Sri Lanka At a Glance

Country Name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Former Name: Ceylon 

Administrative Capital: Sri Jayewardenepura 

Government Type: Republic

Commercial Capital: Colombo

Sri Lanka is an independent and sovereign nation. A President, who is also elected by the people, can exercise executive power.  Legislative power is exercised by the Parliament, elected by universal franchise on proportional representation basis. Sri Lanka enjoys a multi-party system. In the Republic of Sri Lanka sovereignty is in the people and is inalienable. Sovereignty includes the powers of government, fundamental rights, and the franchise.

Location: Between 5° 55’ and 9° 50’ North Latitude, Between 79° 31’ and 81° 53’ East Longitude

Dimensions: 433km North to South, 226km East to West

Coastline: 1,340km

Area: 65,610 sq.km

Elevation: 2,525 m highest

Feature: Encompassed by beautiful tropical beaches, verdant vegetation, ancient monuments, and a thousand delights to please all tastes, the island offers a myriad of attractions. The relief features of the island include a mountainous mass somewhat south of the centre, with heights exceeding 2,500 meters, surrounded by broad plains. Palm-fringed beaches encircle the island, and the sea temperature rarely falls, below 27°C.

Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)

Independence: 4th February 1948

National Flag: 

National Logo: 

Administrative Divisions:9 Provinces (Central, North Central, North, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western, Eastern)

Time Zone: Sri Lanka Standard Time is five and a half (5 ½) hours ahead of GMT

International Dialling Code: +94

Electricity: 230, 240 volts, 50 cycles of AC. 

Population (2022): 22.181 million 

Languages: Sinhala and Tamil are the official languages. English is the connecting language.

Climate: Low country – tropical, min.24.4 ° C – max.31.7 ° C, Hill country – cooler, min. 18.4 ° C – max. 27.6 ° C, The south-west monsoon brings rain to the western, southern and central regions from May to  July, while the north-eastern monsoon occurs in the north and east in December and January

Working Days: Sri Lanka works a five-day week, from Monday to Friday.

Business Hours: Government offices: 8.30 am – 4.15 pm, from Monday to Friday. Private Sector: 9.00 am -5.00 pm, from Monday to Friday.