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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

3.525 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

very inadequate domestic service, good international service domestic: NA international: submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

175,000 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

865,000 (1992 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, roots, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, meat

Budget [time series]

revenues : $3 billion expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1 billion (1997)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$9.6 billion (1995)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient : ODA, $602 million (1995 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Industry - dominated by the fast-growing apparel industry - has surpassed agriculture as the main source of export earnings. The economy has been plagued by high rates of unemployment since the late 1970s. Economic growth accelerated in 1991-95 as domestic conditions began to improve and conditions for foreign investment brightened. In 1996, however, a drought, slow economic reform, and civil war exacted a heavy economic toll. Insufficient monsoon rains caused power cuts that hurt industrial and agricultural production, and the stepped-up Tamil insurgency reduced foreign investment and tourism - two key sources of foreign exchange. Meanwhile, Colombo's counterinsurgency efforts caused defense expenditures to overshoot budget targets by 42%. In 1997, agricultural production should recover from the effects of last year's drought, but industry will still be hampered by high real interest rates, slow improvement in foreign investment inflows, and stalled progress on privatization. The government's main challenge this year will be to curb defense and social welfare spending to cut the budget deficit as a percentage of GDP in half by 1998, as stipulated in its deficit reduction program.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

1.56 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

236 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

4.33 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1 - 56.921 (January 1997), 55.271 (1996), 51.252 (1995), 49.415 (1994), 48.322 (1993), 43.830 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: textiles and apparel, tea, petroleum products, diamonds, other gems, rubber products (1994) partners : US 34.8%, UK 8.9%, Germany 6.9%, Belgium-Luxembourg 5.9% (1994)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $69.7 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 23.8% industry: 24.7% services : 51.5% (1994)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $3,760 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

3.7% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $5 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: textiles, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, petroleum, building materials, sugar (1994) partners: Japan 11.0%, India 8.5%, South Korea 6.8%, Hong Kong 6.6%, Taiwan 5.2%, Singapore 4.9% (1994)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.2% (1996 est.)

Industries [time series]

processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

15.9% (1996)

Labor force [time series]

total: 6.2 million (1994) by occupation: agriculture 42%, services 40%, industry 18% (1994)

Unemployment rate [time series]

13.1% (1994)

Geography

Area [time series]

total : 65,610 sq km land: 64,740 sq km water: 870 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate [time series]

tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

Coastline [time series]

1,340 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

7 00 N, 81 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

Irrigated land [time series]

5,500 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 14% permanent crops: 15% permanent pastures : 7% forests and woodland: 32% other: 32% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Natural resources [time series]

limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay

Terrain [time series]

mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

Constitution [time series]

adopted 16 August 1978

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador A. Peter BURLEIGH embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3 mailing address : P. O. Box 106, Colombo telephone: [94] (1) 448007

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Geetha DE SILVA chancery : 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994); note - Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE is the prime minister; in Sri Lanka the president is considered to be both the chief of state and the head of the government, this is in contrast to the more common practice of dividing the roles between the president and the prime minister when both offices exist head of government: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994); note - Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE is the prime minister; in Sri Lanka the president is considered to be both the chief of state and the head of the government, this is in contrast to the more common practice of dividing the roles between the president and the prime minister when both offices exist cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister elections : president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 9 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results : Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA elected president; percent of vote - Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (People's Alliance) 62%, Srima DISSANAYAKE (United National Party) 37%, other 1%

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 232-7181 consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[94] (1) 437345, 446013

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

4 February 1948 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission; Court of Appeals

Legal system [time series]

a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of a modified proportional representation system to serve six-year terms) elections: last held 16 August 1994 (next to be held by August 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - PA 49.0%, UNP 44.0%, SLMC 1.8%, TULF 1.7%, SLPF 1.1%, EPDP 0.3%, UPF 0.3%, PLOTE 0.1%, other 1.7%; seats by party - PA 105, UNP 94, EPDP 9, SLMC 7, TULF 5, PLOTE 3, SLPF 1, UPF 1

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Colombo

National holiday [time series]

Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), C. G. Kumar PONNAMBALAM; Ceylon Workers Congress (CLDC), S. THONDAMAN; Communist Party, K. P. SILVA; Communist Party/Beijing (CP/B), N. SHANMUGATHASAN; Democratic People's Liberation Front (DPLF), leader NA; Democratic United National Front (DUNF), G. M. PREMACHANDRA; Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas DEVANANDA; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRL), Suresh PREMACHANDRAN; Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS), Shankar RAJI; Lanka Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP, or Lanka Sama Samaja Party), Colin R. DE SILVA; Liberal Party (LP), Chanaka AMARATUNGA; New Socialist Party (NSSP, or Nava Sama Samaja Party), Vasudeva NANAYAKKARA; People's Alliance (PA), Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Dharmalingam SIDARTHAN; People's United Front (MEP, or Mahajana Eksath Peramuna), Dinesh GUNAWARDENE; Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), M. H. M. ASHRAFF; Sri Lanka People's Party (SLMP, or Sri Lanka Mahajana Party), Ossie ABEYGUNASEKERA; Sri Lanka Progressive Front (SLPF), leader NA; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), leader NA; Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), M. SIVASITHAMBARAM; United National Party (UNP), Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA; Upcountry People's Front (UPF), leader NA; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties, represented in either parliament or provincial councils note: the United Socialist Alliance (USA), which was formed in 1987 and included the NSSP, LSSP, SLMP, CP/M, and CP/B, was defunct as of 1993, following the formation of the People's Alliance Party (PA)

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other smaller Tamil separatist groups; other radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups; Buddhist clergy; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups; labor unions

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$736 million (1997)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

5.7% (1997)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 5,066,744 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males : 3,946,315 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 184,619 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 28% (male 2,698,852; female 2,581,476) 15-64 years : 66% (male 6,019,140; female 6,266,311) 65 years and over: 6% (male 565,671; female 589,728) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.64 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

16.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about 10% of the population

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.42 years male: 69.75 years female: 75.23 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.2% male: 93.4% female: 87.2% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Sri Lankan(s) adjective: Sri Lankan

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

18,721,178 (July 1997 est.) note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island; as of late 1996, 63,068 were housed in refugee camps in south India, another 30,000-40,000 lived outside the Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought political asylum in the West

Population growth rate [time series]

1.14% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.15 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none SUDAN

Transportation

Airports [time series]

13 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 98,642 km paved: 37,484 km unpaved: 61,158 km (1993 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 220,660 GRT/329,365 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 13, container 1, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 8 (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee

Railways [time series]

total: 1,484 km broad gauge: 1,459 km 1.676-m gauge narrow gauge: 25 km 0.762-m gauge (1995)

Waterways [time series]

430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft