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• Official Name: The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
  
   

• Location: Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) is an independent Island-nation. It is one of the largest islands in the Indian Ocean and lies approximately 20 miles to the southeast of the southernmost tip of India.The narrow Palk Strait divides Sri Lanka from India.

• History: The history of Sri Lanka goes back to pre-historic times with a recorded history of over 2,500 years. Recent excavations show that even during the Neolithic Age in Sri Lanka, there were food-gatherers and rice cultivators. Very little is known of this period and documented history began with the arrival of the settlers from North India. They introduced the use of agriculture through a rudimentary system of irrigation. They also introduced the art of government. Of the ancient settlements, Anuradhapura grew into a powerful kingdom under the rule of Pandukabhaya. According to traditional history he is accepted as the founder of Anuradhapura. During the region of King Devanampiya Tissa, a descendant of Pandukabhaya, Buddhism was introduced in 247 B.C. by Arahat Mahinda, the son of Emperor Asoka of India. This is an important event in Sri Lankan history as it made the country predominantly Buddhist influencing its way of life and culture. In the mid 2nd century B.C. a large part of Northern Sri Lanka came under the rule of an invaders from South India.
  
  From the beginning of the Christian era and up to the end of the 4th century A.D. Sri Lanka was governed by an unbroken dynasty called Lambakarna, which paid great attention to the development of irrigation. A great king of this dynasty King Mahasen (3rd century A.D.) started the construction of large 'tanks' (reservoirs) which in turn fed smaller reservoirs. Another great 'tank' builder was Dhatusena, who was put to death by his son Kasyapa, who made Sigiriya a royal city with his fortress capital on the summit of the rock. As a result of invasions from South India the Kingdom of Anuradhapura fell by the end of the 10th century A.D. Vijayabahu I repulsed the invaders and established his capital at Polonnaruwa in the 11th century A.D. Other great kings of Polonnaruwa were Parakramabahu the Great and Nissanka Malla, both of whom adorned the city with numerous buildings of architectural beauty.
  
  Invasions continued intermittently and the capital was moved constantly until the Portuguese arrived in 1505, when the main city was established in Kotte, in the western lowlands. The Portuguese came to trade in spices, but stayed to rule until 1658 in the coastal regions, as did the Dutch thereafter. The Dutch rule lasted from 1658 to 1796, in which year they were displaced by the British. During this period the central kingdom, with its capital Kandy, retained its independence despite repeated assaults by foreign powers who ruled the rest of the country. In 1815 the Kingdom of Kandy was ceded to the British who thus 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 the British rule. 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 United Nations Organization and the Commonwealth.

• National Flag:
  
  Mr. A. Sinnalebbe, MP for Batticaloa tabled a motion in the State Council on January, 16, 1948 suggesting that the Lion Flag of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe which was taken to Britain in 1815 should be made the National Flag. This was debated and later Prime Minister Rt. Hon. D.S. Senanayake named an Advisory committee for the formulation of a National Flag. The Members of the Committee were Mr. J.R. Jayewardene, Mr. T.B. Jayah, Dr. L.A. Rajapakse, Mr. G.G. Ponnambalam and Senator S. Nadesan. Although a Committee for the formulation of a National Flag was appointed no finality had been reached when the first independence day was celebrated on February 4th, 1948. However the Lion Flag fluttered that day. The Lion Flag and the British Union Jack fluttered on the occasion of the opening of the first Parliament of independent Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) on February 19th, 1948. Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake unfurled the Lion Flag at the Octagon (Pattirippuwa) during the independence celebration held in Kandy on February 12th, 1948. The National Flag recommended by the special committee was presented to Parliament by Mr. D.S. Senanayake on March 2nd, 1951 and adopted. It had two strips, one green and the other yellow. Each of these strips had to be equal to one seventh the size of the flag. When Sri Lanka was declared first a Republic in 1972 the traditional Bo leaves depicted in the National Flag were changed to resemble natural Bo leaves. The amended flag was first unfurled at the Republic Day celebration held on May 22nd, 1972. The National Flag is incorporated in Section 6 Second Schedule of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka of September 9th, 1978. Except for the new Bo leaves the present flag is the same flag recommended by the the National Flag Committee on March 2nd. 1951.
  
   
• National Symbol:
  Sri Lanka used the British emblem when it was a British Crown Colony. We continued to use it even after gaining independence in 1948. According to the recommendation of a select committee appointed to devise a state emblem more suitable for Sri Lanka (Ceylon) we opted for a new state emblem. It had a lion with sword in its right fore paw encircled with a 'Palapethi' design atop. Below there was a strip carrying the country's name in Sinhala, Tamil and English. A new Republican emblem was chosen after the country was declared a Republic on May 22nd, 1972. In addition to the lion with sword and the 'Palapethi' design it portrays the punkalasa, dhammachakka, sun, moon and two sheaves of paddy.
  
   
• National Flower:
  
  Nil Mahanel flower was declared the National Flower of Sri Lanka on February 26, 1986. Its botanical name is 'Nympheae Stelleta.' 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. This proves that it had been a ceremonial flower throughout history. 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. The Nil Mahanel plant which grows in shallow waters 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.
  
   
• National Anthem
  
  Sri Lanka Matha, apa Sri Lanka,
  Namo... Namo... Namo... Namo Matha.
  
  Sundara siri barini,
  Surandi athi Sobamana Lanka
  Dhanya dhanaya neka mal pala thuru 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 nithina apa
  Pubudu karan matha
  Gnana veerya vadavamina ragena yanu
  mana jaya bhoomi kara
  Eka mavekuge daru kala bavina
  yamu yamu wee nopama
  Prema vadamu sama bheda durara da Namo.. Namo.. Matha
  
   
• Religions:

  Buddhism Buddhism is the religion of the majority. Introduced into the country 2,230 years ago, Buddhism is maintained in its purest form in Sri Lanka. Hinduism is mainly practices by the Tamil population. Christianity Catholic as well as non-Catholic denominations, such as Anglicans (Church of England), Presbyterian, Methodist, and Adventist is practiced by around 7% of the population. Islam is also practiced by around 8% of the population of Sri Lanka.
   

• Geography:
  Location
  Latitude 5.55 to 9.50 N
  Longitude 79.42 to 81.52 E
  Size
  25,332 sq. miles (65,606 sq. Km)
  
  Cities

  Capital - Sri Jayawardenapura
  Commercial Capital - Colombo (Population - 800,000 approximately)
  Other large cities - Kandy, Galle, Jaffna
  Ports - Colombo, Trincomalee, and Galle
  International Airport - Katunayake (20 miles from Colombo)
  
  Terrain
  Coastal plains, central hills, mountains (highest mountain: Pidurutalagala 8,281 feet)
  
  Climate
  Tropical
  
  Average temperatures:

  Maximum / Minimum
  Colombo 87.7°F / 75.2°F
  Kandy 83.7°F / 68.4°F
  Nuwara Eliya 68.4°F / 52.5°F
  
  Rainfall
  Geographical Distribution
  Average annual rainfall varies from about 37" to 228". South West quarter and Central Region (approx. 1/3 of the Island) receives average 79" with a highest range between 158" to 228" being restricted to Western slopes of the Central Hills and North Eastern Hill Country. A little less than 2/3rd of Sri Lanka receives less than 79". The lowest average rainfall is less than 40" is confined to the extreme North Western and South East Region of Sri Lanka.
  
   
  Seasonal Distribution
  
  March/April - Conventional (Inter-monsoonal)
  May through September - South West Monsoonal
  October/November - Conventional/Cyclonic
  Depressional (Inter-monsoonal)
  December through February - North East Monsoonal/Depressional
  
   
  Time Difference
  
  Standard time in Sri Lanka is 6 hours ahead of GMT;
  
   
• Demography:
  
  People
  
  Nationality - Sri Lankan
  Population - 20.01 million (2007)
  Population growth rate - 1.1% (2007)
  Infant mortality rate/1000 live births - 11.2 (2003)
   
  Languages
  Sinhala and Tamil (Official languages)
  English (Link language)
  
  Education
  Compulsory from age 5 to 14 years
  15 Universities offering degree courses in - Humanities, Natural Science, Business Management, Commerce, Mass Communication, Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering, Agriculture, Law, Veterinary Science, Architecture, and Computer Studies.
  
   
• Government: Sri Lanka has a Republican form of Government. The current constitution was adopted in 1978. Universal suffrage began in 1931. The age of voting is 18 and above.
  
  The executive branch consists of the President and a Cabinet of Ministers headed by the President. The President who is elected directly by the people for a six-year term (maximum two terms) is Head of the State and Head of Government. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President from among the Members of Parliament.
  
  The legislature - parliament consists of 225 representatives (from whom Ministers are appointed by the President). The Members of Parliament are elected for 6 year terms at periodical General Elections through a system of proportional representation.

  The Sri Lankan Parliament is a Unicameral (one chamber) assembly.

   
• Judiciary:

  The Judicial power is exercised by an independent judiciary. The Judiciary is headed by the Chief Justice who is appointed by the President.
  The different levels of the judiciary are:

  The Supreme Court
  The Court of Appeal
  The High Court
  Courts of first instance and tribunals
  
   
• Economy:
  Monetary Unit - Sri Lanka Rupees; current exchange rate Rs.110 =US$1 (2008)app.
  Economic growth rate - 6.8% (2007)
  GDP per capita income - US$1167 dollars (2007)
  Natural resources - Gems, clay, limestone, graphite, mineral sands, phosphates, Marine resources
  Agriculture - 11.9% of GDP (2007)
  Food Crops - Rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oil seeds, spices, tea, coconut, livestock, poultry, dairy products.
  Industry - 28.5% of GDP (2007)
  Services - 59.6% of GDP (2007)
  
  Main Exports
  Garments, tea, rubber, coconut products, gems, spices, ceramic products, wooden articles, made-up textiles, activated carbon, articles of leather, and articles of steel, semi-manufactured products.
  
  Services
  Tourism, port facilities, banking, logistics, processional services and labour.
  
   
  Sri Lanka's top ten trading partners (Exports/Imports 2007)
   
  Major Buyers (Exports)                     Major Suppliers (Imports)

  United States of America                  India
  United Kingdom                               Singapore
  India                                                   China
  Germany                                            Iran
  Belgium                                              Hong Kong 
  Italy                                                    Japan
  United Arab Emirates                      United Arab Emirates
  Russian Federation                           Malaysia
  France                                                Taiwan
  Japan                                                  United States of America

  
  Economic Policy:
  The Government is committed to building a strong national economy within a market friendly framework. The principal engine of growth is the private sector. Foreign Exchange liberalization measures will continue and be improved; private foreign investment both direct and portfolio are strongly encouraged through the provision of appropriate incentives. The scope of the private sector is being expanded by encouraging and providing it with the required facilities. New areas of production in agriculture, industry, infrastructure development and the services sector are being promoted. Colombo has a lively stock exchange. Many areas of the economy have been identified and privatized with the view to enhance productivity and further expansion.

(C) Sri Lanka High Commission Singapore

Last updated on December 2008