Conventional
long form: Democratic Socialist Republic
of Sri Lanka
conventional short form: Sri Lanka ; former:
Ceylon
Size
65,525 sq km
Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura
Commercial Capital
Colombo
National Flag
National
Flag of Sri Lanka is the Lion Flag. A Lion
bearing a sword in its right hand is depicted
in gold on red background with a yellow
border. Four Bo leaves pointing inwards
are at the four corners. 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.
National Anthem
Sri
Lanka Matha" composed by late Mr. Ananda
Samarakoon.
National Flower
The
Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea stellata) is the
National Flower.
Population
19 million
Languages
Sinhala
, Tamil & English is widely spoken throughout
Sri Lanka, with the exception of remote
villages.
Religion
Buddhism-
70 per cent; Hinduism- 16 per cent; Christianity-
7 per cent; Islam-7 per cent
Climate
Low
Lands – tropical, average 27C
Central Hills – cooler, with temperatures
dropping to 14C. The south-west monsoon
brings rain to the western, southern and
central regions from May to July, while
the north-eastern monsoon occurs in the
north and east in December and January.
Sri Lanka has a good climate for holiday-makers
throughout the year.
Industries
Processing
of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural
commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum
refining, textiles, tobacco.
Sri Lanka follows decimal currency system
in Rupees (Rs.) and cents (Cts.) with 100
cents equal to a rupee. Currency notes are
available in the denominations of Rs. 2,10,20,50,100,200,
500 and 1000. Coins are issued in values
of Cts.1,2,5,10, 25 and 50 and Rs.1,2,5
and 10. The intervention currency continuously
will be the US Dollar.
Visa
Residents from countries are issued visas
on arrival. Consult your local Sri Lanka
embassy, consulate, tourist office or your
travel agent.
Location
An
island off the south-eastern cost shores
of India, 880 km north of the equator, in
the Indian Ocean.
National
Flag of Sri Lanka is the Lion Flag. A Lion
bearing a sword in its right hand is depicted
in gold on red background with a yellow
border. Four Bo leaves pointing inwards
are at the four corners. 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.
The
Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea stellata) is the
National Flower.
An
island off the south-eastern cost shores
of India, 880 km north of the equator, in
the Indian Ocean.
