"text":"The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 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 and 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; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire in February 2002 with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006, but the government regained control of the Eastern Province in 2007 and by May 2009, the remnants of the LTTE had been defeated. Since the end of the conflict, the government has enacted an ambitious program of economic development projects, many of which are financed by loans from the Government of China. In addition to efforts at reconstructing its economy, the government has resettled more than 95% of those civilians displaced during the final phase of the conflict and released the vast majority of former LTTE combatants captured by Government Security Forces. At the same time, there has been little progress on more contentious and politically difficult issues such as reaching a political settlement with Tamil elected representatives and holding accountable those alleged to have been involved in human rights violations and other abuses during the conflict."
"text":"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; air pollution in Colombo"
},
"Environment - international agreements":{
"party to":{
"text":"Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands"
},
"signed, but not ratified":{
"text":"Marine Life Conservation"
}
},
"Geography - note":{
"text":"strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes"
}
},
"People and Society":{
"Nationality":{
"noun":{
"text":"Sri Lankan(s)"
},
"adjective":{
"text":"Sri Lankan"
}
},
"Ethnic groups":{
"text":"Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)"
},
"Languages":{
"text":"Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%",
"note":{
"text":"English, spoken competently by about 10% of the population, is commonly used in government and is referred to as the link language in the constitution"
}
},
"Religions":{
"text":"Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)"
"text":"Colombo; note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital"
},
"geographic coordinates":{
"text":"6 55 N, 79 50 E"
},
"time difference":{
"text":"UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
}
},
"Administrative divisions":{
"text":"9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western"
},
"Independence":{
"text":"4 February 1948 (from the UK)"
},
"National holiday":{
"text":"Independence Day, 4 February (1948)"
},
"Constitution":{
"text":"several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; amended many times, last in 2010 (2010)"
},
"Legal system":{
"text":"mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and Jaffna Tamil customary law"
},
"International law organization participation":{
"text":"has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt"
},
"Suffrage":{
"text":"18 years of age; universal"
},
"Executive branch":{
"chief of state":{
"text":"President Maithripala SIRISENA (since 9 January 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Ranil WICKREMESINGHE (since 9 January 2015) holds the title of prime minister"
},
"head of government":{
"text":"President Maithripala SIRISENA (since 9 January 2015)"
},
"cabinet":{
"text":"Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister"
"text":"president directly elected by preferential majority popular vote for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 January 2015 (next to be held by January 2021); note - the January 2015 election was held nearly 2 years ahead of schedule"
"text":"Maithripala SIRISENA elected president; percent of vote - Maithripala SIRISENA (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) 51.3%, Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) 47.6%, other 1.1%"
}
},
"Legislative branch":{
"description":{
"text":"unicameral Parliament (225 seats; 196 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote using a preferential method in which voters select 3 candidates in order of preference; remaining 29 seats allocated to other political parties and groups in proportion to share of national vote; members serve 6-year terms)"
"text":"last held on 17 August 2015 following President SIRISENA's dissolution of Parliament in late June in an effort to consolidate power and pass reformas (next to be held in 2021)"
"text":"Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 10 justices); note - the court has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation"
},
"judge selection and term of office":{
"text":"the chief justice appointed by the president; the other justices appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; all justices hold office until age 65"
},
"subordinate courts":{
"text":"Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrate's Courts; municipal and primary courts"
"text":"Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP ++ Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE] ++ Jathika Hela Urumaya or JHU [Patali Champika RANAWAKA] ++ Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP [Maithripala SIRISENA] ++ Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC [Rauff HAKEEM] ++ Tamil National Alliance or TNA [R. SAMPANTHAN] ++ United National Front for Good Gevernance or EYJP (coalition includes UNP) ++ United National Party or UNP [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE] ++ United People's Freedom Alliance or UPFA (coalition includes SLFP)"
"text":"Ambassador Prasad KARIYAWASAM (since 14 July 2014)"
},
"chancery":{
"text":"2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008"
},
"telephone":{
"text":"[1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028"
},
"FAX":{
"text":"[1] (202) 232-7181"
},
"consulate(s) general":{
"text":"Los Angeles"
}
},
"Diplomatic representation from the US":{
"chief of mission":{
"text":"Ambassador Atul KESHAP (since 21 August 2015); note - also accredited to Maldives"
},
"embassy":{
"text":"210 Galle Road, Colombo 3"
},
"mailing address":{
"text":"P. O. Box 106, Colombo"
},
"telephone":{
"text":"[94] (11) 249-8500"
},
"FAX":{
"text":"[94] (11) 243-7345"
}
},
"Flag description":{
"text":"yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a maroon rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green Sri Lankan Moors, and maroon the Sinhalese majority; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag"
},
"National symbol(s)":{
"text":"lion, water lily; national colors: maroon, yellow"
},
"National anthem":{
"name":{
"text":"\"Sri Lanka Matha\" (Mother Sri Lanka)"
},
"lyrics/music":{
"text":"Ananda SAMARKONE"
},
"note":{
"text":"adopted 1951"
}
}
},
"Economy":{
"Economy - overview":{
"text":"Sri Lanka continues to experience strong economic growth following the end of the government's 26-year conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The government has been pursuing large-scale reconstruction and development projects in its efforts to spur growth in war-torn and disadvantaged areas, develop small and medium enterprises and increase agricultural productivity. The government's high debt payments and bloated civil service have contributed to historically high budget deficits, but fiscal consolidation efforts and strong GDP growth in recent years have helped bring down the government's fiscal deficit, but low tax revenues remain a concern. The 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession exposed Sri Lanka's economic vulnerabilities and nearly caused a balance of payments crisis. Agriculture slowed due to a drought and weak global demand affected exports and trade. In early 2012, Sri Lanka floated the rupee, resulting in a sharp depreciation, and took steps to curb imports. A large trade deficit remains a concern, but strong remittances from Sri Lankan workers abroad help offset the trade deficit. Government debt of about 80% of GDP remains among the highest in emerging markets."
"text":"processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction"
},
"Industrial production growth rate":{
"text":"9.4% (2014 est.)"
},
"Labor force":{
"text":"8.916 million (2014 est.)"
},
"Labor force - by occupation":{
"agriculture":{
"text":"31.8%"
},
"industry":{
"text":"25.8%"
},
"services":{
"text":"42.4% (June 2012)"
}
},
"Unemployment rate":{
"text":"4% (2014 est.) ++ 4.4% (2013 est.)"
},
"Population below poverty line":{
"text":"8.9% (2010 est.)"
},
"Household income or consumption by percentage share":{
"lowest 10%":{
"text":"1.6%"
},
"highest 10%":{
"text":"39.5% (2009)"
}
},
"Distribution of family income - Gini index":{
"text":"49 (2010) ++ 46 (1995)"
},
"Budget":{
"revenues":{
"text":"$9.978 billion"
},
"expenditures":{
"text":"$14.14 billion (2014 est.)"
}
},
"Taxes and other revenues":{
"text":"13.9% of GDP (2014 est.)"
},
"Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)":{
"text":"-5.8% of GDP (2014 est.)"
},
"Public debt":{
"text":"78.2% of GDP (2014 est.) ++ 78.3% of GDP (2013 est.)",
"note":{
"text":"covers central government debt, and excludes debt instruments directly owned by government entities other than the treasury (e.g. commercial bank borrowings of a government corporation); the data includes treasury debt held by foreign entities as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement; sub-national entities are usually not permitted to sell debt instruments"
}
},
"Fiscal year":{
"text":"calendar year"
},
"Inflation rate (consumer prices)":{
"text":"3.3% (2014 est.) ++ 6.9% (2013 est.)"
},
"Central bank discount rate":{
"text":"6.5% (31 December 2013) ++ 7.5% (19 December 2012)"
},
"Commercial bank prime lending rate":{
"text":"11.5% (31 December 2014 est.) ++ 12.5% (31 December 2013 est.)"
},
"Stock of narrow money":{
"text":"$4.037 billion (31 December 2014 est.) ++ $3.706 billion (31 December 2013 est.)"
},
"Stock of broad money":{
"text":"$27.19 billion (31 December 2014 est.) ++ $23.39 billion (31 December 2013 est.)"
},
"Stock of domestic credit":{
"text":"$36.22 billion (31 December 2014 est.) ++ $33.04 billion (31 December 2013 est.)"
},
"Market value of publicly traded shares":{
"text":"$18.48 billion (31 November 2013 est.) ++ $17.05 billion (31 December 2012) ++ $19.44 billion (31 December 2011 est.)"
"Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy":{
"text":"15.23 million Mt (2012 est.)"
}
},
"Communications":{
"Telephones - fixed lines":{
"total subscriptions":{
"text":"2.7 million"
},
"subscriptions per 100 inhabitants":{
"text":"12 (2014 est.)"
}
},
"Telephones - mobile cellular":{
"total":{
"text":"22.1 million"
},
"subscriptions per 100 inhabitants":{
"text":"101 (2014 est.)"
}
},
"Telephone system":{
"general assessment":{
"text":"telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country"
},
"domestic":{
"text":"national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing"
},
"international":{
"text":"country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)"
}
},
"Broadcast media":{
"text":"government operates 8 TV channels and a radio network; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 35 private TV stations and about 50 radio stations (2012)"
},
"Radio broadcast stations":{
"text":"AM 15, FM 52, shortwave 4 (2007)"
},
"Television broadcast stations":{
"text":"12 (2009)"
},
"Internet country code":{
"text":".lk"
},
"Internet users":{
"total":{
"text":"4.4 million"
},
"percent of population":{
"text":"19.9% (2014 est.)"
}
}
},
"Transportation":{
"Airports":{
"text":"19 (2013)"
},
"Airports - with paved runways":{
"total":{
"text":"15"
},
"over 3,047 m":{
"text":"2"
},
"1,524 to 2,437 m":{
"text":"6"
},
"914 to 1,523 m":{
"text":"7 (2013)"
}
},
"Airports - with unpaved runways":{
"total":{
"text":"4"
},
"914 to 1,523 m":{
"text":"1"
},
"under 914 m":{
"text":" ++ 3 (2013)"
}
},
"Heliports":{
"text":"1 (2013)"
},
"Railways":{
"total":{
"text":"1,447 km"
},
"broad gauge":{
"text":"1,447 km 1.676-m gauge (2014)"
}
},
"Roadways":{
"total":{
"text":"114,093 km"
},
"paved":{
"text":"16,977 km"
},
"unpaved":{
"text":"97,116 km (2010)"
}
},
"Waterways":{
"text":"160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2012)"
"text":"Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Coast Guard (2015)"
},
"Military service age and obligation":{
"text":"18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 5-year service obligation (Air Force) (2012)"
},
"Manpower available for military service":{
"males age 16-49":{
"text":"5,342,147"
},
"females age 16-49":{
"text":"5,466,409 (2010 est.)"
}
},
"Manpower fit for military service":{
"males age 16-49":{
"text":"4,177,432"
},
"females age 16-49":{
"text":"4,574,833 (2010 est.)"
}
},
"Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually":{
"male":{
"text":"167,026"
},
"female":{
"text":"162,587 (2010 est.)"
}
},
"Military expenditures":{
"text":"2.43% of GDP (2012) ++ 2.89% of GDP (2011) ++ 2.43% of GDP (2010)"
}
},
"Transnational Issues":{
"Disputes - international":{
"text":"none"
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons":{
"IDPs":{
"text":"up to 73,700 (civil war; more than half displaced prior to 2008; many of the more than 480,000 IDPs registered as returnees have not reached durable solutions) (2015)"
}
},
"Trafficking in persons":{
"current situation":{
"text":"Sri Lanka is primarily a source and, to a lesser extent, a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; some Sri Lankan adults and children who migrate willingly to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, and the US to work as domestic servants, construction workers, or garment factory workers subsequently face conditions of forced labor, including restrictions on movement, withholding of passports, abuse, and threats; some Sri Lankan women are forced into prostitution in Jordan, Singapore, Maldives, and other countries, while some foreign women are forced into prostitution in Sri Lanka; within Sri Lanka, women and children are also subjected to sex trafficking, and other children are forced to work in the agriculture, fireworks, and fish-drying industries"
},
"tier rating":{
"text":"Tier 2 Watch List – Sri Lanka does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; modest trafficking prevention efforts in 2013 included updating a national action plan and launching awareness campaigns; law enforcement efforts were limited; no traffickers were convicted under the trafficking statute and none of those convicted under the procurement statute served prison time; labor recruitment regulations were rarely enforced; authorities did not approve guidelines developed in 2012 for the identification of victims and their referral to protective services; no government employees were investigated or prosecuted, despite allegations of complicity (2014)"
