Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. It is in South Asia. The island is positioned southwest of the Bay of Bengal. Its geographical distinction is marked by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, separating it from the Indian peninsula. Its latitudes are 5°55′ and 9°51′ N and longitudes 79°41′ and 81°53′ E. With a maximum length of 432 km (268 miles) and a width of 224 km (139 miles), it shares maritime borders with the India in the northwest and the Maldives in the southwest. Sri Lankan Standard Time and time zone is UTC+5:30.

Sri Lanka encompasses an area of 65,610.2 km2 (25,332.2 sq mi), making it the 120th largest country in the world. Its coastline is adorned with nice beaches, while inland, lush greenery blankets rolling hills and picturesque valleys.

Officially known as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the nation embraces cultural diversity with Sinhala and Tamil as its official languages, and English widely spoken for official purposes. The island is referred to as “ශ්‍රී ලංකා” (Śrī Laṅkā) in Sinhala and “இலங்கை” (Ilaṅkai) in Tamil. The capital, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, serves as the legislative center, while Colombo functions as the executive, judicial and financial hub.

Administratively, Sri Lanka is divided into 9 provinces and further subdivided into 25 districts. Governed as a unitary semi-presidential republic, the country’s legislature resides in Parliament.

Sri Lanka has a population density of 337.7/km2 (874.6/sq mi) and home to approximately 22 million people. Citizens, known as Sri Lankans, embrace a rich tapestry of ethnicities, including Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamils, Sri Lankan Moors, Indian Tamils, Burghers, Malays, Veddas, Chinese, and Indians.

The nation’s cultural mosaic extends to its religious landscape, with Buddhism prevailing as the official state religion, followed by Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and other faiths.

Economically, Sri Lanka is classified as a developing country by the International Monetary Fund and a lower middle-income country by the World Bank. Its currency is Sri Lankan rupee (Rs) / (LKR). The country’s majority population live in rural areas, and they depend on agriculture sector.

Sri Lanka actively participates in the global community, holding membership in esteemed organizations such as the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the G77, and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). These affiliations underscore the nation’s commitment to international cooperation and diplomacy.