Area: |
65,610 sq km |
Population: |
19.252 million (2003) |
Capital City: |
Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte (designated in 1977) |
People: |
74% Sinhalese, 12,6% Sri Lanka Tamils, 5,5% Indian Tamils and 7% Muslims |
Language: |
Sinhala, Tamil, (official Languages), English is widely used |
Religion: |
69% Buddhist, 15% Hindu, 8% Muslim, 8% Christian |
Government: |
Democracy |
President: |
Mahinda Rajapakse |
Prime Minister: |
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake |
Geography
From sea level to 7000-foot high national parks, the country boasts of myriad geographical and climatic zones. From the coconut palm fringed beaches of the west coast to lush rainforests of Ratnapura (2 hours from Colombo) to the stunning mountain scenery of Haputale (5 hours from Colombo) to the arid, scrub jungles of Yala (7 hours from Colombo) - a traveller in the country will never bore of the constantly changing patterns of the countryside. It is easy to imagine, when travelling across Sri Lanka, why Marco Polo called it the finest island of its size in the world.
Weather
The weather is tropical - bright and hot for most part. Rains come in two main monsoons that originate in the Indian Ocean. The country has specific climatic zones determined by ranges of high mountains that run in north-south direction in the center of the island. The larger geographical area, fed by the north-east monsoon stays hot and dry for long months of the year, while the west and parts of the south of Sri Lanka has a primarily wet and humid climate.
The country is five and half hours ahead of GMT. (+05.30 GMT)
Holidays
In addition to Saturday and Sunday, the full moon day (Poya Day) of each month is a holiday in Sri Lanka. On Poya Days all places of entertainment are closed.
Language
Sri Lanka has a diversity of ethnic groups. Languages spoken in the country vary. The two major native languages are Sinhala spoken by the Sinhalese majority and Tamil language used by the Tamils. Although, Sinhala and Tamil are languages from different source, both share some common characteristics and obviously have influence on each other's linguistic evolution as well. English is widely spoken but it may be useful to learn some phrases in Sinhala if visiting the country for business or pleasure.
Useful Sinhala PhrasesPronunciationa : as the ‘u' in ‘cup' BasicsHello : hello Getting AroundWhen does the next …leave/arrive?: meelanga…pitat venne/peminenne? Around TownBank: benkuwa Useful WordsBig: loku FoodBread: paan Numbers1: eka |
Useful Tamil PhrasesPronunciationa: as the in ‘u' in ‘cup' BasicsHello: vanakkam Getting AroundWhat time does the…leave/arrive?: eppohlidur arutur…sellum/vahrum? Around TownBank: vanghee FoodBread: rotti Numbers1: ondru |