The Prince “Wijaya” arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C.,  probably from northern India. Before arrive this Indian prince Wijaya to Sri Lanka, there were three tribes living in the island. They call “Yaksha” (Devil) “Naga” (Snake) “Deva” (God). Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 2nd Century B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200 AD). The Island was occupied by the Portuguese in the 1505 AD and by the Dutch in the 1662AD; the island was occupied by the British in 1796-1948. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972.

Area: Total: 65,610 sq km Land: 64,740 sq km Water: 870 sq km

Coastline: 1345 km

Length: North to South – 434 km East to West 227 km

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

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

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

Elevation highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Longest River: Mahaweli 325 km

Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower

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

Environment: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Population: Over 20 Million

Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% 15-64 years: 68% 65 years and over: 8% (2006 EST.)

Birth rate: 15.51 births/1,000 population (2006 EST.)

Death rate: 6.52 deaths/1,000 population (2006 EST.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 13.97 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 EST.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.41 years male: 70.83 years

Female: 76.12 years (2006 EST.)

Total fertility: 1.84 children born/woman (2006 EST.)

Nationality: Sri Lankan

Ethnic groups: Sinhalese 73%, Sri Lankan Moors8%, Indian Tamil 6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 4%, unspecified 9% (2001 census provisional data)

Languages: Sinhala 74%, Tamil 18% other8% (English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population)

Religions: Buddhist 75%,Hindu 14%, Christians 7.5%,Muslims 7.5%, Others 1%

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.3% male: 94.8%
female: 90% (2003 EST.)

Country name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
conventional short form: Sri Lanka former: Rathna deepa, Lanka, Serendib, Ceylon,

Capital: commercial: Colombo, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western and Eastern

Independence: 4 February 1948 (from UK)

Constitution: adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978

National Tree: Na (Mesua ferrea)

National Flower: Nil Manel (Niyamphaea stellata

Business Hours: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm (Mondays – Fridays)

Legal system: mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Islamic, Sinhalese, and customary law

Executive branch: chief of state: President Mahinda RAJAPAKSE (since 19 November 2005); Ratnasiri WICKREMANAYAKE (since 21 November 2005) prime minister
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of a modified proportional representation system by district to serve six-year terms)

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

GDP – real growth rate: 6.3% (2006 EST.)

GDP – composition by sector: agriculture: 17.3%
industry: 27.3%
services: 55.3% (2006 EST.)

Labor force – by occupation: agriculture: 34.3%
industry: 25.3%
services: 40.4% (30 June 2006 EST.)

Unemployment rate: 8% (2006 EST.)

Population below poverty line: 22% (2002 EST.)

Agriculture – products: tea, rubber, coconuts; rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, milk, eggs, beef; fish

Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, gem mining

Airports: 16 (2006)

Railways: total: 1,550 km
Ports and terminals: Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee, Jaffna