Basic Information

Country Name :

conventional long form : Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
conventional short form : Sri Lanka
former: Ceylon

Size :

65,525 sq km.

Location :

65,525 sq km.
Comprises one large island and several islets, lying east of the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent. The maximum north-south length of the island is 435km. and its greatest width is 225 km. The Bay of Bengal lies to is north and east and the Arabian Sea to its west. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, between which there lies, a stretch of very shallow water.

Capital :

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte .

Commercial capital :

Colombo

Government :

Sri Lanka, is an independent and sovereign nation with a population of 21,129,000 (2008 estimates). Legislative power is exercised by a Parliament, elected by universal franchise on proportional representation basis. A President, who is also elected by the people, exercises executive power including defense. Sri Lanka enjoys a multi party system, and the people vote to elect a new government every six years.

Head of State/ Government :

His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka

Prime Minister :

Honourable Ratnasiri Wickremanayake (appointed by the President) .

Administrative Provinces :

Central , North Central, North Eastern, North-Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

Districts :

Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mulativu, Mannar, Vavuniya, trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Pollonaruwa, Kurunegala, Matale, Batticaloa, Kandy, Gampaha, Kegalle, Badulla, Ampara, Nuwara Eliya, Colombo, Moneragala, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Galle, Matara, Hambantota (please see the map) t.

National Day :

February 4th