Sri Lanka

Code: CE | Region: South Asia

Introduction

Background

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The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (from about 200 B.C. to about A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about A.D. 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a South Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century, followed 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; the name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Fighting between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued for over a quarter-century. Although Norway brokered peace negotiations that led to a cease-fire in 2002, the fighting slowly resumed and was again in full force by 2006. The government defeated the LTTE in 2009. During the post-conflict years under then-President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, the government initiated infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from China. His regime faced allegations of human rights violations and a shrinking democratic space for civil society. In 2015, a new coalition government headed by President Maithripala SIRISENA of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE of the United National Party came to power with pledges to advance economic, political, and judicial reforms. However, implementation of these reforms was uneven. In 2019, Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA won the presidential election and appointed his brother Mahinda prime minister. Civil society raised concerns about the RAJAPAKSA administration’s commitment to pursuing justice, human rights, and accountability reforms, as well as the risks to foreign creditors that Sri Lanka faced given its ongoing economic crisis. A combination of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic; severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel; and power outages triggered increasingly violent protests in Columbo beginning in 2022. In response, WICKREMESINGHE -- who had already served as prime minister five times -- was named to replace the prime minister, but he became president within a few months when Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA fled the country.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

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7 00 N, 81 00 E

Map references

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Asia

Area

total

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65,610 sq km

land

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64,630 sq km

water

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980 sq km

Area - comparative

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slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries

total

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0 km

Coastline

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1,340 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

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12 nm

contiguous zone

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24 nm

exclusive economic zone

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200 nm

continental shelf

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200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Elevation

highest point

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Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

lowest point

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Indian Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

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228 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land

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48.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 22.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 19.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 7.1% (2023 est.)

forest

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34.4% (2023 est.)

other

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16.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

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5,700 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

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the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north

Natural hazards

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occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Geography - note

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strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes; Adam's Bridge is a chain of limestone shoals between the southeastern coast of India and the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka; geological evidence suggests that this 50-km (31-mi) bridge once connected India and Sri Lanka; ancient records seem to indicate that a foot passage was possible between the two land masses until the 15th century, when the land bridge broke up in a cyclone

People and Society

Population

total

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22,050,561 (2025 est.)

male

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10,668,528

female

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11,382,033

Nationality

noun

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Sri Lankan(s)

adjective

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Sri Lankan

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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Sinhala (official) 87%, Tamil (official) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)

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note: data represent main languages spoken by the population aged 10 years and older; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; English is commonly used in government and is referred to as the "link language" in the constitution

Religions

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

Age structure

0-14 years

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22.6% (male 2,537,918/female 2,423,615)

15-64 years

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65% (male 6,954,869/female 7,336,897)

65 years and over

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12.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,149,256/female 1,580,053)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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53.9 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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34.2 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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19.7 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

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5.1 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

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34.2 years (2025 est.)

male

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32.2 years

female

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35.8 years

Population growth rate

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0.22% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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14.38 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

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7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

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-4.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north

Urbanization

urban population

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19.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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103,000 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) (2018), 633,000 COLOMBO (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth

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1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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0.73 male(s)/female

total population

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0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

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25.6 years (2016 est.)

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note: data represents median age at first birth among women 30-34

Maternal mortality ratio

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18 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total

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6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

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7.5 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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6.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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76.8 years (2024 est.)

male

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73.7 years

female

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79.9 years

Total fertility rate

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2.12 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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1.03 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

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urban: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 87.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 89.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 12.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 10.7% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

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4.1% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

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9.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

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1.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

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4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

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urban: 97.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 99% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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5.2% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total

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2.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer

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0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

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0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

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2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

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0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total

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18.2% (2025 est.)

male

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36.3% (2025 est.)

female

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2% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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17.1% (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

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66.3% (2016 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

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0.9% (2016)

women married by age 18

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9.8% (2016)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

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1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

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7.2% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy

total population

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92.7% (2023 est.)

male

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93.4% (2023 est.)

female

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92% (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total

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13 years (2023 est.)

male

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12 years (2023 est.)

female

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14 years (2023 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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deforestation; soil erosion; poaching; effects of urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and pollution; coral reef destruction; freshwater resources polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo

International environmental agreements

party to

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Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

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Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation

Climate

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

Land use

agricultural land

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48.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 22.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 19.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 7.1% (2023 est.)

forest

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34.4% (2023 est.)

other

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16.7% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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19.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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19.153 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

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5.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

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14.003 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

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24.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

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2.632 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

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24.5% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal

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805 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

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831 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural

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11.31 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

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52.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

conventional short form

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Sri Lanka

local long form

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Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya (Sinhala)/ Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu (Tamil)

local short form

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Shri Lanka (Sinhala)/ Ilankai (Tamil)

former

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Serendib, Ceylon

etymology

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the name is composed of the Sanskrit words shri (happiness or holiness) and lanka (island); the former name Serendib was an Arabic derivation of the Sanskrit word simhaladvipa, or "island of the place of lions;" the former name Ceylon came from the Sanskrit simha, or "lion"

Government type

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presidential republic

Capital

name

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Colombo (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

geographic coordinates

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6 55 N, 79 50 E

time difference

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UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology

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the origin of Colombo's name is unclear; it may derive from the Sinhalese words kola (leaves) and amba (mango), referring to local mango trees, or from the name Kelantotta, referring to a ferry that crossed the Kelani River; the name was corrupted to Kolambu by Arab traders, and 16th-century Portuguese settlers then called it Colombo, possibly referring to explorer Christopher COLUMBUS; the legislative capital's name, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, is composed of the Sanskrit honorific sri, the name of Sri Lankan President J.R. JAYEWARDENE, and the Hindi word pura (town)

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

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

Constitution

history

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several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978

amendment process

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proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of its total membership, certification by the president of the republic or the Parliament speaker, and in some cases approval in a referendum by absolute majority of valid votes

International law organization participation

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

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citizenship by descent only

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at least one parent must be a citizen of Sri Lanka

dual citizenship recognized

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no, except in cases where the government rules it is to the benefit of Sri Lanka

residency requirement for naturalization

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7 years

Suffrage

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18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

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President Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (since 23 September 2024)

head of government

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President Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (since 23 September 2024)

cabinet

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Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister

election/appointment process

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president directly elected by preferential majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president

most recent election date

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21 September 2024

election results

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2024: Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE elected president; percent of vote after reallocation - Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (JVP) 55.9%, Sajith PREMADASA (SJB) 44.1%

expected date of next election

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2029

note

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch

legislature name

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Parliament

legislative structure

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unicameral

number of seats

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225 (196 directly elected; 29 indirectly elected)

electoral system

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proportional representation

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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5 years

most recent election date

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11/14/2024

parties elected and seats per party

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National People's Power (Jathika Jana Balawegaya, NPP) (159); Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) (40); Other (26)

percentage of women in chamber

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9.8%

expected date of next election

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November 2029

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 9 justices); has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation

judge selection and term of office

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chief justice nominated by the Constitutional Council (CC), a 9-member high-level advisory body, and appointed by the president; other justices nominated by the CC and appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice; all justices can serve until age 65

subordinate courts

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Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; municipal and primary courts

Political parties

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Crusaders for Democracy or CFD Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front or EPRLF Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi or ITAK Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP Jathika Hela Urumaya or JHU National People's Power or NPP (also known as Jathika Jana Balawegaya or JJB) People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE Samagi Jana Balawegaya or SJB Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance or SLPFA (includes SLPFP, SLPP, and several smaller parties) Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (Sri Lanka's People's Front) or SLPP Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization or TELO Tamil National Alliance or TNA (includes ITAK, PLOTE, TELO) Tamil National People's Front or TNPF Tamil People's National Alliance or TPNA United National Front for Good Governance or UNFGG (coalition includes JHU, UNP) United National Party or UNP

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

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Ambassador Mahinda SAMARASINGHE (since 13 January 2022)

chancery

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3025 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

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[1] (202) 483-4025

FAX

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[1] 202-232-2329

email address and website

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slemb.washington@mfa.gov.lk https://slembassyusa.org/

consulate(s) general

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Los Angeles

consulate(s)

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New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

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Ambassador Julie J. CHUNG (since 17 February 2022)

embassy

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210 Galle Road, Colombo 03

mailing address

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6100 Colombo Place, Washington DC  20521-6100

telephone

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[94] (11) 249-8500

FAX

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[94] (11) 243-7345

email address and website

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colomboacs@state.gov https://lk.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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

Independence

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4 February 1948 (from the UK)

National holiday

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Independence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948)

Flag

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description: yellow with two panels; the smaller panel on the left has two equal vertical bands of green (left side) and orange; the larger panel has a yellow lion holding a sword on a maroon field, with a yellow bo leaf in each corner meaning: the sword stands for national sovereignty; the lion for Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the four bo leaves for Buddhism and the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange stands for Tamils, green for Moors, and maroon for the Sinhalese majority; yellow represents other ethnic groups

note

note: the banner is sometimes referred to as the Lion Flag

National symbol(s)

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lion, water lily

National color(s)

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maroon, yellow

National anthem(s)

title

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"Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka)

lyrics/music

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Ananda SAMARKONE (Sinhala),M. NALLATHAMBY (Tamil)/Ananda SAMARKONE

history

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adopted 1951

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites

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8 (6 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales

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Ancient City of Polonnaruwa (c); Ancient City of Sigiriya (c); Sacred City of Anuradhapura (c); Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications (c); Sacred City of Kandy (c); Sinharaja Forest Reserve (n); Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple (c); Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (n)

Economy

Economic overview

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economic contraction in 2022-23 marked by increased poverty and significant inflation; IMF two-year debt relief program following 2022 sovereign default; structural challenges from non-diversified economy and rigid labor laws; heavy dependence on tourism receipts and remittances

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

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$301.407 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

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$287.031 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

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$293.878 billion (2022 est.)

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note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024

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5% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

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-2.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

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-7.3% (2022 est.)

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note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

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$13,800 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

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$13,000 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

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$13,200 (2022 est.)

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note: data in 2021 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

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$98.963 billion (2024 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

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-0.4% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

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16.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

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49.7% (2022 est.)

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note: annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

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8.3% (2024 est.)

industry

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25.5% (2024 est.)

services

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57.5% (2024 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

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68.7% (2024 est.)

government consumption

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7% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

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18.8% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

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8.2% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

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19.9% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

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-22.5% (2024 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

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rice, coconuts, tea, sugarcane, plantains, milk, fiber crops, cassava, chicken, pumpkins/squash (2023)

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note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; tourism; clothing and textiles; mining

Industrial production growth rate

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11% (2024 est.)

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note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

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8.499 million (2024 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

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5% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

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6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

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4.6% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

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22.3% (2024 est.)

male

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18.4% (2024 est.)

female

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29.6% (2024 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

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14.3% (2019 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

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37.7 (2019 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Average household expenditures

on food

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27.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco

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3.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%

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3.1% (2019 est.)

highest 10%

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30.8% (2019 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

Remittances 2023

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7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2022

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5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2021

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6.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues

text

$9.387 billion (2023 est.)

expenditures

text

$17.144 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

Public debt 2017

text

79.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Taxes and other revenues

text

9.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Current account balance

Current account balance 2023

text

$1.559 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2022

text

-$1.448 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2021

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-$3.284 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports

Exports 2023

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$17.327 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2022

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$16.169 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2021

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$14.974 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

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USA 22%, India 7%, Germany 7%, UK 7%, Italy 5% (2023)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

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garments, tea, precious stones, used rubber tires, rubber products (2023)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

Imports 2023

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$18.823 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2022

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$19.244 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2021

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$21.526 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

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India 21%, China 19%, UAE 10%, Singapore 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

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refined petroleum, fabric, crude petroleum, packaged medicine, cotton fabric (2023)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

text

$6.094 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

text

$4.405 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

text

$1.896 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

text

$42.198 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Exchange rates

Currency

text

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2023

text

327.507 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

text

322.633 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

text

198.764 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

text

185.593 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

text

178.745 (2019 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

text

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity

text

5.326 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption

text

15.763 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

text

1.457 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

text

49.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

text

4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

text

4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

text

40.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste

text

0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption

text

2.323 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

text

2.238 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

text

100,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

text

12.372 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

text

1.707 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

7 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

text

30.6 million (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

133 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

text

government operates 5 TV channels and 19 radio channels; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 25 private TV stations and about 43 radio stations; 6 non-profit TV stations and 4 radio stations

Internet country code

text

.lk

Internet users

percent of population

text

51% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

text

2.01 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

9 (2023 est.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

text

Airports

text

18 (2025)

Heliports

text

1 (2025)

Railways

total

text

1,562 km (2016)

broad gauge

text

1,562 km (2016) 1.676-m gauge

Merchant marine

total

text

96 (2023)

by type

text

bulk carrier 5, general cargo 15, oil tanker 11, other 65

Ports

total ports

text

6 (2024)

large

text

medium

text

small

text

very small

text

size unknown

text

ports with oil terminals

text

key ports

text

Batticaloa Roads, Colombo, Galle Harbor, Hambantota, Kankesanturai, Trincomalee Harbor

Military and Security

Military and security forces

text

Sri Lanka Armed Forces: Sri Lanka Army (includes National Guard and the Volunteer Force), Sri Lanka Navy (includes Marine Corps), Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Coast Guard; Civil Security Department (Home Guard) Ministry of Public Security: Sri Lanka Police (2025)

note

note: the Civil Security Department, also known as the Civil Defense Force, is an auxiliary force administered by the Ministry of Defense

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024

text

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

text

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

text

1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

text

1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

text

2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

text

estimated 210,000 active Armed Forces (140,000 Army; 25,000 Air Force; 45,000 Navy) (2025)

note

note: the Sri Lankan military has been downsizing for several years; in 2025, the Sri Lankan Government announced its intent to decrease the size of the Army to 100,000, the Air Force to 18,000, and the Navy to 40,000 by 2030

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

text

the military's armaments are mostly of Chinese, Indian, Russian/Soviet, and US origin (2025)

Military service age and obligation

text

generally 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women, although upper age limits may vary by branch of service, roles, specialties, etc; no conscription (2026)

Military deployments

text

120 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 130 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)

Military - note

text

the military of Sri Lanka is responsible for external defense, maritime security, and maintaining internal security; it has sent small numbers of personnel on UN peacekeeping missions; from 1983 to 2009, the military fought against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a conflict that involved both guerrilla and conventional warfare, as well as acts of terrorism and human rights abuses, and cost the military nearly 30,000 killed; since the end of the war, a large portion of the Army reportedly remains deployed in the majority Tamil-populated northern and eastern provinces; the military over the past decade also has increased its role in a range of commercial sectors including agriculture, hotels, leisure, and restaurants Sri Lanka traditionally has had close security ties to India; the Sri Lankan and Indian militaries conduct exercises together, and India trains approximately 1,000 Sri Lankan soldiers per year; in recent years, Sri Lanka has increased military ties with China, including acquiring military equipment, hosting naval port calls, and sending personnel to China for training (2025)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

text

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

text

500 (2024 est.)

IDPs

text

5,549 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

text

229 (2024 est.)