Sri Lanka Facts and History

Discover the wonders of Sri Lanka!

Flag of Sri Lanka
National Flag of Sri Lanka

Interesting facts about Sri Lanka

  • Official Name: Sri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya (Sinhala); Ilangai Jananayaka Socialisa Kudiarasu (Tamil) (Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
  • Form of Government: unitary multiparty republic with one legislative house (Parliament [225])
  • President: Gotabaya Rajapaksa
  • Prime Minister: Mahinda Rajapaksa
  • GDP: 84.01 billion USD (2019)
  • Capital: Colombo
  • Population: 21.8 million (2019)
  • Official Languages: Sinhala
  • Currency: Sri Lankan rupee
  • Timezone: GMT+5
  • Area: 65,610 km²
  • Dialing Code: +94
  • Major Mountain Ranges: Pidurutalagala,Kirigalpotta,Totapolakanda
  • Major Rivers: Mahaweli River,Malvathu,Kala Oya,Kelani River
  • Continent: Asia
  • Border Countries: The country shares maritime borders with the Maldives and India. With an area of 65,610 km² Sri Lanka is somewhat larger than twice the size of Belgium or slightly larger than the U.S. state West Virginia.

Map of Sri Lanka

National Symbols of Sri Lanka

  • National Bird: Ceylon junglefowl
  • National Anthem: “Mother Sri Lanka”
  • National Animal: the elephant,
  • National Flower: Fuchsia
  • National Poet: Ananda Samarakoon
  • National Game: Volley Ball