committee appointed devised a state emblem more suitable for Sri Lanka. It had a lion with a sword in its right fore paw encircled with a 'Palapethi' design top. In addition to the lion with sword and the 'Palapethi' design it portrays the punkalasa, dhammachakka, sun, moon and two sheaves of paddy. Below there was a strip carrying the country's name in Sinhala, Tamil and English.
