Experience Serendipity
Sri Lanka offers you many small miracles. White sandy beaches, Serendipity at its best, lush greenery, exciting adventures, amazing wildlife and a rich heritage. The warm and friendly smiles of the people await you in the Isle of Sri Lanka. Come experience and enjoy !
STATISTICS
- Country Name - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
- Size - 65,525 sq km
- Location - An island off the south-eastern cost shores of India, 880 km north of the equator, in the Indian Ocean.
- Capital - Sri Jayawardenepura
- Commercial Capital - Colombo
Government
Sri Lanka is a free, independent and sovereign nation with a population of 20,926,315 (July 2007 est.). Legislative power is exercised by a Parliament, elected by universal franchise on proportional representation basis. A President, who is also elected by the people, exercises executive power inclusive of defence. Sri Lanka enjoys a multi party system, and the people vote to elect a new government every six years.
National Flag
National Flag of Sri Lanka is the Lion Flag. A Lion bearing a sword in its right hand is depicted 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 left end represent the minority ethnic groups. It is an adaptation of the standard of the last King of Sri Lanka.
National Flower
The Blue Water Lily - (Nymphaea stellata)
Population
20,926,315 million
Population Density
309 people per sq km
Literacy rate
91.8%
Languages
Sinhala, Tamil and English are widely spoken throughout Sri Lanka, with the exception of remote villages where it might be Sinhala only or Tamil only.
Religions
Buddhism- 70%
Hinduism- 16%
Christianity- 7%
Islam-7%
Climate
Low Lands - tropical, average 27C
Central Hills - cooler, with temperatures dropping to 14C. The south-west monsoon brings rain to the western, southern and central regions from May to July, while the north-eastern monsoon is from December t0 January. Sri Lanka climate is ideal for holiday-makers throughout the year.
Industries
Processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco.
Agriculture - Products
Rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, roots, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, meat
Currency
Sri Lanka follows decimal currency system in Rupees (Rs.) and cents (Cts.) with 100 cents equal to a rupee. Currency notes are available in the denominations of Rs.10,20,50,100,200, 50, 1000 & 2000. Coins are issued in values of Cts. 25 and 50 and Rs.1,2,5 and 10. The intervention currency continuously will be the US Dollar
Visa
It is not a huge problem to obtain a visa to visit Sri Lanka as many nationals are granted a visit visa on arrival valid for 30 days.
However, please visit http://www.immigration.gov.lk/html/visa/info.html for more information and to check if you are required to obtain a visa prior to arrival.
Working Days
Five working days (Monday to Friday)
Business Hours
Government offices 9.00 am. -5.00 pm, Monday to Friday
Banks
9.00 am. to 1.00pm. or 3.00pm Monday to Saturday
Post Office
8.30am- 5.00pm Monday to Friday 8.30am - 1.00pm on Saturday. The Central Mail Exchange, at D.R.Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo 10, (Telephone : 2326203) is open 24-hours.
HIGHLIGHTS OF SRI LANKA
