Geography
- Full country name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
- Population: 21.2 million
- Border countries: Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean, located off the south-eastern tip of India, 880km north of the equator.
- Climate: tropical in the low lands, average 27°C, and cooler in the central hills, with temperatures dropping to 14°C.
- Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain, mountains in south-central interior.
- Natural hazards: the southwest monsoon brings rain to the western, southern and central regions from May to July, while the north-eastern monsoon occurs in the North and East in December and January. Monsoon rains have caused brief but swift flooding in many places in Sri Lanka. There are dangerous undercurrents and strong riptides in many coastal areas of Sri Lanka.
Living in Sri Lanka
- Cost of living: dependent on the area in which you stay, but usually the cost of living is low.
- Utilities: the used voltage of electricity is 230V-240V and 50 cycles of Alternating Current (AC); bottled water is widely available throughout the country.
- Internet domain: .lk
- Health: various mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever, chikungunya and malaria, are common. Rabies is also widespread so it is wise to avoid stray animals. Travellers should be aware that medical facilities are not always comparable to UK standards, particularly outside the capital. Treatment in private hospitals can be expensive.
- Laws and customs: same sex relations are against the law, and nude or topless sunbathing is (generally) forbidden. Smoking or drinking in certain public areas carries a fine. Official photographic identification must be carried at all times because of the prevalence of security checkpoints.
Economy and finance
- Currency: Sri Lanka follows a decimal currency system in rupees (Rs.) and cents (Cts.) with 100 cents equal to a rupee.
- Type of economy: market-based.
- Health of economy: the Sri Lankan economy is growing again and the government have set some ambitious plans for economic development.
- Unemployment rate: 5.8%
- Main exports: textiles, clothing, tea and spices, rubber manufactures, precious stones, coconuts, tobacco.
Culture
- People: Sihalese - 74%, Tamil - 18%, Muslim - 7%, Burgher (descendants of Dutch and Portuguese colonist) and others - 1%.
- Major religion: Buddhism - 70%, Hinduism - 16%, Christianity - 7%, Islam -7%.
- History: see BBC Timeline: Sri Lanka
- Local etiquette: when entering places of worship, visitors are advised to be properly dressed. Briefs, shorts, bare backs and bare shoulders are against accepted norms.
Politics
- Type of government: parliamentary democracy.
- Major political parties: United National Party (UNP), Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Democratic National Alliance, Tamil National Alliance, United National Front, United People's Freedom Alliance.
Travel advice
Find the latest travel advice and a traveller’s checklist on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
.
