We welcome you to our beautiful island, Sri Lanka. The island’s proud history of over 2500 years, and the breathtaking diversity of scenery will capture your heart and soul like no other destination. May the time you spend on our island be filled with exciting experiences and memories of which you will carry long after you leave our shores.

History

Geography

Sri Lanka, is located in the Indian Ocean to the southeast of India. It covers an area of approximately 65,610 square kilometers (25,330 square miles), making it the 25th largest island in the world.

Climate

Sri Lanka enjoys a consistently warm and pleasant climate throughout the year. Average temperatures hover around 27°C in Colombo and decrease as elevation rises towards the hill country, reaching as low as 10°C. The island experiences two main wet seasons: from May to July in the southwest and from December to January in the northeast. However, Sri Lanka does not have a distinct off-season; even during the wet periods, bright, sunny, and warm days are frequent. Sea temperatures generally stay around 27°C, maintaining a comfortable environment for beachgoers and water enthusiasts year-round.

Ethnicity

• Sinhalese: About 74.9% of the population.
• Sri Lankan Tamils: Approximately 11.2%.
• Sri Lankan Moors: Around 9.3%.
• Indian Tamils: About 4.1%.
• Other ethnicities (including Burghers, Malays, and others): Approximately 0.5%

Language

In Sri Lanka, the official languages are Sinhala and Tamil. Tamil is primarily spoken by the Tamil ethnic minority, whereas Sinhala is spoken by the majority Sinhalese ethnic group. Both languages are widely used in daily life, government, education, and the media on the island and have official status.

Additionally, English serves as a link language and is widely used in business, administration, and higher education. It is frequently spoken by educated Sri Lankans, particularly in urban areas and among professionals, and is taught as a second language in schools. Sri Lanka’s trilingual policy encourages fluency in English, Tamil, and Sinhala in order to facilitate unity and communication among the nation’s many ethnic and linguistic groups.

Time

Sri Lanka Standard Time is UTC+5:30.

Water

Filtered water and mineral waters as well as bottled drinking water are available. The yellow king coconut is a popular thirst quencher, and of course, the most popular drink is a hot cup of tea.

Religions

In Sri Lanka, the main religions are:

• Buddhism (70%): Predominantly practiced by the Sinhalese majority.
• Hinduism (12.6%): Mainly followed by the Tamil minority, particularly in the North and East.
• Islam (9.7%): Practiced mainly by the Sri Lankan Moor community.
• Christianity (7.4%): Including Roman Catholics and other Christian denominations introduced during colonial times.

Minority religions include small communities of Sikhs, Bahá’ís, and indigenous beliefs among certain groups.

Elevation extremes

Highest Point: The highest point in Sri Lanka is Pidurutalagala, standing at 2,524 meters (8,281 feet) above sea level. It is located in the central part of the island.

Lowest Point: The lowest point in Sri Lanka is sea level, as it is an island nation surrounded by the Indian Ocean.

Natural resources

Sri Lanka possesses several natural resources that contribute to its economy and development:

1. Minerals: Sri Lanka is known for its deposits of mineral sands such as ilmenite, rutile, zircon, and monazite. These minerals are valuable for industrial uses including titanium dioxide production and nuclear fuel processing.

2. Gemstones: The island is famous for its gemstone deposits, including high-quality sapphires, rubies, and other precious stones. The mining and trade of gemstones are significant economic activities.

3. Forests: Sri Lanka has rich biodiversity and valuable timber resources in its forests, including teak, mahogany, and sandalwood. In addition, forests help in storing carbon dioxide, maintain ecosystems, and offer habitat for wildlife.

4. Fisheries: The surrounding waters of Sri Lanka are abundant in marine resources, supporting a thriving fishing industry. Sri Lanka exports seafood such as tuna, shrimp, and prawns.

5. Agricultural Land: The fertile plains and valleys of Sri Lanka support agriculture, including the cultivation of rice, tea, rubber, coconut, and spices like cinnamon and pepper. Agriculture remains a key sector of the economy, employing a significant portion of the population.

Administrative divisions

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

Independence Day

4 February 1948 (from UK)

Executive branch

Chief of state : The president is Ranil Wickremesinghe (since 2022) & the prime Minister is Dinesh Gunawardena.

In Sri Lanka, the president is considered to be both the chief of state and the head of the government. This is in contrast to the more common practice of dividing the roles between the president and the prime minister when both offices exist.

Cabinet : Cabinet is appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister

Elections: The President is elected by popular vote for a term of five years

Legislative branch: Sri Lanka has a unicameral parliament consisting of 225 seats. Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected by popular vote based on a modified proportional representation system by district. MPs serve five-year terms, during which they legislate, debate, and represent their constituents’ interests at the national level.