PROFILE

Country Name
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Conventional short form: Sri Lanka

Former Name
Ceylon

Area
65,610 square kilometers

Capital
Sri Jayawardanapura

Commercial Capital
Colombo

Government
Sri Lanka is free, independent and sovereign nation with a population of 18,774 million (1998 mid year estimation). Legislative power is exercesed by a Parliment, elected by universal franchise on propotional representation basis. A President, who is also elected by the people, execises executive power including defence. Sri Lanka enjoys a multi party system, and the people vote to elect a new government every six years.

President

His Excellency Honerable Mahinda Rajapakshe

National Flag
National Flag of Sri Lanka is the Lion Flag. A. Lion bearing a sward in its right hand is depected 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
Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea stellata)

Population Density
309 people per sq km. Total Population Mid Year 2009 20450000. <More>

Life expectancy
74 female and 64 male

Literacy rate
91.8%

Languages
Sinhala, Tamil, English

Ethnic mix
Sinhalese-74%, Tamil-18%, Muslim-7%, Burger and others-1%

Religion
Buddhism :70%, Hinduism : 16%, Christianity : 7%, Islam : 7%

Climate
Low lands - tropical, average 27degrees Celcius, Central Hills - cooler (14)

Industries
Tea, Rubber, Coconut and other agricultural commodities, clothing, cement, petrolium refining, textiles, tobacco

Currency
Sri Lanka follows decimal currency system in Rupees (Rs.0 and cents (Cts.) with 100 cents to a rupee. Currency notes are available in the denominations of Rs. 2, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000. Coins are issued in values of Cts. 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 and Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10. The intervention currency continuously will be the US Dollar.

Working week 
Sri Lanka works a five-day week, from Monday to Friday.

Business Hours
Government offices 9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday

Banks
9.00 a.m. - 1.00 or 3.00 p.m. Monday to Friday