Cyb Template 2012
Sri Lanka a mark at the top in the likeness of a human leopards; Yala National Park in the south-east footprint, variously attributed as the print of (112 sq km) is home to large elephant the Buddha, Vishnu or Adam, and is a place populations. However, reduction of the of pilgrimage. The coastal plains are broader natural tropical hardwood forest is in the north, tapering off in the long low- endangering several animal species. Some 30 lying Jaffna peninsula. Several fast-flowing mammal species and 14 bird species are non-navigable rivers arise in the mountains. thought to be endangered (2014). The Mahaweli Ganga, from which Main towns: Colombo (commercial capital; hydroelectric power is obtained, is the Western Province; pop. 561,314 in 2012), Sri longest at 322 km. Jayewardenepura–Kotte (administrative One of the most violent earthquakes ever capital; greater Colombo, 107,925), recorded occurred on 26 December 2004 in Maharagama (greater Colombo, 196,423), the Indian Ocean west of Sumatra generating Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia (greater Colombo, a tsunami that swamped the east and south 184,468), Moratuwa (greater Colombo, coasts of Sri Lanka causing approximately 168,280), Negombo (142,499), Kalmunai 31,000 deaths and devastation of the coastal (99,893), Kandy (Central, 98,828), Galle area. (Southern, 86,333), Batticaloa (86,227), Jaffna (Northern, 80,829), Daluguma Climate: Tropical. The lowlands are always KEY FACTS (74,400), Katunayaka (61,228), Joined Commonwealth: 1948 hot, particularly March–May. The highlands Anuradhapura (North-Central, 50,595), are cooler. During December and January Population: 21,273,000 (2013) Trincomalee (Eastern, 48,351), Ratnapura there is occasional frost on very high ground GDP p.c.
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