{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "

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 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 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; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in July 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 ceasefire in 2002, the fighting slowly resumed and was again in full force by 2006. The government defeated the LTTE in May 2009.

During the post-conflict years under President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, the government initiated infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from China. His regime faced significant 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, governance, anti-corruption, reconciliation, justice, and accountability reforms. However, implementation of these reforms has been uneven. In October 2018, President SIRISENA attempted to oust Prime Minister WICKREMESINGHE, swearing in former President RAJAPAKSA as the new prime minister and issuing an order to dissolve the parliament and hold elections. This sparked a seven-week constitutional crisis that ended when the Supreme Court ruled SIRISENA’s actions unconstitutional, RAJAPAKSA resigned, and WICKREMESINGHE was reinstated. In November 2019, Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA won the presidential election and appointed his brother, Mahinda, prime minister.

" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "7 00 N, 81 00 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Asia" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "65,610 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "64,630 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "980 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly larger than West Virginia" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "0 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "1,340 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "24 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" }, "continental shelf": { "text": "200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)" }, "Terrain": { "text": "mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior" }, "Elevation": { "mean elevation": { "text": "228 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Indian Ocean 0 m" }, "highest point": { "text": "Pidurutalagala 2,524 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower, arable land" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "43.5% (2011 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 20.7% (2011 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 15.8% (2011 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 7% (2011 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "29.4% (2011 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "27.1% (2011 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "5,700 sq km (2012)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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": { "text": "occasional cyclones and tornadoes" }, "Environment - current issues": { "text": "deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; coral reef destruction; 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; 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 long 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": { "text": "23,044,123 (July 2021 est.)" }, "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) 87%, Tamil (official and national language) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)", "note": "

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": { "text": "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": { "text": "23.11% (male 2,696,379/female 2,592,450)" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "14.58% (male 1,700,442/female 1,636,401)" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "41.2% (male 4,641,842/female 4,789,101)" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "10.48% (male 1,110,481/female 1,288,056)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "10.63% (male 1,023,315/female 1,410,734) (2020 est.)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "53.7" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "36.4" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "17.3" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "5.8 (2020 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "33.7 years" }, "male": { "text": "32.3 years" }, "female": { "text": "35.1 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "0.63% (2021 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "14.01 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "6.45 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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": { "text": "18.7% of total population (2020)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "0.85% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "103,000 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) (2018), 613,000 COLOMBO (capital) (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.04 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.04 male(s)/female" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "1.04 male(s)/female" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "0.97 male(s)/female" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "0.86 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.73 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.95 male(s)/female (2020 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "25.6 years (2016 est.)", "note": "

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

" }, "Maternal mortality rate": { "text": "36 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "8.36 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "9.35 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "7.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "77.75 years" }, "male": { "text": "74.31 years" }, "female": { "text": "81.33 years (2021 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "2 children born/woman (2021 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "61.7% (2016)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 98.1% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 91.4% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 92.6% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 1.9% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 8.6% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 7.4% of population (2017 est.)" } }, "Current Health Expenditure": { "text": "3.8% (2017)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "0.93 physicians/1,000 population (2017)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "4.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 97.1% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 99.3% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 98.9% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 2.9% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0.7% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 1.1% of population (2017 est.)" } }, "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "<.1% (2019 est.)" }, "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": { "text": "3,600 (2019 est.)" }, "HIV/AIDS - deaths": { "text": "<200 (2019 est.)" }, "Major infectious diseases": { "degree of risk": { "text": "

intermediate

(2020)" }, "vectorborne diseases": { "text": "dengue fever" }, "water contact diseases": { "text": "leptospirosis" }, "animal contact diseases": { "text": "rabies" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "5.2% (2016)" }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "20.5% (2016)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "2.1% of GDP (2018)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "91.9%" }, "male": { "text": "93%" }, "female": { "text": "91% (2017)" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "14 years" }, "male": { "text": "14 years" }, "female": { "text": "15 years (2018)" } }, "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": { "total": { "text": "21%" }, "male": { "text": "16.8%" }, "female": { "text": "28.4% (2016 est.)" } } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Sri Lanka" }, "local long form": { "text": "Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu" }, "local short form": { "text": "Shri Lanka/Ilankai" }, "former": { "text": "Serendib, Ceylon" }, "etymology": { "text": "the name means \"resplendent island\" in Sanskrit" } }, "Government type": { "text": "presidential republic" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Colombo (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (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)" }, "note": "

etymology: Colombo may derive from the Sinhala \"kolon thota,\" meaning \"port on the river\" (referring to the Kelani River that empties into the Indian Ocean at Colombo); alternatively, the name may derive from the Sinhala \"kola amba thota\" meaning \"harbor with mango trees\"; it is also possible that the Portuguese named the city after Christopher COLUMBUS, who lived in Portugal for many years (as Cristovao COLOMBO) before discovering the Americas for the Spanish crown in 1492 - not long before the Portuguese made their way to Sri Lanka in 1505; Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte translates as \"Resplendent City of Growing Victory\" in Sinhala" }, "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 (National Day), 4 February (1948)" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978" }, "amendments": { "text": "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; amended many times, last in 2020" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, Jaffna Tamil customary law, and Muslim personal law" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Sri Lanka" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "no, except in cases where the government rules it is to the benefit of Sri Lanka" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "7 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "President Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA (since 18 November 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister Mahinda RAJAPAKSA (since 21 November 2019)" }, "head of government": { "text": "President Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA (since 18 November 2019)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "president directly elected by preferential majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 16 November 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister appointed by the president from among members of Parliament for a 5-year term)" }, "election results": { "text": "Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA elected president; percent of vote - Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA (SLPP) 52.2%, Sajith PREMADASA (UNP) 42%, other 5.8%" } }, "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 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { "text": "last held on 17 August 2015 (next originally scheduled for 25 April 2020 but postponed to due to the COVID-19 pandemic)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote by coalition/party - SLFPA 59.1%, SJB 23.9%, JVP 3.8%, TNA 2.8%, UNP 2.2%, TNPF 0.6%, EPDP 0.5%,  other 7.1%; seats by coalition/party - SLFPA 145, SJB 54, TNA 10, JVP 3, other 13; composition - NA" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest courts": { "text": "Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 9 justices); note - the court has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "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": { "text": "Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; municipal and primary courts" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "Crusaders for Democracy [Ganeshalingam CHANDRALINGAM]
Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP [Douglas DEVANANDA]
Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front [Suresh PREMACHANDRAN]
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE]
Jathika Hela Urumaya or JHU [Karunarathna PARANAWITHANA, Ven. Hadigalle Wimalasara THERO]
National Peoples Power or JVP [Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE]
Samagi Jana Balawegaya or SJB [Sajith PREMADASA]
Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP [Maithripala SIRISENA]
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC [Rauff HAKEEM]
Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance [Mahinda RAJAPAKSA]
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna or SLPP [G. L. PEIRIS]
Tamil National Alliance or TNA [Rajavarothiam SAMPANTHAN] (alliance includes Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi [Mavai SENATHIRAJAH], People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam [D. SIDDARTHAN], Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization [Selvam ADAIKALANATHAN])
Tamil National People's Front [Gajendrakumar PONNAMBALAM]
United National Front for Good Governance or UNFGG [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE] (coalition includes JHU, UNP)
United National Party or UNP [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE]
United People's Freedom Alliance or UPFA [Maithripala SIRISENA] (coalition includes SLFP)" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador E. Rodney M. PERERA (since 8 July 2019)" }, "chancery": { "text": "3025 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 232-7181" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Los Angeles, New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Alaina B. TEPLITZ (since 1 November 2018); note - also accredited to Maldives" }, "telephone": { "text": "[94] (11) 249-8500" }, "embassy": { "text": "210 Galle Road, Colombo 03" }, "mailing address": { "text": "P. O. Box 106, Colombo" }, "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": "

note: adopted 1951

" } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "

Sri Lanka is attempting to sustain economic growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability under the IMF program it began in 2016. The government's high debt payments and bloated civil service, which have contributed to historically high budget deficits, remain a concern. Government debt is about 79% of GDP and remains among the highest of the emerging markets. In the coming years, Sri Lanka will need to balance its elevated debt repayment schedule with its need to maintain adequate foreign exchange reserves.

In May 2016, Sri Lanka regained its preferential trade status under the European Union’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus, enabling many of its firms to export products, including its top export garments, tax free to the EU. In 2017, Parliament passed a new Inland Revenue Act in an effort to increase tax collection and broaden the tax base in response to recommendations made under its IMF program. In November 2017, the Financial Action Task Force on money laundering and terrorist financing listed Sri Lanka as non-compliant, but reported subsequently that Sri Lanka had made good progress in implementing an action plan to address deficiencies.

Tourism has experienced strong growth in the years since the resolution of the government's 26-year conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. In 2017, the government promulgated plans to transform the country into a knowledge-based, export-oriented Indian Ocean hub by 2025.

" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { "text": "2.29% (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2018": { "text": "3.32% (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2017": { "text": "3.58% (2017 est.)" } }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { "text": "4.3% (2019 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": { "text": "4.2% (2018 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": { "text": "6.5% (2017 est.)" } }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "CCC (2020)" }, "Moody's rating": { "text": "Caa1 (2020)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "CCC+ (2020)" } }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$285.141 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": { "text": "$278.776 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017": { "text": "$269.853 billion (2017 est.)" }, "note": "

note: data are in 2010 dollars

" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$84.016 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$13,078 (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2018": { "text": "$12,865 (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2017": { "text": "$12,584 (2017 est.)" }, "note": "

note: data are in 2010 dollars

" }, "Gross national saving": { "Gross national saving 2017": { "text": "33.8% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Gross national saving 2016": { "text": "32.8% of GDP (2016 est.)" }, "Gross national saving 2015": { "text": "28.8% of GDP (2015 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "7.8% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "30.5% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "61.7% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "62% (2017 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "8.5% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "26.3% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "10.2% (2017 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "21.9% (2017 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-29.1% (2017 est.)" } }, "Ease of Doing Business Index scores": { "Overall Ease of Doing Business score 2020": { "text": "73.3 (2020)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "rice, coconuts, sugar cane, plantains, milk, tea, cassava, maize, poultry, coir" }, "Industries": { "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": "4.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "8 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { "text": "27%" }, "industry": { "text": "26%" }, "services": { "text": "47% (31 December 2016)" } }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2019": { "text": "4.83% (2019 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2018": { "text": "4.44% (2018 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "6.7% (2012 est.)" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016": { "text": "39.8 (2016 est.)" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 1995": { "text": "46 (1995)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "3%" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "32.2% (2012 est.)" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "12.07 billion (2017 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "16.88 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "13.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "-5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "79.1% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt 2016": { "text": "79.6% of GDP (2016 est.)" }, "note": "

note: 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2019": { "text": "-$10 million (2019 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2018": { "text": "-$17 million (2018 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2019": { "text": "$16.322 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Exports 2018": { "text": "$15.238 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports 2017": { "text": "$15.166 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "US 24.6%, UK 9%, India 5.8%, Singapore 4.5%, Germany 4.3%, Italy 4.3% (2017)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2019": { "text": "$24.984 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Imports 2018": { "text": "$26.521 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Imports 2017": { "text": "$26.063 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "India 22%, China 19.9%, Singapore 6.9%, UAE 5.7%, Japan 4.9% (2017)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": { "text": "$7.959 billion (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": { "text": "$6.019 billion (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 31 December 2017": { "text": "$51.72 billion (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Debt - external 31 December 2016": { "text": "$45.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Exchange rates": { "currency": { "text": "Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "185.8 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "181.2 (2019 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2018": { "text": "178.545 (2018 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2014": { "text": "135.86 (2014 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2013": { "text": "130.57 (2013 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { "text": "13.66 billion kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - consumption": { "text": "12.67 billion kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - exports": { "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - imports": { "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - installed generating capacity": { "text": "3.998 million kW (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from fossil fuels": { "text": "52% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": { "text": "42% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from other renewable sources": { "text": "6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Crude oil - production": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "Crude oil - exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Crude oil - imports": { "text": "33,540 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Crude oil - proved reserves": { "text": "0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "34,210 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - consumption": { "text": "116,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "3,871 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "66,280 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Natural gas - production": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - consumption": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - exports": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - imports": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - proved reserves": { "text": "0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)" }, "Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy": { "text": "25.19 million Mt (2017 est.)" } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "2,641,982" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "11.62 (2019 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "26,160,623" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "115.06 (2019 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "telephone services have improved significantly; strong growth anticipated as Sri Lanka is lagging behind other Asian telecoms; increase in mobile broadband penetration; govt. funds telecom sector to expand fiber and LTE networks and growing investment in 5G services (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular 115 per 100; national trunk network consists of digital microwave radio relay and fiber-optic links; fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing (2019)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 94; landing points for the SeaMeWe -3,-5,  Dhiraagu-SLT Submarine Cable Network, WARF Submarine Cable, Bharat Lanka Cable System and the Bay of Bengal Gateway submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)" }, "note": "

note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" }, "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": { "total": { "text": "7,700,876" }, "percent of population": { "text": "34.11% (July 2018 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "1,544,313" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "7 (2018 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "3 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "34" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "5,882,376 (2018)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "436.2 million mt-km (2018)" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "4R (2016)" }, "Airports": { "total": { "text": "18 (2020)" } }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "total": { "text": "11 (2020)" }, "over 3,047 m": { "text": "2" }, "1,524 to 2,437 m": { "text": "5" }, "914 to 1,523 m": { "text": "4" } }, "Airports - with unpaved runways": { "total": { "text": "7 (2020)" }, "1,524 to 2,437 m": { "text": "2" }, "914 to 1,523 m": { "text": "3" }, "under 914 m": { "text": "2" } }, "Heliports": { "text": "1 (2020)" }, "Pipelines": { "text": "7 km refined products" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "1,562 km (2016)" }, "broad gauge": { "text": "1,562 km 1.676-m gauge (2016)" } }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "114,093 km (2010)" }, "paved": { "text": "16,977 km (2010)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "97,116 km (2010)" } }, "Waterways": { "text": "160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2012)" }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "96" }, "by type": { "text": "bulk carrier 6, container ship 1, general cargo 19, oil tanker 12, other 58 (2020)" } }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Colombo" }, "container port(s) (TEUs)": { "text": "Colombo (6,209,000) (2017)" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "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); Sri Lanka National Police: Special Task Force (counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency) (2019)" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "1.9% of GDP (2019)" }, "Military Expenditures 2018": { "text": "1.9% of GDP (2018)" }, "Military Expenditures 2017": { "text": "2.1% of GDP (2017)" }, "Military Expenditures 2016": { "text": "2.1% of GDP (2016)" }, "Military Expenditures 2015": { "text": "2.6% of GDP (2015)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "the Sri Lankan military has approximately 250,000 total personnel (180,000 Army; 40,000 Navy; 30,000 Air Force) (2019)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the Sri Lankan military inventory consists mostly of Chinese and Russian-origin equipment, as well as smaller amounts from Israel, the UK, and the US; since 2000, China, India, Israel, and the US have been the leading suppliers of arms to Sri Lanka (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { "text": "110 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 140 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 240 Mali (MINUSMA); 170 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2019)" } }, "Terrorism": { "Terrorist group(s)": { "text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham; Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (2019)", "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 Appendix-T" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

none

" }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "IDPs": { "text": "27,000 (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) (2019)" } }, "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 the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Afghanistan to work in the construction, garment, and domestic service sectors are subsequently subjected to forced labor or debt bondage (incurred through high recruitment fees or money advances); some Sri Lankan women are forced into prostitution in Jordan, Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore, and other countries; within Sri Lanka, women and children are subjected to sex trafficking, and children are also forced to beg and work in the agriculture, fireworks, and fish-drying industries; a small number of women from Asia, Central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East have been forced into prostitution in Sri Lanka in recent years" }, "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; in 2014, Sri Lanka was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; law enforcement continues to demonstrate a lack of understanding of trafficking crimes and inadequate investigations, relying on trafficking cases to be prosecuted under the procurement statute rather than the trafficking statute, which carries more stringent penalties; authorities convicted only one offender under the procurement statute, a decrease from 2013; the government approved guidelines for the identification of victims and their referral to protective services but failed to ensure that victims were not jailed and charged for crimes committed as a direct result of being trafficked; no government employees were investigated or prosecuted, despite allegations of complicity (2015)" } } } }