The Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Serendib, Ceylon or Sri Lanka, has long captivated travelers from all over the world with its natural beauty and its rich, diverse culture.
 
From the golden beaches of the southern coast to the mist-filled hill country, from the ruins of the cultural triangle to virgin rainforests, and from lush green paddies to desert-like plains, Sri Lanka offers travelers a wide range of sites and unique experiences in addition to the seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. But it is the hospitality of the Sri Lankan people that makes traveling to Sri Lanka truly delightful and worthwhile.
 
General Facts About Sri Lanka  

Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
 
Commercial Capital
Colombo
 
Government
Legislative power is exercised by Parliament, elected by universal franchise on proportional representation. The President, also popularly elected, exercises executive power inclusive of defense. Sri Lanka enjoys a multiparty system and elects a new government every six years.


National Flag

Sri Lanka’s national flag depicts a lion in gold bearing a sword in its right paw on a red background with a yellow border. Four bo leaves are at the four corners pointing inwards. Two vertical bands of green and orange at the mast end represent the minority ethnic groups. It is an adaptation of the standard of the last King of Sri Lanka.

 
Population
21,128,773 

Life expectancy at birth
74 female, 64 male

Literacy rate
91.8%
 
Languages
Sinhala and Tamil. English is also widely spoken in Sri Lanka except in remote villages.

 
Ethnic mix
Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Muslim 7%, Burgher (descendants of Dutch and Portuguese colonists) and others 1%
 
Religion
Buddhism 70%, Hinduism 16%, Christianity 7%, Islam 7%
 
Climate
Lowlands - tropical, average temperature 27C
Central Hills - cooler, with temperatures dropping to 14C.
The southwest monsoon brings rain to the western, southern, and central regions from May to July while the northeastern monsoon occurs in the north and east in December and January.
 
Industries
Processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco.
 
Agricultural Products
Rice, sugar cane, grains, pulses, oilseed, roots, spices, tea, rubber, coconut; milk, eggs, hides, meat.
 
Currency
Rupee & Cents
Coins: 25 & 50 Cents
             1, 2, 5, 10 Rupees