Hi, I am Rasika Priyanga Wickramanayake - From Sri Lanka... Many thanks for visiting my home page.!

ABOUT SRI LANKA

Warm greetings from Sri Lanka...!!!

The land of a thousand breathtaking spectacles. As you journey through these pages, I invite you to enjoy the lush foliage of the country side, the mountains full of tea gardens, the patchwork quilt like rice paddies, the wholesome village life, the never ending stretches of coconut fringed beaches, the exquisite underwater coral scrapes, cascading waterfalls, colorful festivals and pageantry, magnificent ancient cities, nearly half as old as time, the flowers in all their glory...nature's bounty in such abundance!! Most of all, enjoy the images of Sri Lanka's most treasured resource...her people.

Sri Lanka Flag & National Anthem

The Government Emblem

The Government Emblem- Sri Lanka used the British emblem when it was a British Crown Colony. She continued to use it even after gaining independence in 1948. This emblem was chosen after the country was declared a Republic on May 22, 1972.

Geographical Name:

Sri Lanka

Official Name:

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Geographical Location:

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, situated 50 Km or 31 miles off the Southern tip of India, and is separated from India by the "Palk Strait."

Geographic coordinates:

Latitude: 5o 55' to 9o 50'N
Longitude: 79o 42' to 81o 52'E
Length: North to South- 434 Km.
East to West - 227 Km.

Topography:

The coastal areas and northern half are flat. The central and south-central are hilly and mountainous.

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,340 km

Area:

65,610 sq.kms. (25,332 sq.miles)

Maritime claims:

contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

No marked seasons. A special feature is that the hot and humid lowlands and the salubrious hill country are separated by a few hours motoring. Average mean temperature along the coast is 26.7oC (80oF) and 19.7oC (66.5oF) in the hill country. In Colombo, the commercial capital, situated on the west coast, the temperature varies from 26.4oC (79.5oF) to 27.8oC (82.12oF).

There is rainfall throughout the year and two main seasons are identified:

South-West Monsoon: May to July North-East Monsoon: November to January.

A number of rivers starting from the Central Highlands flow to the sea in a Radial Pattern.

Longest river - Mahaveli (331 Km)
Highest waterfall - Bambarakanda (240 m)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Natural resources:

limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 13.43%
permanent crops: 15.78%
other: 70.79% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:

6,510 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

People:

Sri Lankan

Population:

19,576,783

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.6% (male 2,559,246; female 2,446,393)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 6,446,320; female 6,802,515)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 628,398; female 693,911) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.85% (2002 est.)

Birth rate:

16.36 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate:

6.45 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

15.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.35 years
female: 75 years (2002 est.)
male: 69.83 years

Total fertility rate:

1.93 children born/woman (2002 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)

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

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.2%
male: 93.4%
female: 87.2% (1995 est.)

Government:

Sri Lanka

Country name:

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

Government type:

A Democratic Government, with an Executive President and a Parliament elected by the people.

Capital:

Colombo; Note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital

Working Days/Hours:

Sri Lanka adopts a five-day week, Monday to Friday. Hours of business are normally:

Government Departments:
9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.(Monday-Friday)

Mercantile Offices: 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
(Monday - Friday) 8.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
(Saturday)

Shops: 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.(Monday-Friday) 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.
(on Saturdays) Closed on Sundays and Mercantile Holidays.

Banks: 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. (Monday -Friday) Some Banks are open
on Saturdays.

Post Offices: 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. (Monday - Friday) 8.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.(Saturday)

Weights & Measures:

The metric system

Electricity Supplies:

230/240 volts, 50 Hz AC.

Airports:

The Bandaranayake International Airport - 29 Km. from the City of Colombo.
Rathmalana Domestic/Military Air port )

Colombo Port:

The Colombo Port, graded the twenty-first port in the world, and the hub port of South Asia, is heading for a fully computerized environment, with Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) facility operations, as per UN EDIFACT standards by the year 2003.

What to declare on arrival:

(1) All currencies including travellers cheques, drafts, letters of credit and bills of exchange.

(2) Precious metals i.e. Platignum, Gold and silver.

(3) Precious stones and valuable jewellery (in order to facilitate outward clearance).

(4) Firearms and dangerous weapons.

(5) Drugs and narcotics.

(6) Flora and fauna (Sri Lanka is a signatory To the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).

(7) Any goods in commercial quantities.

Currency Regulations:

Foreign currency should be encashed only at banks or authorized money changers. The currency declarations made at entry to the country may be required at this stage. Credit cards are accepted for payments.

Currency Unit:

Sri Lankan Rupee (A Rupee is divided into One hundred Cents)

National Tree:

The "Na Tree", botanically known as "Mesua Nagassarium" was adopted as the National Tree of Sri Lanka on 26 February 1986.

National Flower :

" Nil Manel" - The "Nil Mahanel" flower, botanically known as "Nympheae Stellata" was declared the National Flower of Sri Lanka on 26th February 1986.

Human Development
Index (HDI):

During the post-independence period, Sri Lanka developed into a state with strong foundations, whose standards of literacy (89 per cent), education, health (life expectancy 72 years for females and 69 years for males) and nutrition, are among the best in the developing world. UNDP and UNICEF rate Sri Lanka as one of the best among developing countries on the Human development Index basis.

Herbal Medications:

Sri Lanka is one of the most popular destinatinations for lovers of herbal medications and also having some well-equipped hospitals for those who cross many miles to experience the tremendous therapeutic value of it, while being in relaxing and salubrious environs. Please contact via e-mail, the Embassy for details.

Gems and Jewellery:

The Sri Lanka gemstone industry combines tradition that dates from ancient times with modern cutting-edge skills that make the island a leader in the processing of rough stones and the manufacture of gem-studded jewellery.

Sri Lanka also offers a colourful array of gems including Rubies, Padparadschas, Alexandrites, Cat's Eyes, Star Sapphires, Star Rubies, Garnets, Spinels, Aquamarines, Moon Stones, Topaz etc., along with a wide variety of Sapphires- Blue, Pink, Yellow and Orange.

Major Exports:

Garment Items, Tea, Rubber, Coconut products, spices, Cocoa, Aurvedha and herbal products, various fruits and vegetable products

Spices:

Sri Lanka has been known for her spices from time immemorial. Climate and peculiar geographical characteristics make spices grown in Sri Lanka, bring about a superior aroma and taste. Cinnamon, pepper, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, mace, ginger, etc. are available for export from Sri Lanka.