View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2005 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.lk

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1,882 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

200,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 26, FM 45, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: very inadequate domestic service, particularly in rural areas; likely improvement with privatization of national telephone company and encouragement to private investment; good international service (1999) domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and two fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems; telephone density remains low at 2.6 main lines per 100 persons (1999) international: country code - 94; submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (1999)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

881,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

931,600 (2002)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

21 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.34 billion expenditures: $4.686 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)

Current account balance [time series]

$-587.3 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$10.85 billion (2004 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

34.4 (1995)

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

$577 million (1998)

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 sectors now are food processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages, telecommunications, and insurance and banking. In 2003, plantation crops made up only 15% of exports (compared with 93% in 1970), while textiles and garments accounted for 63%. GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.5% in the early 1990s until a drought and a deteriorating security situation lowered growth to 3.8% in 1996. The economy rebounded in 1997-2000 with average growth of 5.3%, but 2001 saw the first contraction in the country's history, -1.4%, due to a combination of power shortages, severe budgetary problems, the global slowdown, and continuing civil strife. Growth recovered to 4.0% in 2002 and to 5.2% in both 2003 and 2004. About 800,000 Sri Lankans work abroad, 90% in the Middle East. They send home about $1 billion a year. The struggle by the Tamil Tigers of the north and east for a largely independent homeland continues to cast a shadow over the economy. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took about 31,000 lives, left more than 6,300 missing and 443,000 displaced, and destroyed an estimated $1.5 billion worth of property.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

6.228 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production [time series]

6.697 billion kWh (2002)

Exchange rates [time series]

Sri Lankan rupees per US dollar - 101.194 (2004), 96.521 (2003), 95.662 (2002), 89.383 (2001), 77.005 (2000)

Exports [time series]

$5.306 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

textiles and apparel; tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products; rubber manufactures, fish

Exports - partners [time series]

US 32.4%, UK 13.5%, India 6.8%, Germany 4.8% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

$80.58 billion (2004 est.)

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

agriculture: 19.1% industry: 26.2% services: 54.7% (2004 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2004 est.)

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

5.2% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 28% (1995)

Imports [time series]

$7.265 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

textile fabrics, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and transportation equipment

Imports - partners [time series]

India 18%, Singapore 8.7%, Hong Kong 7.7%, China 5.7%, Iran 5.2%, Japan 5.1%, Malaysia 4.1% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.1% (2004 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

22.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force [time series]

7.26 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 38%, industry 17%, services 45% (1998 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

75,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

Oil - imports [time series]

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

22% (1997 est.)

Public debt [time series]

104.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.475 billion (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.8% (2004 est.)

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 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

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

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

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]

6,510 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 13.86% permanent crops: 15.7% other: 70.44% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Natural resources [time series]

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

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; note - North Eastern province may have been divided in two - Northern and Eastern

Capital [time series]

Colombo; note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital

Constitution [time series]

adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; new constitution proposed in 2002

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey J. LUNSTEAD embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3 mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo telephone: [94] (11) 244-8007 FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Bernard GOONETILLEKE 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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994); note - Mahinda RAJAPAKSE (since 6 April 2004) is the prime minister; the president is considered both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994); note - Mahinda RAJAPAKSE is the prime minister (since 6 April 2004); the president is considered both the chief of state and head of government 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 21 December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2005) election results: Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA reelected president; percent of vote - Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA 51%, Ranil WICKREMASINGHE 42%, other 7%

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 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, CP, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

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 by district to serve six-year terms) elections: last held 2 April 2004 (next to be held by 2010) election results: percent of vote by party or electoral alliance - SLFP and JVP 45.6%, UNP 37.83%, TNA 6.84%, JHU 5.97%, SLMC 2.02%, UPF 0.54%, EPDP 0.27%, others 0.93%; seats by party or electoral alliance - SLFP and JVP 105, UNP 82, TNA 22, JHU 9, SLMC 5, UPF 1, EPDP 1

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 4 February (1948)

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

All Ceylon Tamil Congress or ACTC [KUMARGURUPARAM]; Ceylon Workers Congress or CWC [Arumugam THONDAMAN]; Communist Party or CP [D. GUNASEKERA]; Democratic United National (Lalith) Front or DUNLF [Shrimani ATULATHMUDALI]; Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP [Douglas DEVANANDA]; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front or EPRLF [Suresh PREMACHANDRAN]; Janatha Vimukthi Perumuna or JVP [Tilvan SILVA]; National Heritage Party or JHU [Tilak KARUNARATNE]; National Unity Alliance or NUA [Ferial ASHRAFF]; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE [leader NA]; Sihala Urumaya or SU [leader NA]; Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP [Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA]; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC [Rauff HAKEEM]; Sri Lanka Progressive Front or SLPF [P. Nelson PERERA]; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization or TELO [SABARATNAM]; Tamil National Alliance or TNA [R. SAMPANTHAN]; Tamil United Liberation Front or TULF [V. ANANDASANGAREE]; United National Party or UNP [Ranil WICKREMASINGHE]; Up-country People's Front or UPF [P. CHANDRASEKARAN]; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties, represented in either Parliament or provincial councils

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

Buddhist clergy; labor unions; Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE [Velupillai PRABHAKARAN](insurgent group fighting for a separate state); radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning 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 seized power in the north and established a Tamil kingdom. Occupied 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 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. Tens of thousands have died in an ethnic conflict that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam formalized a cease-fire in February 2002, with Norway brokering peace negotiations.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 4,933,217 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 3,789,627 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males: 174,049 (2005 est.)

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

Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$514.8 million (2004)

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

2.6% (2004)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 24.5% (male 2,508,384/female 2,397,986) 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 6,658,765/female 7,059,468) 65 years and over: 7.2% (male 670,813/female 769,360) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.63 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.49 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

3,500 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.57 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages [time series]

Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.17 years male: 70.6 years female: 75.86 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.3% male: 94.8% female: 90% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 29.44 years male: 28.38 years female: 30.51 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Sri Lankan(s) adjective: Sri Lankan

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population [time series]

20,064,776 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 and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought refuge in the West (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.79% (2005 est.)

Religions [time series]

Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.85 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

IDPs: 362,000 (both Tamils and non-Tamils displaced due to Tamil conflict); 555,000 (resulting from 26 December 2004 tsunami) (2004)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

14 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 11,650 km paved: 11,068 km unpaved: 582 km (2002)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 120,924 GRT/173,604 DWT by type: cargo 18, container 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2 foreign-owned: 10 (Germany 10) registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Colombo, Galle

Railways [time series]

total: 1,449 km broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2004)

Waterways [time series]

160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2004)