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South Asia :: Sri Lanka
page last updated on October 22, 2012
Flag of Sri Lanka
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Sri Lanka
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Map of Sri Lanka
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of Sri Lanka
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Introduction ::Sri Lanka
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The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the island were controlled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire in February 2002 with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006, but the government regained control of the Eastern Province in 2007. By May 2009, the government announced that its military had defeated the remnants of the LTTE. Since the end of the conflict, the government has enacted an ambitious program of economic development projects, many of which are financed by loans from the Government of China. In addition to efforts to reconstruct its economy, the government has resettled more than 95% of those civilians who were displaced during the final phase of the conflict and released the vast majority of former LTTE combatants captured by Government Security Forces. At the same time, there has been little progress on more contentious and politically difficult issues such as reaching a political settlement with Tamil elected representatives and holding accountable those alleged to have been involved in human rights violations at the end of the war.
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Geography ::Sri Lanka
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Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
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7 00 N, 81 00 E
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total: 65,610 sq km
country comparison to the world: 122
land: 64,630 sq km
water: 980 sq km
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slightly larger than West Virginia
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0 km
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1,340 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
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mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
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limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower
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arable land: 13.96%
permanent crops: 15.24%
other: 70.8% (2005)
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5,700 sq km (2003)
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50 cu km (1999)
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total: 12.61 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%)
per capita: 608 cu m/yr (2000)
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occasional cyclones and tornadoes
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deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
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strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
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People ::Sri Lanka
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noun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective: Sri Lankan
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Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)
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Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%
note: English, spoken competently by about 10% of the population, is commonly used in government and is referred to as the link language in the constitution
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Buddhist (official) 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)
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21,481,334 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
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0-14 years: 24.9% (male 2,723,657/ female 2,615,425)
15-64 years: 67% (male 7,041,566/ female 7,358,891)
65 years and over: 8.1% (male 747,433/ female 994,362) (2012 est.)
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total: 31.1 years
male: 30.1 years
female: 32.2 years (2012 est.)
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0.913% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
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17.04 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
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5.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
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-1.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
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urban population: 14% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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COLOMBO (capital) 681,000 (2009)
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at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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35 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 117
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total: 9.47 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 148
male: 10.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
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total population: 75.94 years
country comparison to the world: 83
male: 72.43 years
female: 79.59 years (2012 est.)
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2.17 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
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4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 161
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0.492 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
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3.1 beds/1,000 population (2004)
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less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
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2,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
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fewer than 200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
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degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and chikungunya
water contact disease: leptospirosis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
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21.1% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 30
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NA
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.2%
male: 92.6%
female: 90% (2010 census)
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total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2004)
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total: 21.3%
country comparison to the world: 49
male: 17.1%
female: 27.9% (2009)
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Government ::Sri Lanka
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conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
conventional short form: Sri Lanka
local long form: Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu
local short form: Shri Lanka/Ilankai
former: Serendib, Ceylon
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republic
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name: Colombo
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 79 50 E
time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)
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9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
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4 February 1948 (from the UK)
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Independence Day, 4 February (1948)
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adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; amended 20 December 2001
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mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and Jaffna Tamil customary law
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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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18 years of age; universal
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chief of state: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Dissanayake Mudiyanselage JAYARATNE holds the largely ceremonial title of prime minister (since 21 April 2010)
head of government: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
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elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term, eligible for a second term; election last held on 26 January 2010 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: Mahinda RAJAPAKSA reelected president for second term; percent of vote - Mahinda RAJAPAKSA 57.88%, Sarath FONSEKA 40.15%, other 1.97%
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unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of an open-list, proportional representation system by electoral district to serve six-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 April 2010 with a repoll in two electorates held on 20 April 2010 (next to be held by April 2016)
election results: percent of vote by alliance or party - United People's Freedom Alliance 60.93%, United National Party 29.34%, Democratic National Alliance 5.49%, Tamil National Alliance 2.9%, other 1.94%; seats by alliance or party - United People's Freedom Alliance 144, United National Party 60, Tamil National Alliance 14, Democratic National Alliance 7
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Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts are appointed by the president
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Coalitions and leaders: Democratic National Alliance led by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Somawansa AMARASINGHE]; Tamil National Alliance led by Illandai Tamil Arasu Kachchi [R. SAMPANTHAN]; United National Front led by United National Party [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE]; United People's Freedom Alliance led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party [Mahinda RAJAPAKSA]
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Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE [P. SIVAPARAN, Chief of International Secretariat; V. RUDRAKUMARAN, legal advisor]; note - this insurgent group suffered military defeat in May 2009; some cadres remain scattered throughout country, but there have not been any incidents in Sri Lanka since May 2009
other: Buddhist clergy; labor unions; hard-line nationalist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups
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ABEDA, ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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chief of mission: Ambassador Jaliya Chitran WICKRAMASURIYA
chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028
FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York
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chief of mission: Ambassador Michele J. SISON
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500
FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345
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yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green the Sri Lankan Moors; dark red represents the European Burghers, but also refers to the rich colonial background of the country; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag
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lion
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name: "Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka)
lyrics/music: Ananda SAMARKONE
note: adopted 1951
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Economy ::Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka continues to experience strong economic growth, driven by large-scale reconstruction and development projects following the end of the 26-year conflict with the LTTE. Sri Lanka is pursuing a combination of government directed policies, private investment, both foreign and domestic, to spur growth in disadvantaged areas, develop small and medium enterprises, and increase agricultural productivity. The government struggles with high debt interest payments, a bloated civil service, and historically high budget deficits. However recent reforms to the tax code have resulted in higher revenue and lower budget deficits in recent years. The 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession exposed Sri Lanka's economic vulnerabilities and nearly caused a balance of payments crisis. Growth slowed to 3.5% in 2009. Economic activity rebounded strongly with the end of the war and an IMF agreement, resulting in two straight years of high growth in 2010 and 2011. Per capita income of $5,600 on a purchasing power parity basis is among the highest in the region.
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$118 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$109.1 billion (2010 est.)
$101 billion (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
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$59.1 billion (2011 est.)
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8.2% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
8% (2010 est.)
3.5% (2009 est.)
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$5,700 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$5,300 (2010 est.)
$5,000 (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
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agriculture: 13%
industry: 29.6%
services: 57.4% (2011 est.)
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8.307 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
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agriculture: 32.7%
industry: 24.2%
services: 43.1% (December 2010 est.)
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4.2% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
4.9% (2010 est.)
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8.9% (2010 est.)
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lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 36.8% (2009)
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49 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 25
46 (1995)
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27.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
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revenues: $8.495 billion
expenditures: $12.63 billion (2011 est.)
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14.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
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-7% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
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79.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
81.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
note: covers central government debt, and excludes debt instruments directly owned by government entities other than the treasury (e.g. commercial bank borrowings of a government corporation); the data includes treasury debt held by foreign entities as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement; sub-national entities are usually not permitted to sell debt instruments
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7% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
5.9% (2010 est.)
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7% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
7.25% (31 December 2010)
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9.41% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
9.29% (31 December 2010 est.)
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$3.867 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$3.67 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$21.89 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$16.34 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$24.21 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$20.44 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$19.44 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 64
$19.92 billion (31 December 2010)
$8.133 billion (31 December 2009)
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rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, vegetables, fruit, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish
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processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction
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10.1% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
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-$4 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
-$1.472 billion (2010 est.)
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$10.19 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$8.307 billion (2010 est.)
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textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish
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US 20.1%, UK 9.3%, India 6.3%, Italy 5.1%, Germany 5%, Belgium 4.5% (2011)
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$20.02 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$12.16 billion (2010 est.)
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petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs
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India 26%, China 15.9%, Singapore 7.1%, Iran 6.2%, Japan 5% (2011)
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$7.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$7.197 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$22.81 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$20.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$NA
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$NA
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Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -
110.57 (2011 est.)
113.06 (2010 est.)
114.95 (2009)
108.33 (2008)
110.78 (2007)
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calendar year
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Energy ::Sri Lanka
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10.71 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
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9.268 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
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0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
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0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
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2.646 million kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
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48.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
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51.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
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0.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
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0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
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38,630 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
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0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
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38,570 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
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89,620 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
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0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
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48,140 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
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0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
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14.09 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
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Communications ::Sri Lanka
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3.608 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 44
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18.319 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 49
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general assessment: telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country
domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing
international: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
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government operates 2 TV channels and a radio network; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 8 private TV stations and about a dozen private radio stations (2008)
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.lk
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8,652 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 136
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1.777 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 77
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Transportation ::Sri Lanka
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18 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 139
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total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2012)
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total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2012)
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1 (2012)
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total: 1,449 km
country comparison to the world: 80
broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2007)
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total: 91,907 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 52
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160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 101
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total: 21
country comparison to the world: 94
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 13, chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Germany 8) (2010)
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Colombo
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Military ::Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force (2010)
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18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; 5-year service obligation (Air Force) (2012)
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males age 16-49: 5,342,147
females age 16-49: 5,466,409 (2010 est.)
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males age 16-49: 4,177,432
females age 16-49: 4,574,833 (2010 est.)
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male: 167,026
female: 162,587 (2010 est.)
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2.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 57
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Transnational Issues ::Sri Lanka
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none
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IDPs: 95,000 (civil war, more than half displaced prior to 2008) (2011)
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