South Asia :: Sri Lanka

- Introduction :: Sri Lanka
- Background:

  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 enacted an ambitious program of infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from the Government of China. 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, progress on many 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. This action sparked a seven-week constitutional crisis until RAJAPAKSA resigned and WICKREMESINGHE was reinstated in December.

- Geography :: Sri Lanka
- Location:
  Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
  Geographic coordinates:
  7 00 N, 81 00 E
  Map references:
  Asia
  Area:
  total: 65,610 sq km
  land: 64,630 sq km
  water: 980 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than West Virginia
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  1,340 km
  Maritime claims:
  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
  Climate:
  tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
  Terrain:
  mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
  Elevation:
  mean elevation: 228 m
  elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: Indian Ocean
  2524 highest point: Pidurutalagala
  Natural resources:
  limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower, arable land
  Land use:
  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.)
  Irrigated land:
  5,700 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution:
  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
  Natural hazards:
  occasional cyclones and tornadoes
  Environment - current issues:
  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
  Environment - international agreements:
  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
  Geography - note:
  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
- People and Society :: Sri Lanka
- Population:
  22,576,592 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Nationality:
  noun: Sri Lankan(s)
  adjective: Sri Lankan
  Ethnic groups:
  Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)
  Languages:
  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

  Religions:
  Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23.75% (male 2,734,114 /female 2,627,695)
  15-24 years: 14.6% (male 1,677,547 /female 1,618,922)
  25-54 years: 41.46% (male 4,596,388 /female 4,762,913)
  55-64 years: 10.22% (male 1,067,258 /female 1,239,204)
  65 years and over: 9.98% (male 951,213 /female 1,301,338) (2018 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.
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 51.2 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 37.2 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 14.1 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 7.1 (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 33.1 years
  male: 31.8 years
  female: 34.4 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Population growth rate:
  0.73% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Birth rate:
  14.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Death rate:
  6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Net migration rate:
  -1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Population distribution:
  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
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 18.5% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 0.85% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  600,000 COLOMBO (capital), 103,000 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Mother's mean age at first birth:
  25.6 years (2016 est.)

  note: median age at first birth among women 30-34

  Maternal mortality rate:
  30 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 77.1 years (2018 est.)
  male: 73.7 years (2018 est.)
  female: 80.8 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Total fertility rate:
  2.05 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  61.7% (2016)
  Health expenditures:
  3.5% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Physicians density:
  0.88 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
  Hospital bed density:
  3.6 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved: urban: 98.5% of population
  rural: 95% of population
  total: 95.6% of population
  unimproved: urban: 1.5% of population
  rural: 5% of population
  total: 4.4% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved: urban: 88.1% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 96.7% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 95.1% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 11.9% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 3.3% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 4.9% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  <.1% (2017 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  3,500 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  <500 (2017 est.)
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high (2016)
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A (2016)
  vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2016)
  water contact diseases: leptospirosis (2016)
  animal contact diseases: rabies (2016)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  5.2% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  20.5% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Education expenditures:
  3.5% of GDP (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
  total population: 92.6% (2015 est.)
  male: 93.6% (2015 est.)
  female: 91.7% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 14 years (2013)
  male: 14 years (2013)
  female: 14 years (2013)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 21.6% (2016 est.)
  male: 17.1% (2016 est.)
  female: 29.2% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
- Government :: Sri Lanka
- Country name:
  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
  Government type:
  presidential republic
  Capital:
  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)
  Administrative divisions:
  9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
  Independence:
  4 February 1948 (from the UK)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948)
  Constitution:
  history: several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978 (2018)
  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 approval in a referendum by absolute majority of valid votes; amended many times, last in 2015; note - deliberations by a constitutional assembly tasked with revising the constitution in March 2016 had stalled by August 2018 (2018)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, Jaffna Tamil customary law, and Muslim personal law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Citizenship:
  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
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Judicial branch:
  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
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Maithripala SIRISENA (since 9 January 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE (since 9 January 2015)
  head of government: President Maithripala SIRISENA (since 9 January 2015)
  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 8 January 2015 (next to be held by January 2020)
  election results: Maithripala SIRISENA elected president; percent of vote - Maithripala SIRISENA (SLFP) 51.3%, Mahinda RAJAPAKSA (SLFP) 47.6%, other 1.1%
  Legislative branch:
  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 to be held by August 2020)
  election results: percent of vote by coalition/party - UNFGG 45.7%, UPFA 42.4%, JVP 4.9%, TNA 4.6%, SLMC 0.4%, EPDP 0.3% other 1.7%; seats by coalition/party UNFGG 106, UPFA 95, TNA 16, JVP 6, SLMC 1, EPDP 1; composition - men 214, women 11, percent of women 4.9%
  Political parties and leaders:
  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 and Ven Hadigalle WIMALASARA THERO]
  Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP [Maithripala SIRISENA]
  Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC [Rauff HAKEEM]
  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])
  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)
  International organization participation:
  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
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Sarath DISSANAYAKE (since 27 October 2017)
  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
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Alaina B. TEPLITZ (since 1 November 2018); note - also accredited to Maldives
  embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
  mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
  telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500
  FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345
  Flag description:
  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
  National symbol(s):
  lion, water lily; national colors: maroon, yellow
  National anthem:
  name: "Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka)
  lyrics/music: Ananda SAMARKONE

  note: adopted 1951

- Economy :: Sri Lanka
- Economy - overview:

  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.

  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $275.8 billion (2017 est.)
  $267 billion (2016 est.)
  $255.6 billion (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 61
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $87.35 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.3% (2017 est.)
  4.5% (2016 est.)
  5% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $12,900 (2017 est.)
  $12,600 (2016 est.)
  $12,200 (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 121
  Gross national saving:
  33.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
  32.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
  28.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  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.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 7.8% (2017 est.)
  industry: 30.5% (2017 est.)
  services: 61.7% (2017 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, vegetables, fruit, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish
  Industries:
  processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction
  Industrial production growth rate:
  4.6% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Labor force:
  8.937 million (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 27%
  industry: 26%
  services: 47% (31 December 2016)
  Unemployment rate:
  4.4% (2017 est.)
  4.4% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Population below poverty line:
  6.7% (2012 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 32.2% (2012 est.)
  highest 10%: 32.2% (2012 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  39.2 (2012 est.)
  46 (1995)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Budget:
  revenues: 12.07 billion (2017 est.)
  expenditures: 16.88 billion (2017 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  13.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Public debt:
  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

  country comparison to the world: 35
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6.5% (2017 est.)
  4% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Central bank discount rate:
  7.25% (30 November 2017)
  6% (31 December 2015)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  11.6% (31 December 2017 est.)
  10.49% (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Stock of narrow money:
  $5.19 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $5.184 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Stock of broad money:
  $5.19 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $5.184 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $53.53 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $46.21 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $18.9 billion (30 September 2017 est.)
  $23.67 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $18.81 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Current account balance:
  -$2.31 billion (2017 est.)
  -$1.743 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Exports:
  $11.36 billion (2017 est.)
  $10.31 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Exports - partners:
  US 24.6%, UK 9%, India 5.8%, Singapore 4.5%, Germany 4.3%, Italy 4.3% (2017)
  Exports - commodities:
  textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish
  Imports:
  $20.98 billion (2017 est.)
  $19.18 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Imports - commodities:
  petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs
  Imports - partners:
  India 22%, China 19.9%, Singapore 6.9%, UAE 5.7%, Japan 4.9% (2017)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $7.959 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $6.019 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Debt - external:
  $51.72 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $45.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $NA (31 December 2016)
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

  NA

  Exchange rates:
  Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -
  154.1 (2017 est.)
  145.58 (2016 est.)
  145.58 (2015 est.)
  135.86 (2014 est.)
  130.57 (2013 est.)
- Energy :: Sri Lanka
- Electricity access:
  population without electricity: 1,334,100 (2013)
  electrification - total population: 94% (2013)
  electrification - urban areas: 99% (2013)
  electrification - rural areas: 93% (2013)
  Electricity - production:
  13.66 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Electricity - consumption:
  12.67 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 202
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  3.998 million kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  52% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  42% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 202
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Crude oil - imports:
  33,540 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  34,210 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  116,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  3,871 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  66,280 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  25.19 million Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
- Communications :: Sri Lanka
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 2,603,178 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 28,199,083 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country (2018)
  domestic: 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 (2018)
  international: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3, SEA-ME-WE-4, SEA-ME-WE-5, FLAG, and the Bay of Bengal Gateway submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2018)
  Broadcast media:
  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 (2017)
  Internet country code:
  .lk
  Internet users:
  total: 7,126,540 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 32.1% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
  total: 1,220,504 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
- Transportation :: Sri Lanka
- National air transport system:
  number of registered air carriers: 3 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 25 (2015)
  annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,911,730 (2015)
  annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 381,381,300 mt-km (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
  4R (2016)
  Airports:
  19 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 15 (2013)
  over 3,047 m: 2 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 4 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
  under 914 m: 3 (2013)
  Heliports:
  1 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  7 km refined products
  Railways:
  total: 1,562 km (2016)
  broad gauge: 1,562 km 1.676-m gauge (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Roadways:
  total: 114,093 km (2010)
  paved: 16,977 km (2010)
  unpaved: 97,116 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Waterways:
  160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Merchant marine:
  total: 82 (2017)
  by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 1, general cargo 9, oil tanker 10, other 54 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Colombo
  container port(s) (TEUs): Colombo (5,734,923) (2016)
- Military and Security :: Sri Lanka
- Military expenditures:
  2.14% of GDP (2017)
  2.44% of GDP (2016)
  2.55% of GDP (2015)
  2.41% of GDP (2014)
  2.15% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Military branches:
  Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy (includes Marine Corps), Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Coast Guard (2016)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 12-year service obligation (2018)
- Terrorism :: Sri Lanka
- Terrorist groups - home based:
  Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE):
  aim(s): revive the movement to establish a Tamil homeland
  area(s) of operation: presence is primarily in the east where members occasionally plot attacks (April 2018)
- Transnational Issues :: Sri Lanka
- Disputes - international:
  none
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  IDPs: 42,000 (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) (2017)
  Trafficking in persons:
  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)