Sri Lanka

total: 1,544,313 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2018 est.)

government operates 5 TV channels and 19 radio channels; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 25 private TV stations and about 43 radio stations; 6 non-profit TV stations and 4 radio stations

.lk

total: 7,700,876 | percent of population: 34.11% (July 2018 est.)

general assessment: telephone services have improved significantly; strong growth anticipated as Sri Lanka is lagging behind other Asian telecoms; increase in mobile broadband penetration; govt. funds telecom sector to expand fiber and LTE networks and growing investment in 5G services (2020) | domestic: fixed-line 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular 115 per 100; national trunk network consists of digital microwave radio relay and fiber-optic links; fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing (2019) | international: country code - 94; landing points for the SeaMeWe -3,-5, Dhiraagu-SLT Submarine Cable Network, WARF Submarine Cable, Bharat Lanka Cable System and the Bay of Bengal Gateway submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019) | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

total subscriptions: 2,641,982 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11.62 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions: 26,160,623 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115.06 (2019 est.)

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

revenues: 12.07 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 16.88 billion (2017 est.)

-5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Fitch rating: CCC (2020) | Moody's rating: Caa1 (2020) | Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2020)

-$10 million (2019 est.) | -$17 million (2018 est.)

$51.72 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $45.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

73.3 (2020)

Sri Lanka is attempting to sustain economic growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability under the IMF program it began in 2016. The government's high debt payments and bloated civil service, which have contributed to historically high budget deficits, remain a concern. Government debt is about 79% of GDP and remains among the highest of the emerging markets. In the coming years, Sri Lanka will need to balance its elevated debt repayment schedule with its need to maintain adequate foreign exchange reserves. In May 2016, Sri Lanka regained its preferential trade status under the European Union’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus, enabling many of its firms to export products, including its top export garments, tax free to the EU. In 2017, Parliament passed a new Inland Revenue Act in an effort to increase tax collection and broaden the tax base in response to recommendations made under its IMF program. In November 2017, the Financial Action Task Force on money laundering and terrorist financing listed Sri Lanka as non-compliant, but reported subsequently that Sri Lanka had made good progress in implementing an action plan to address deficiencies. Tourism has experienced strong growth in the years since the resolution of the government's 26-year conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. In 2017, the government promulgated plans to transform the country into a knowledge-based, export-oriented Indian Ocean hub by 2025.

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - | 185.8 (2020 est.) | 181.2 (2019 est.) | 178.545 (2018 est.) | 135.86 (2014 est.) | 130.57 (2013 est.)

$16.322 billion (2019 est.) | $15.238 billion (2018 est.) | $15.166 billion (2017 est.)

textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish

US 24.6%, UK 9%, India 5.8%, Singapore 4.5%, Germany 4.3%, Italy 4.3% (2017)

calendar year

$84.016 billion (2019 est.)

$256.006 billion (2019 est.) | $250.29 billion (2018 est.) | $242.28 billion (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

household consumption: 62% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 8.5% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 26.3% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 10.2% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 21.9% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -29.1% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 7.8% (2017 est.) | industry: 30.5% (2017 est.) | services: 61.7% (2017 est.)

$4,103 (2019 est.) | $4,030 (2018 est.) | $3,919 (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

2.29% (2019 est.) | 3.32% (2018 est.) | 3.58% (2017 est.)

33.8% of GDP (2017 est.) | 32.8% of GDP (2016 est.) | 28.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

lowest 10%: 3% | highest 10%: 32.2% (2012 est.)

$24.984 billion (2019 est.) | $26.521 billion (2018 est.) | $26.063 billion (2017 est.)

petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs

India 22%, China 19.9%, Singapore 6.9%, UAE 5.7%, Japan 4.9% (2017)

4.6% (2017 est.)

processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction

4.3% (2019 est.) | 4.2% (2018 est.) | 6.5% (2017 est.)

8 million (2020 est.)

agriculture: 27% | industry: 26% | services: 47% (31 December 2016)

6.7% (2012 est.)

79.1% of GDP (2017 est.) | 79.6% of GDP (2016 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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

$7.959 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $6.019 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

13.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

4.83% (2019 est.) | 4.44% (2018 est.)

25.19 million Mt (2017 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

33,540 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

12.67 billion kWh (2016 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

52% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

42% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

3.998 million kW (2016 est.)

13.66 billion kWh (2016 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2019)

0 cu m (2017 est.)

0 cu m (2017 est.)

0 cu m (2017 est.)

0 cu m (2017 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

116,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

3,871 bbl/day (2015 est.)

66,280 bbl/day (2015 est.)

34,210 bbl/day (2017 est.)

total: 65,610 sq km | land: 64,630 sq km | water: 980 sq km

slightly larger than West Virginia | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × South Asia :: Sri Lanka Print Image Description slightly larger than West Virginia

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

1,340 km

mean elevation: 228 m | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m | highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; coral reef destruction; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo

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

7 00 N, 81 00 E

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes; Adam's Bridge is a chain of limestone shoals between the southeastern coast of India and the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka; geological evidence suggests that this 50-km long Bridge once connected India and Sri Lanka; ancient records seem to indicate that a foot passage was possible between the two land masses until the 15th century when the land bridge broke up in a cyclone

5,700 sq km (2012)

0 km

agricultural land: 43.5% (2011 est.) | arable land: 20.7% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 15.8% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 7% (2011 est.) | forest: 29.4% (2011 est.) | other: 27.1% (2011 est.)

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

Asia

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

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

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

the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north

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

9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

name: Colombo (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) | geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 79 50 E | time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | etymology: Colombo may derive from the Sinhala "kolon thota," meaning "port on the river" (referring to the Kelani River that empties into the Indian Ocean at Colombo); alternatively, the name may derive from the Sinhala "kola amba thota" meaning "harbor with mango trees"; it is also possible that the Portuguese named the city after Christopher COLUMBUS, who lived in Portugal for many years (as Cristovao COLOMBO) before discovering the Americas for the Spanish crown in 1492 - not long before the Portuguese made their way to Sri Lanka in 1505; Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte translates as "Resplendent City of Growing Victory" in Sinhala

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Sri Lanka | dual citizenship recognized: no, except in cases where the government rules it is to the benefit of Sri Lanka | residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

history: several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978 | amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of its total membership, certification by the president of the republic or the Parliament speaker, and in some cases approval in a referendum by absolute majority of valid votes; amended many times, last in 2020

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 | etymology: the name means "resplendent island" in Sanskrit

chief of mission: Ambassador Alaina B. TEPLITZ (since 1 November 2018); note - also accredited to Maldives | telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500 | embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 03 | mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo | FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345

chief of mission: Ambassador E. Rodney M. PERERA (since 8 July 2019) | chancery: 3025 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028 | FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181 | consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

chief of state: President Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA (since 18 November 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister Mahinda RAJAPAKSA (since 21 November 2019) | head of government: President Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA (since 18 November 2019) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister | elections/appointments: president directly elected by preferential majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 16 November 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister appointed by the president from among members of Parliament for a 5-year term) | election results: Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA elected president; percent of vote - Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA (SLPP) 52.2%, Sajith PREMADASA (UNP) 42%, other 5.8%

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 maroon 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 Sri Lankan Moors, and maroon the Sinhalese majority; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag

presidential republic

4 February 1948 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

ABEDA, ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), 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 (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest courts: Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 9 justices); note - the court has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation | judge selection and term of office: chief justice nominated by the Constitutional Council (CC), a 9-member high-level advisory body, and appointed by the president; other justices nominated by the CC and appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice; all justices can serve until age 65 | subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; municipal and primary courts

mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, Jaffna Tamil customary law, and Muslim personal law

description: unicameral Parliament (225 seats; 196 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote using a preferential method in which voters select 3 candidates in order of preference; remaining 29 seats allocated to other political parties and groups in proportion to share of national vote; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 17 August 2015 (next originally scheduled for 25 April 2020 but postponed to due to the COVID-19 pandemic) | election results: percent of vote by coalition/party - SLFPA 59.1%, SJB 23.9%, JVP 3.8%, TNA 2.8%, UNP 2.2%, TNPF 0.6%, EPDP 0.5%, other 7.1%; seats by coalition/party - SLFPA 145, SJB 54, TNA 10, JVP 3, other 13; composition - NA

name: "Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka) | lyrics/music: Ananda SAMARKONE | note: adopted 1951

Independence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948)

lion, water lily; national colors: maroon, yellow

Crusaders for Democracy [Ganeshalingam CHANDRALINGAM] Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP [Douglas DEVANANDA] Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front [Suresh PREMACHANDRAN] Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE] Jathika Hela Urumaya or JHU [Karunarathna PARANAWITHANA, Ven. Hadigalle Wimalasara THERO] National Peoples Power or JVP [Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE] Samagi Jana Balawegaya or SJB [Sajith PREMADASA] Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP [Maithripala SIRISENA] Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC [Rauff HAKEEM] Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance [Mahinda RAJAPAKSA] Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna or SLPP [G. L. PEIRIS] Tamil National Alliance or TNA [Rajavarothiam SAMPANTHAN] (alliance includes Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi [Mavai SENATHIRAJAH], People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam [D. SIDDARTHAN], Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization [Selvam ADAIKALANATHAN]) Tamil National People's Front [Gajendrakumar PONNAMBALAM] United National Front for Good Governance or UNFGG [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE] (coalition includes JHU, UNP) United National Party or UNP [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE] United People's Freedom Alliance or UPFA [Maithripala SIRISENA] (coalition includes SLFP)

18 years of age; universal

The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (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 Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century followed 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. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in July 1983. Fighting between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued for over a quarter century. Although Norway brokered peace negotiations that led to a ceasefire in 2002, the fighting slowly resumed and was again in full force by 2006. The government defeated the LTTE in May 2009. During the post-conflict years under President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, the government initiated infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from China. His regime faced significant allegations of human rights violations and a shrinking democratic space for civil society. In 2015, a new coalition government headed by President Maithripala SIRISENA of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE of the United National Party came to power with pledges to advance economic, governance, anti-corruption, reconciliation, justice, and accountability reforms. However, implementation of these reforms has been uneven. In October 2018, President SIRISENA attempted to oust Prime Minister WICKREMESINGHE, swearing in former President RAJAPAKSA as the new prime minister and issuing an order to dissolve the parliament and hold elections. This sparked a seven-week constitutional crisis that ended when the Supreme Court ruled SIRISENA’s actions unconstitutional, RAJAPAKSA resigned, and WICKREMESINGHE was reinstated. In November 2019, Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA won the presidential election and appointed his brother, Mahinda, prime minister.

Sri Lanka Army (includes National Guard and the Volunteer Force), Sri Lanka Navy (includes Marine Corps), Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Coast Guard; Civil Security Department (Home Guard); Sri Lanka National Police: Special Task Force (counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency) (2019)

the Sri Lankan military has approximately 250,000 total personnel (180,000 Army; 40,000 Navy; 30,000 Air Force) (2019)

110 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 140 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 240 Mali (MINUSMA); 170 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2020)

the Sri Lankan military inventory consists mostly of Chinese and Russian-origin equipment, as well as smaller amounts from Israel, the UK, and the US; since 2000, China, India, Israel, and the US have been the leading suppliers of arms to Sri Lanka (2019 est.)

1.9% of GDP (2019) | 1.9% of GDP (2018) | 2.1% of GDP (2017) | 2.1% of GDP (2016) | 2.6% of GDP (2015)

18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2019)

0-14 years: 23.11% (male 2,696,379/female 2,592,450) | 15-24 years: 14.58% (male 1,700,442/female 1,636,401) | 25-54 years: 41.2% (male 4,641,842/female 4,789,101) | 55-64 years: 10.48% (male 1,110,481/female 1,288,056) | 65 years and over: 10.63% (male 1,023,315/female 1,410,734) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × South Asia :: Sri Lanka Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Sri Lanka. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

14.2 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

20.5% (2016)

61.7% (2016)

3.8% (2017)

6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio: 53.7 | youth dependency ratio: 36.4 | elderly dependency ratio: 17.3 | potential support ratio: 5.8 (2020 est.)

improved: urban: 98.1% of population | rural: 91.4% of population | total: 92.6% of population | unimproved: urban: 1.9% of population | rural: 8.6% of population | total: 7.4% of population (2017 est.)

2.1% of GDP (2018)

Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)

<.1% (2019 est.)

<200 (2019 est.)

3,600 (2019 est.)

4.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)

total: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

Sinhala (official and national language) 87%, Tamil (official and national language) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.) | note: data represent main languages spoken by the population aged 10 years and older; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; English is commonly used in government and is referred to as the "link language" in the constitution

total population: 77.5 years | male: 74 years | female: 81.1 years (2020 est.)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 91.9% | male: 93% | female: 91% (2017)

degree of risk: intermediate (2020) | vectorborne diseases: dengue fever | water contact diseases: leptospirosis | animal contact diseases: rabies

103,000 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) (2018), 613,000 COLOMBO (capital) (2020)

36 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

total: 33.7 years | male: 32.3 years | female: 35.1 years (2020 est.)

25.6 years (2016 est.) | note: median age at first birth among women 30-34

noun: Sri Lankan(s) | adjective: Sri Lankan

-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

5.2% (2016)

0.93 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

22,889,201 (July 2020 est.)

the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north

0.67% (2020 est.)

Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)

improved: urban: 97.1% of population | rural: 99.3% of population | total: 98.9% of population | unimproved: urban: 2.9% of population | rural: 0.7% of population | total: 1.1% of population (2017 est.)

total: 14 years | male: 14 years | female: 15 years (2018)

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female | total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

2.01 children born/woman (2020 est.)

total: 21% | male: 16.8% | female: 28.4% (2016 est.)

urban population: 18.7% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 0.85% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham; Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (2019) | note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

none

IDPs: 27,000 (civil war; more than half displaced prior to 2008; many of the more than 480,000 IDPs registered as returnees have not reached durable solutions) (2019)

current situation: Sri Lanka is primarily a source and, to a lesser extent, a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; some Sri Lankan adults and children who migrate willingly to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Afghanistan to work in the construction, garment, and domestic service sectors are subsequently subjected to forced labor or debt bondage (incurred through high recruitment fees or money advances); some Sri Lankan women are forced into prostitution in Jordan, Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore, and other countries; within Sri Lanka, women and children are subjected to sex trafficking, and children are also forced to beg and work in the agriculture, fireworks, and fish-drying industries; a small number of women from Asia, Central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East have been forced into prostitution in Sri Lanka in recent years | tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Sri Lanka does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, Sri Lanka was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; law enforcement continues to demonstrate a lack of understanding of trafficking crimes and inadequate investigations, relying on trafficking cases to be prosecuted under the procurement statute rather than the trafficking statute, which carries more stringent penalties; authorities convicted only one offender under the procurement statute, a decrease from 2013; the government approved guidelines for the identification of victims and their referral to protective services but failed to ensure that victims were not jailed and charged for crimes committed as a direct result of being trafficked; no government employees were investigated or prosecuted, despite allegations of complicity (2015)

18 (2020)

total: 11 (2020) | over 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 | 914 to 1,523 m: 4

total: 7 (2020) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 | 914 to 1,523 m: 3 | under 914 m: 2

4R (2016)

1 (2020)

total: 97 | by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 1, general cargo 17, oil tanker 13, other 58 (2019)

number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 34 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,882,376 (2018) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 436.2 million mt-km (2018)

7 km refined products

major seaport(s): Colombo | container port(s) (TEUs): Colombo (6,209,000) (2017)

total: 1,562 km (2016) | broad gauge: 1,562 km 1.676-m gauge (2016)

total: 114,093 km (2010) | paved: 16,977 km (2010) | unpaved: 97,116 km (2010)

160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2012)