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. growth: 4.6% p.a. 1990–2013 (Sabaragamuwa, 47,105), Badulla (Uva, – for example, at Nuwara Eliya. The dry 42,237), Vavuniya (34,816), Kurunegala UN HDI 2014: World ranking 73 season is March–mid-May. The south-west (North-Western, 24,833), Dambulla (23,814), Official languages: Sinhala, Tamil monsoon season lasts from mid-May– Chavakachcheri (16,129), Point Pedro September, the north-east monsoon season Time: GMT plus 5.5 hrs (13,300) and Valvettithurai (7,300). November–March. Currency: Sri Lanka rupee (SLRs) Transport: There are 114,090 km of roads Environment: The most significant (80 per cent paved) and about 1,460 km of environmental issues are: deforestation; soil railway. Rail links exist between the major Geography erosion; coastal degradation as a result of towns. The lines run from Colombo north Area: 65,610 sq km mining activities and increased pollution; along the coast to Puttalam, north via pollution of freshwater resources by industrial Coastline: 1,340 km Kurunegala and Anuradhapura to Mannar wastes and sewage; air pollution in Colombo; and to Jaffna; north-east to Trincomalee and Capital: Colombo and the threat to wildlife populations of Batticaloa; east to Kandy via Gampaha; and The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka poaching and urbanisation. south along the coast to Galle and Matara. (formerly Ceylon) is an island in the Indian Vegetation: Forest covers 29 per cent of the The international ports are at Colombo, Ocean, separated from south-east India (Tamil land area, having declined at 1.2 per cent Galle, Talaimannar and Trincomalee. Nadu state) by the Palk Strait. It is almost p.a. 1990–2010. Vegetation is rich and Bandaranaike international airport is 32 km linked to the Indian mainland by Adam’s luxuriant, with a great variety of flowers, from Colombo. Bridge, an atoll barrier, mostly submerged, trees, creepers and flowering shrubs. The The larger domestic airports are at Ratmalana lying between the offshore island of Mannar flora of Sri Lanka were described by Linnaeus (Colombo) in the south and Jaffna in the and India itself. in 1747 from specimens collected by a fellow north. The country comprises nine provinces (from botanist. Among the many species of trees south to north): Southern (provincial capital are the rubber tree, palm, acacia, margosa, Galle), Sabaragamuwa (Ratnapura), Western satinwood, Ceylon oak, tamarind, ebony, Society (Colombo), Uva (Badulla), Eastern coral tree and banyan. Flowers and shrubs KEY FACTS 2013 (Trincomalee), Central (Kandy), North- include the orchid and rhododendron. There Population per sq km: 324 Western (Kurunegala), North-Central are about 3,300 species of plants, of which (Anuradhapura) and Northern (Jaffna). some 288 are threatened with extinction. Life expectancy: 74 years Arable land comprises 20 per cent and Topography: Beyond the coastal plains, Sri Net primary enrolment: 94% permanent cropland 16 per cent of the total Lanka’s topography is dominated by an Population: 21,273,000 (2013); 18 per cent land area. outstandingly beautiful central mountain of people live in urban areas; growth 0.9 per massif of gneiss rock, with the highest point Wildlife: Nature reserves now cover ten per cent p.a. 1990–2013; birth rate 18 per 1,000 at Pidurutalagala (2,524 metres). The holy cent of the island. Wilpattu National Park in people (31 in 1970); life expectancy 74 years Adam’s Peak (2,243 metres) is so called from the north-west (813 sq km) is best known for (43 in 1946 and 64 in 1970). THE COMMONWEALTH YEARBOOK 2015 Sri Lanka The largest ethnic group is Sinhalese University of Ceylon – in 1942 when the (estimated at 74 per cent of the population), Ceylon Medical College (founded 1870) and Economy KEY FACTS 2013 followed by Sri Lankan Tamils (12 per cent), Ceylon University College (1921) were Muslims (seven per cent), Indian Tamils (five merged; University of Kelaniya; University of GNI: US$65.4bn per cent), and small communities of Malays Peradeniya; and Open University of Sri Lanka, GNI p.c.: US$3,170 and Burghers (persons of Dutch or partly which provides courses through distance GDP growth: 6.7% p.a. 2009–13 Dutch descent) and a small number of learning. Technical colleges offer courses up Veddhas, descended from the earliest to diploma level in engineering and business. Inflation: 6.2% p.a. 2009–13 inhabitants. Historians now believe that The female–male ratio for gross enrolment in While agriculture is central to Sri Lanka’s Dravidian and Indo-Aryan cultures, which tertiary education is 1.80:1 (2011). Literacy economy – and tea, rubber and coconut form the roots of the modern-day Sri Lankan among people aged 15–24 is 98 per cent continue to be important exports – Tamils and Sinhalese, most likely arrived in Sri (2010). manufacturing and services (including Lanka late in the first millennium BCE, having In 1980 Sri Lanka hosted the Eighth banking and financial services) are of filtered down from India. Conference of Commonwealth Education increasing importance, especially textiles and Indian Tamils arrived later, brought in by the Ministers in Colombo. Commonwealth clothing which are major exports. Since 1989 British in the 19th century as labour for the Education Ministers meet every three years to the former policies of nationalisation have plantations. Some Indian Tamils were discuss issues of mutual concern and interest. been superseded by extensive liberalisation, repatriated from 1964, and since 1988 all which has led to extensive privatisation of the Media: There are several daily newspapers in remaining Indian Tamils have attained Sri formerly largely centralised economy, Sinhala, Tamil, and English including the Lankan citizenship. The Muslims are mostly including agricultural enterprises, banking, state-owned Daily News , and the descendants of Arab traders, and the transport services and utilities. independent Daily Mirror and The Island , plus Burghers descendants of European settlers of several weeklies including the state-owned Sri Lanka had been aiming at achieving newly the 17th century onwards. Sunday Observer and independent The industrialised country status by the year Language: The official languages are Sinhala Sunday Times . 2000, but ethnic conflict adversely affected and Tamil. English is used in commerce and the economy, notably in the spheres of The public radio network of the Sri Lanka government and very widely understood. foreign investment and tourism, and Broadcasting Corporation and many private particularly in the north and east of the Religion: Buddhists 70 per cent, Hindus 13 stations broadcast in Sinhala, Tamil and country. Despite the conflict, tourism earnings per cent, Muslims ten per cent and Christians English. The Independent Television Network generally held up in the 1990s and into the six per cent (2012). and Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation both 2000s, though attacks on tourist areas, such provide public TV services, and there are Health: Public spending on health was one as the international airport in 2001, caused several private TV channels; public and private per cent of GDP in 2012. Both Western and sharp falls. Foreign investment in channels are also in Sinhala, Tamil and English. Ayurvedic (traditional) medicine are practised, manufacturing and infrastructure were though most doctors practise Western Some 76 per cent of households have TV sets maintained and manufacturing output grew medicine. A free health service is available, (2007). There are 38 personal computers per by 6.3 per cent p.a. 1980–90, 8.1 per cent with hospitals and clinics countrywide, 1,000 people (2005). p.a. 1990–2000, 4.5 per cent p.a. 2000–10 supplemented by several private hospitals and Communications: Country code 94; internet and 6.8 per cent p.a. 2010–12. clinics in Colombo. Some 94 per cent of the domain ‘.lk’. Mobile phone coverage is good population uses an improved drinking water Thus, despite the disruption caused by the in urban areas and the number of subscribers source and 92 per cent have access to hostilities and relatively high spending on has grown rapidly. Internet cafes can be adequate sanitation facilities (2012). Infant defence, the economy grew well throughout found in the main towns.