Sri Lanka

Broadcast media

government operates 8 TV channels and a radio network; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 35 private TV stations and about 50 radio stations (2012)

Internet country code

.lk

Internet hosts

9,552 (2012) country comparison to the world: 136

Internet users

1.777 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 77

Telephone system

general assessment: telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing international: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

3.608 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 44

Telephones - mobile cellular

18.319 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 49

Agriculture - products

rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, vegetables, fruit, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish

Budget

revenues: $8.234 billion expenditures: $12.39 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Central bank discount rate

7.5% (19 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 7% (31 December 2011 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.5% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 9.41% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$4.737 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 164 -$4.638 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$22.82 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $22.66 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

49 (2010) country comparison to the world: 25 46 (1995)

Economy - overview

Sri Lanka continues to experience strong economic growth following the end of the 26-year conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ellam (LTTE). The government has been pursuing large-scale reconstruction and development projects supplemented with private investment in its efforts to spur growth in war-torn and disadvantaged areas, develop small and medium enterprises and increase agricultural productivity. The government's high debt payments and bloated civil service have contributed to historically high budget deficits, but economic reforms in recent years in line with IMF recommendations have helped bring down the government's fiscal deficit. The 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession exposed Sri Lanka's economic vulnerabilities and nearly caused a balance of payments crisis. Growth slowed to 3.5% in 2009. Economic activity rebounded strongly with the end of the war and an IMF agreement, resulting in three straight years of high growth in 2010-12. Per capita income of $6,100 on a purchasing power parity basis is among the highest in the region.

Exchange rates

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - 127.3 (2012 est.) 110.57 (2011 est.) 113.06 (2010 est.) 114.95 (2009) 108.33 (2008)

Exports

$10.51 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $10.54 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish

Exports - partners

US 19.8%, UK 9.2%, India 6.5%, Italy 5%, Germany 5%, Belgium 4.4% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$59.77 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$126.2 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 $118.2 billion (2011 est.) $109.2 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 12% industry: 30.1% services: 57.9% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,100 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 $5,800 (2011 est.) $5,400 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.8% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 8.3% (2011 est.) 7.8% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 36.8% (2009)

Imports

$19.76 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $20.27 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

India 25.6%, China 15.9%, Singapore 7.1%, Iran 6.2%, Japan 5% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

8.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.5% (November 2012) country comparison to the world: 196 7% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

27.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Labor force

8.194 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 31.8% industry: 25.8% services: 42.4% (June 2012)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$19.44 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 64 $19.92 billion (31 December 2010) $8.133 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

8.9% (2010 est.)

Public debt

79% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 79% of GDP (2011 est.) note: covers central government debt, and excludes debt instruments directly owned by government entities other than the treasury (e.g. commercial bank borrowings of a government corporation); the data includes treasury debt held by foreign entities as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement; sub-national entities are usually not permitted to sell debt instruments

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $7.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$21.89 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $18.88 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$24.42 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 $24.21 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.834 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 $3.852 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

13.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Unemployment rate

5.1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 4.2% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

14.09 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Crude oil - imports

41,000 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Electricity - consumption

9.268 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Electricity - from fossil fuels

47.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

52.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Electricity - installed generating capacity

3.088 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Electricity - production

10.71 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Refined petroleum products - consumption

89,620 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Refined petroleum products - imports

48,140 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Refined petroleum products - production

50,000 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Area

total: 65,610 sq km country comparison to the world: 122 land: 64,630 sq km water: 980 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate

tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

Coastline

1,340 km

Elevation extremes

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

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 12.61 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%) per capita: 608 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

7 00 N, 81 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

Irrigated land

5,700 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 13.96% permanent crops: 15.24% other: 70.8% (2005)

Location

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

Total renewable water resources

50 cu km (1999)

Administrative divisions

9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

Capital

name: Colombo geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 79 50 E time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

Constitution

adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; amended 20 December 2001

Country name

conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka conventional short form: Sri Lanka local long form: Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu local short form: Shri Lanka/Ilankai former: Serendib, Ceylon

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Michele J. SISON embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3 mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500 FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jaliya Chitran WICKRAMASURIYA chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028 FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles consulate(s): New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Dissanayake Mudiyanselage JAYARATNE holds the largely ceremonial title of prime minister (since 21 April 2010) head of government: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term, eligible for a second term; election last held on 26 January 2010 (next to be held in 2016) election results: Mahinda RAJAPAKSA reelected president for second term; percent of vote - Mahinda RAJAPAKSA 57.88%, Sarath FONSEKA 40.15%, other 1.97%

Flag description

yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green the Sri Lankan Moors; dark red represents the European Burghers, but also refers to the rich colonial background of the country; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag

Government type

republic

Independence

4 February 1948 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ABEDA, ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Legal system

mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and Jaffna Tamil customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of an open-list, proportional representation system by electoral district to serve six-year terms) elections: last held on 8 April 2010 with a repoll in two electorates held on 20 April 2010 (next to be held by April 2016) election results: percent of vote by alliance or party - United People's Freedom Alliance 60.93%, United National Party 29.34%, Democratic National Alliance 5.49%, Tamil National Alliance 2.9%, other 1.94%; seats by alliance or party - United People's Freedom Alliance 144, United National Party 60, Tamil National Alliance 14, Democratic National Alliance 7

National anthem

name: "Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka) lyrics/music: Ananda SAMARKONE note: adopted 1951

National holiday

Independence Day, 4 February (1948)

National symbol(s)

lion

Political parties and leaders

Coalitions and leaders: Democratic National Alliance, led by General (Retired) Sarath FONSEKA; Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Somawansa AMARASINGHE]; Tamil National Alliance led by Illandai Tamil Arasu Kachchi [R. SAMPANTHAN]; United National Front led by United National Party [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE]; United People's Freedom Alliance led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party [Mahinda RAJAPAKSA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE [P. SIVAPARAN, Chief of International Secretariat; V. RUDRAKUMARAN, legal advisor]; note - this insurgent group suffered military defeat in May 2009; some cadres remain scattered throughout country, but there have not been any incidents in Sri Lanka since May 2009 other: Buddhist clergy; labor unions; hard-line nationalist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the island were controlled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire in February 2002 with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006, but the government regained control of the Eastern Province in 2007. By May 2009, the government announced that its military had defeated the remnants of the LTTE. Since the end of the conflict, the government has enacted an ambitious program of economic development projects, many of which are financed by loans from the Government of China. In addition to efforts to reconstruct its economy, the government has resettled more than 95% of those civilians who were displaced during the final phase of the conflict and released the vast majority of former LTTE combatants captured by Government Security Forces. At the same time, there has been little progress on more contentious and politically difficult issues such as reaching a political settlement with Tamil elected representatives and holding accountable those alleged to have been involved in human rights violations at the end of the war.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 5,342,147 females age 16-49: 5,466,409 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 4,177,432 females age 16-49: 4,574,833 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 167,026 female: 162,587 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force (2010)

Military expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 57

Military service age and obligation

18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; 5-year service obligation (Air Force) (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.9% (male 2,723,657/ female 2,615,425) 15-64 years: 67% (male 7,041,566/ female 7,358,891) 65 years and over: 8.1% (male 747,433/ female 994,362) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

17.04 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

21.1% (2007) country comparison to the world: 30

Death rate

5.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,800 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Health expenditures

4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 162

Hospital bed density

3.1 beds/1,000 population (2004)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.47 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 147 male: 10.44 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% note: English, spoken competently by about 10% of the population, is commonly used in government and is referred to as the link language in the constitution

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.94 years country comparison to the world: 83 male: 72.43 years female: 79.59 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.2% male: 92.6% female: 90% (2010 census)

Major cities - population

COLOMBO (capital) 681,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne disease: dengue fever and chikungunya water contact disease: leptospirosis animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

35 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 117

Median age

total: 31.1 years male: 30.1 years female: 32.2 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Sri Lankan(s) adjective: Sri Lankan

Net migration rate

-1.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Physicians density

0.492 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

Population

21,481,334 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Population growth rate

0.913% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Religions

Buddhist (official) 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 88% of population rural: 92% of population total: 91% of population unimproved: urban: 12% of population rural: 8% of population total: 9% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.17 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 21.3% country comparison to the world: 49 male: 17.1% female: 27.9% (2009)

Urbanization

urban population: 14% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: at least 115,000 (civil war; more than half displaced prior to 2008; many of the more than 470,000 IDPs registered as returnees had not reached durable solutions as of September 2012)

Airports

18 (2012) country comparison to the world: 140

Airports - with paved runways

total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2012)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 21 country comparison to the world: 94 by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 13, chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 2 foreign-owned: 8 (Germany 8) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Colombo

Railways

total: 1,449 km country comparison to the world: 80 broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2007)

Roadways

total: 91,907 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 49

Waterways

160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2012) country comparison to the world: 101