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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

3.6 million (1996 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

very inadequate domestic service, but expanding with the entry of two wireless loop operators and privatization of national telephone company; 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]

352,681 (1997 est.); 114,888 cellular telephone subscribers (1997 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

21 (19 network stations, two low-power stations) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

1.6 million (1996 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$8.8 billion (1998)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$559.3 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

In 1977, Colombo abandoned statist economic policies and its import substitution trade policy for market-oriented policies and export-oriented trade. Sri Lanka's most dynamic industries now are food processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages, telecommunications, and insurance and banking. By 1996 plantation crops made up only 20% of exports (compared with 93% in 1970), while textiles and garments accounted for 63%. GDP grew at an annual average rate of 5.5% throughout the 1990s until a drought and a deteriorating security situation lowered growth to 3.8% in 1996. The economy rebounded in 1997-98 with growth of 6.4% and 4.7%. For the next round of reforms, the central bank of Sri Lanka recommends that Colombo expand market mechanisms in nonplantation agriculture, dismantle the government's monopoly on wheat imports, and promote more competition in the financial sector. A continuing cloud over the economy is the fighting between the Sinhalese and the minority Tamils, which has cost 50,000 lives in the past 15 years. The global slowdown will temper growth in 1999.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

5.05 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

5.05 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 4.95% hydro: 95.05% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1--67.948 (January 1999), 64.593 (1998), 58.995 (1997), 55.271 (1996), 51.252 (1995), 49.415 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

textiles and apparel, tea, diamonds and other gems, coconut products, rubber products, petroleum products (1997)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

US 36%, UK 11%, Japan 6%, Germany 5%, Belgium-Luxembourg 4% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$48.1 billion (1998 est.)

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

agriculture: 18% industry: 31% services: 51% (1997)

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

purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)

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

4.7% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 25.2% (1990)

Imports [time series]

$5.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and equipment, textiles, petroleum, building materials, sugar (1997)

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

India 10%, Japan 9%, South Korea 8%, Hong Kong 7%, Taiwan 7% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.5% (1996 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

9.3% (1998)

Labor force [time series]

6.2 million (1997)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

services 46%, agriculture 37%, industry 17% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

35.3% (1990-91 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

11% (1997 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (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 (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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

7 00 N, 81 00 E

Geography - note (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

Capital [time series]

Colombo

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 Shaun E. DONNELLY embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3 mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Warnasena RASAPUTRAM chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s): New York

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%

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, OAS (observer), OPCW, 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

National holiday [time series]

Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948)

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

All Ceylon Tamil Congress or ACTC Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA]; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil APPUHAMY]; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties, represented in either parliament or provincial councils

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

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE; 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 (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$719 million (1998)

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

4.2% (1998)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 5,223,590 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 4,062,758 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 199,196 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27% (male 2,650,135; female 2,535,092) 15-64 years: 67% (male 6,231,987; female 6,500,782) 65 years and over: 6% (male 592,539; female 634,340) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.16 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.02 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

16.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 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: 72.67 years male: 69.89 years female: 75.59 years (1999 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]

-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

19,144,875 (July 1999 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]

1.1% (1999 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: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.1 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

13 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (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 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 99,200 km paved: 39,680 km unpaved: 59,520 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 178,867 GRT/276,363 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 14, container 1, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 5 (1998 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: 1,501 km broad gauge: 1,442 km 1.676-m gauge narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (1995)

Waterways [time series]

430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft