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 resettled tens of thousands of internally displaced persons and has undertaken a number of massive infrastructure projects to reconstruct its economy.

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

slightly larger than West Virginia

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

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

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

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

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

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

21,283,913 (July 2011 est.)

17.42 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

5.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

-2.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

COLOMBO (capital) 681,000 (2009)

2.2 children born/woman (2011 est.)

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)

fewer than 200 (2009 est.)

urban: 98% of population

rural: 88% of population

total: 90% of population

urban: 2% of population

rural: 12% of population

total: 10% of population (2008)

urban: 88% of population

rural: 92% of population

total: 91% of population

urban: 12% of population

rural: 8% of population

total: 9% of population (2008)

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)

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

Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%

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

4 February 1948 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 4 February (1948)

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

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

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

18 years of age; universal

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)

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

Coalitions and leaders: Democratic National Alliance led by 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]

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;

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

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

Sri Lanka is engaging in large-scale reconstruction and development projects following the end of the 26-year conflict with the LTTE, including increasing electricity access and rebuilding its road and rail network. Additionally, Sri Lanka seeks to reduce poverty by using a combination of state directed policies and private investment promotion to spur growth in disadvantaged areas, develop small and medium enterprises, and promote increased agriculture. High levels of government funding may be difficult, as the government already is faced with high debt interest payments, a bloated civil service, and historically high budget deficits. The 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession exposed Sri Lanka's economic vulnerabilities and nearly caused a balance of payments crisis, which was alleviated by a $2.6 billion IMF standby agreement in July 2009. The end of the civil war and the IMF loan, however, have largely restored investors' confidence, reflected in part by the Sri Lankan stock market's recognition as one of the best performing markets in the world. Sri Lankan growth rates averaged nearly 5% in during the war, but increased government spending on development and fighting the LTTE in the final years spurred GDP growth to around 6-7% per year in 2006-08. After experiencing 3.5% growth in 2009, Sri Lanka's economy is poised to achieve high growth rates in the postwar period.

$106.5 billion (2010 est.)

$97.6 billion (2009 est.)

$94.02 billion (2008 est.)

$49.68 billion (2010 est.)

8.1 million (2010 est.)

23.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

86.7% of GDP (2010 est.)

85.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

7.5% (31 December 2009)

15% (31 December 2008)

10.91% (31 December 2009)

18.89% (31 December 2008 est.)

$4.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$3.628 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$19.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$16.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$18.34 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$16.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$8.133 billion (31 December 2009)

$4.326 billion (31 December 2008)

$7.553 billion (31 December 2007)

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

processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction

9.901 billion kWh (2008 est.)

8.417 billion kWh (2008 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

90,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

968.4 bbl/day (2007 est.)

87,690 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

$-1.784 billion (2010 est.)

$-291 million (2009 est.)

$7.908 billion (2010 est.)

$7.085 billion (2009 est.)

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

US 20.59%, UK 12.87%, Italy 5.51%, Germany 5.29%, India 4.54%, Belgium 4.43% (2009)

$11.6 billion (2010 est.)

$9.186 billion (2009 est.)

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

India 20.73%, China 13.45%, Singapore 7.26%, Iran 6.7%, South Korea 5.23% (2009)

$5.63 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$5.358 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$17.97 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$17.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -

3.523 million (2010)

15.868 million (2010)

government operates 2 television channels and a radio network; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services are obtainable; 8 private TV stations and about a dozen private radio stations in operation (2008)

1.777 million (2009)

160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2008)

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

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 5-year service obligation (2010)