Sri Lanka
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General
Information
Area
65,525
sq km (25,299 sq miles).
Population
19.4
million (UN, 2005).
Population
Density
296
per sq km.
Capital
Sri
Jayewardenepura Kotte (official). Population: 115,826
(2001). Colombo (commercial). Population: 2.2
million (2005). Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is only
10km (6 miles) from Colombo.
Geography
Sri
Lanka is an island off the southeast coast of the
Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is separated from
India by the Indian Ocean, in which lies the
chain of islands called Adam’s Bridge. Sri
Lanka has an irregular surface with low-lying
coastal plains running inland from the northern
and eastern shores. The central and southern
areas slope into hills and mountains. The highest
peak is Pidurutalagala (2524m/8281ft).
Government
Executive
power and legislative power are vested in the
President and a single-chamber assembly
respectively. The President is directly elected
for a six-year term. The 255-member assembly is
elected by proportional representation.
Democratic
Socialist Republic since 1978. Gained
independence from the UK in 1948. Head of
State: President Mahinda Rajapakse since
November 2005. Head of Government: Prime
Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. Recent
history: A deal between Sri Lanka's Government
and the Tamil Tigers was finally concluded in
early 2002. Despite scepticism from many quarters
and a number of serious incidents, the ceasefire
held. The island’s sizeable Muslim
population, who were persecuted by both sides
throughout the two-decade-long conflict, was also
brought into the settlement. However, as with any
conflict of that length and hostility, many
issues remained to be resolved, not least the
future Government of the Tamil-dominated northern
and eastern parts of the island and the control
of aid (around $600 million has been pledged from
various sources) for reconstruction and
rehabilitation. All this was not helped by a
serious feud between President Karamatunga and
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, which led in
November 2003 to suspension of Parliament and the
dismissal of three Ministers by President
Karamatunga. This political turbulence seemed to
catalyse a sudden resurgence in Tamil Tiger
activity in early 2004, with the Renegade Tiger
commander, Karuna, orchestrating a split in the
rebel movement, going underground with his
supporters. Unfortunately, this culminated in a
suicide bomb blast in July 2004 in Colombo,
shattering the infrastructure of the peace
process negotiated in 2001. This followed the
replacement of Wickremesinghe at the Assembly
elections, with Mahinda Rajapakse becoming Prime
Minister. Presidential elections in November 2005
were closely fought but Rajapakse won narrowly in
an election which saw an almost total boycott in
the Tamil areas. It remains to be seen how this
Government, and Sri Lanka's highly polarised
Parliament, continue to confront the difficult
Tamil issue.
Executive power and legislative power are vested
in the President and a single-chamber Assembly,
respectively. The President is directly elected
for a six-year term. The 255-member Assembly is
elected by proportional representation.
Language
Sinhala,
Tamil and English.
Religion
Buddhist
majority (70 per cent), with Hindu, Christian and
Muslim minorities.
Social
Conventions
Shaking
hands is the normal form of greeting. It is
customary to be offered tea when visiting and it
is considered impolite to refuse. Punctuality is
appreciated. A small token of appreciation, such
as a souvenir from home or company, is always
welcomed. Informal, Western dress is suitable,
except when visiting Buddhist temples, whereupon
modest clothing should be worn (eg no bare legs
and uncovered heads). Visitors should be decently
clothed when visiting any place of worship, and
shoes and hats must be removed. Jackets and ties
are not required by men in the evenings except
for formal functions when lightweight suits
should be worn.
Electricity
230
volts AC, 50Hz. Round three-pin plugs are usual,
with bayonet lamp fittings.
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