Country Profile

A Brief Country Profile

Full name : Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Population : 21 million

Capital : Colombo (commercial), Sri Jayawardenepura (administrative)

Largest city : Colombo

Area : 65,610 sq km (25,332 sq miles)

Ethnic groups : Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Indian Tamils, others

Languages : Sinhala & Tamil (official langauges), English (link language)

Religions : Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity

Life expectancy : 71 years (men), 79 years (women) (UN)

Suffrage : 18 years of age; universal

National Day : 04th February 1948

Government :

Executive -    President, Chief of State and Head of Government
(Elected for a 6-year term)

Legislative -    Unicameral Parliament (225 seats)

Judicial     -          Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, subordinate courts.

President : His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa
Prime Minister : Hon. D. M. Jayaratne

Administrative subdivisions : 9 provinces and 25 administrative districts

Monetary unit : Sri Lankan rupee

Main exports : Textiles and apparel, tea and spices, rubber manufactures, precious
stones, coconut products

Internet domain : .lk

International dialling code : +94