Country name:

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

Capital:

Colombo

Location:

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean,

south of India

Area:

total: 65,610 sq km
land: 64,740 sq km
water: 870 sq km

Population:

19,905,165

Languages:

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

Economy- Overview:

Industries:

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

Exports - commodities:

textiles and apparel, tea, diamonds, coconut products, petroleum products

Imports - commodities:

textiles, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Exchange rates: