Sri Lanka, officially known as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country located in South Asia, in the Indian Ocean. It is a multiethnic and multilingual country with a population of around 21 million people.

The capital city of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, while the largest city is Colombo. Sri Lanka has a rich history dating back over 2,500 years, with a strong Buddhist influence that is still evident today. It was known as Ceylon until 1972.

Sri Lanka is known for its stunning landscapes, including pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and towering mountains. The country is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including elephants, leopards, and numerous bird species.

The economy of Sri Lanka is largely based on agriculture, with tea, rubber, and coconut being the primary exports. The country has also developed a strong tourism industry, with visitors drawn to its natural beauty and cultural attractions.

The official languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil, although English is widely spoken and used in government, commerce, and education. The majority of the population is Buddhist, with smaller numbers of Hindus, Muslims, and Christians.

Sri Lanka has a democratic system of government, with a president as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of government. In recent years, the country has faced challenges related to ethnic tensions and occasional outbreaks of violence, but it remains a popular destination for travelers and tourists from around the world.

Telephone Code
94

Local Emergency Phone
1 691095, 699935

Vaccinations
An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.

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

Currency (Code)
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): D, G

Major Languages
Sinhala, Tamil, English

Major Religions
Buddhist 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Left

Tourist Destinations
Sigiriya Rock Fort; Yala National Park; Galle Fort; Adam's Peak; Temple of the Tooth; Arugam Bay; Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage; Gal Vihara

Major Sports
Volleyball, cricket, rugby, athletics (track and field), soccer, netball, tennis

Cultural Practices
Flowers are uncommon gifts in Sri Lanka because they are traditionally associated with mourning.

Tipping Guidelines
Tipping 10% is customary in restaurants; if a service charge is included, leave a few extra rupees. Tip bar staff 100 rupees as you leave. Conventionally, 50-100 rupees is a good tip for hotel staff, including porters, room cleaners, and room service personnel. Tip taxi drivers 10% of the fare.

Souvenirs
Carved masks, precious gems, teas, spices

Traditional Cuisine
Kottu roti — roti (a round flatbread) is placed on a grill and chopped and combined with additional ingredients including spices, vegetables, eggs, cheese or meat

Geography
Area
total: 65,610 sq km
land: 64,630 sq km
water: 980 sq km

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

Natural resources
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower, arable land

People and Society
Population
23,326,272 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)

Languages
Sinhala (official and national language) 87%, Tamil (official and national language) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)

Religions
Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)

Population growth rate
0.59% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Colombo (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

Economy
Economic overview
lower middle-income South Asian island economy; extremely high public debts; rapid inflation; facing domestic food, fuel, and medicine shortages; tourism industry disrupted by COVID-19; known garment and commodities exporter; low foreign exchange reserves

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$296.595 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$13,400 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
rice, coconuts, sugar cane, plantains, milk, tea, cassava, maize, poultry, coir

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

Exports
$13.083 billion (2020 est.)

Exports - partners
United States 24%, India 8%, United Kingdom 7%, Germany 7% (2019)

Exports - commodities
clothing and apparel, tea, used tires, rubber products, precious stones, cinnamon (2019)

Imports
$18.271 billion (2020 est.)

Imports - partners
India 24%, China 23%, Singapore 7%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Malaysia 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, textiles, gold, cars, broadcasting equipment (2019)