Discover Fascinating Sri Lanka Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka

Background

๐Ÿž๏ธ Sri Lanka has a rich and fascinating history! The first Sinhalese people arrived on the island in the late 6th century B.C., likely traveling from northern India. ๐ŸŒ Over the centuries, many changes took place: the island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was finally united under British rule in 1815. ๐Ÿ“œ After many years, Ceylon (the previous name for Sri Lanka) broke free and gained independence in 1948! ๐ŸŽ‰ To top it off, the country officially changed its name to Sri Lanka in 1972. How cool is that? ๐ŸŒŸ

First Sinhalese Arrival

6th century B.C.

British Cession of the Island

1796

Ceylon's Independence

1948

Name Change to Sri Lanka

1972

Exports - commodities

Sri Lanka is famous for its amazing exports! ๐ŸŒ Here are some of its top commodities in 2022:

  • Garments: Sri Lanka is known for its high-quality clothing. ๐Ÿงฅ๐Ÿ‘—
  • Tea: The island is world-renowned for its flavorful tea, a delightful drink enjoyed by many! ๐Ÿต
  • Used Rubber Tires: Recycling and exporting used rubber tires is a smart way to protect our planet! โ™ป๏ธ
  • Rubber Products: Sri Lanka also exports a variety of rubber products, contributing to its economy! ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ
  • Precious Stones: With beautiful gemstones, Sri Lanka shines bright in the global market! ๐Ÿ’Ž

Each of these commodities plays a big role in boosting Sri Lanka's economy and showcasing its unique culture and resources.

Top Export Commodities

Garments, Tea, Used Rubber Tires, Rubber Products, Precious Stones

Exports - partners

๐ŸŒ Let's dive into the world of exports for Sri Lanka! In 2022, the country had some interesting trading partners. The biggest one was the United States, accounting for a whopping 24% of Sri Lankaโ€™s exports! ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Next up is India with 8%, followed by the United Kingdom at 7%. Germany and Italy are also on the list, contributing 6% and 4% respectively. ๐Ÿ“Š This distribution shows how vital these countries are for Sri Lanka's economy!

Percentage of exports to the US

24%

Percentage of exports to India

8%

Percentage of exports to the UK

7%

Percentage of exports to Germany

6%

Percentage of exports to Italy

4%

Sri Lanka's Export Partners (2022)

Capital

๐ŸŒ† Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, bustling with activities, business, and trade! ๐Ÿ›๏ธ On the other hand, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital, where important government decisions are made. ๐Ÿ›๏ธ These two cities play crucial roles in the functioning of the country, each contributing uniquely to its growth and governance.

Commercial Capital

Colombo

Legislative Capital

Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte

Imports - commodities

Sri Lanka imports a variety of commodities that keep its economy moving ๐Ÿšข. One of the major imports is refined petroleum, which fuels the nation. Additionally, Sri Lanka brings in fabric in several forms, including cotton fabric and synthetic fabric. The country also imports ships, which are essential for trade and transport. It's fascinating to see how these commodities play a vital role in daily life and business in Sri Lanka! ๐ŸŒโœจ

Key Imported Commodities

Refined petroleum, fabric, ships, cotton fabric, synthetic fabric

Climate

Sri Lanka enjoys a tropical monsoon climate! ๐ŸŒด There are two main monsoons that influence the weather: the northeast monsoon from December to March and the southwest monsoon from June to October. This means that Sri Lanka gets lots of rain during these periods, making the country lush and green! ๐ŸŒง๏ธ๐Ÿƒ

Executive branch

In the vibrant land of Sri Lanka, the executive branch is led by some dynamic leaders! ๐ŸŒŸ Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE is the Chief of State, a role he has held since 23 September 2024. Meanwhile, the head of government is none other than Prime Minister Harini AMARASURIYA, who took office just a day later on 24 September 2024. Together, they are steering the nation towards a bright future! ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ฐ

Stay tuned for updates on what these leaders will accomplish!

Chief of State

Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE

Since

23 September 2024

Head of Government

Harini AMARASURIYA

Since

24 September 2024

Legislative branch

Sri Lanka has a unicameral Parliament, which means it only has one chamber to make laws. ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ฐโœจ This Parliament is made up of a total of 225 seats, where members gather to discuss and create important rules for the country. ๐Ÿ›๏ธ๐Ÿ“œ

Total Seats in Sri Lanka's Parliament

225

Natural resources

๐ŸŒ Sri Lanka is rich in natural resources! Hereโ€™s a closer look at what the country has to offer:

  1. Limestone - A vital resource used in construction.
  2. Graphite - Perfect for making pencils and batteries. ๐Ÿ–‰
  3. Mineral Sands - Important for various industrial applications.
  4. Gems - Sri Lanka is famous for its beautiful and valuable gemstones! ๐Ÿ’Ž
  5. Phosphates - Essential for agriculture and fertilizers.
  6. Clay - Used in pottery and bricks. ๐Ÿถ
  7. Hydropower - A clean energy source harnessed from water. ๐Ÿ’ง
  8. Arable Land - Land suitable for farming, which is crucial for food production.

These resources are not only important for Sri Lanka's economy but also play a big role in the environment! ๐ŸŒฟ

Economic overview

๐ŸŒ Sri Lanka is facing tough economic times! In 2022-23, the country saw an economic contraction, which means that the economy shrank ๐Ÿ“‰. This has led to increased poverty levels and significant inflation, which is when prices go up and money buys less. The situation became serious enough that Sri Lanka had to seek help from the IMF through a debt relief program after defaulting on its debts in 2022. ๐Ÿ“Š

The economy also has some structural challenges, which are like barriers that make it harder for growth. It's largely non-diversified, meaning it relies a lot on one or two sectors. ๐Ÿ–๏ธ For example, the country heavily depends on money from tourism and remittances (money sent home by people working abroad). This makes it quite vulnerable to changes in these areas. ๐Ÿ“‰โœˆ๏ธ๐Ÿ’ต

Economic contraction period

2022-23

Poverty increase

Significant

Inflation level

Significant

IMF assistance after sovereign default

Two-year debt relief program

Dependency on tourism and remittances

High

Government type

In Sri Lanka, ๐Ÿ›๏ธ the government is a presidential republic. This means that the President is the head of state and government, and is elected by the people! ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ It's a system where citizens get to vote and have a voice in their country's leadership. ๐Ÿ“ข

Government Type

Presidential Republic

Ethnic groups

In Sri Lanka, the ethnic diversity is quite fascinating! ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ฐ As per the 2012 estimates, hereโ€™s how the population breaks down:

  • Sinhalese: A whopping 74.9% of the population! ๐ŸŽ‰
  • Sri Lankan Tamil: Making up 11.2% of the folks living on the island. ๐ŸŒ
  • Sri Lankan Moors: They represent 9.2% of the population. โ˜ช๏ธ
  • Indian Tamil: Completing the mix with 4.2%. ๐Ÿญ
  • Other: Just 0.5%! ๐ŸŒˆ

This colorful blend of cultures makes Sri Lanka truly unique! ๐ŸŒบ

Total Percentage of Ethnic Groups

100%

Percentage of Sinhalese

74.9%

Percentage of Sri Lankan Tamil

11.2%

Percentage of Sri Lankan Moors

9.2%

Percentage of Indian Tamil

4.2%

Percentage of Other Ethnicities

0.5%

Ethnic Groups Distribution in Sri Lanka (2012)

Religions

In Sri Lanka, the predominant religion is Buddhism, practiced by 70.2% of the population! ๐Ÿง˜โ€โ™‚๏ธ Following Buddhism, we have Hinduism, embraced by 12.6%, and Islam, adhered to by 9.7%. Roman Catholicism makes up 6.1% of the religious landscape, while other Christian denominations account for 1.3%. Lastly, a tiny fraction, 0.05%, identify with other religions. That's a colorful mix of beliefs in the beautiful island nation! ๐ŸŒˆ

Percentage of Buddhists in Sri Lanka

70.2%

Percentage of Hindus in Sri Lanka

12.6%

Percentage of Muslims in Sri Lanka

9.7%

Percentage of Roman Catholics in Sri Lanka

6.1%

Percentage of Other Christians in Sri Lanka

1.3%

Percentage of Other Religions in Sri Lanka

0.05%

Religious Composition of Sri Lanka (2012 est.)

Languages

๐ŸŒ Sri Lanka is a vibrant country with a rich tapestry of languages! ๐ŸŒˆ The people speak several languages, but here are the main ones:

  • Sinhala: This is the most popular language in Sri Lanka, spoken by 87% of the population! ๐ŸŽ‰
  • Tamil: Close behind, Tamil is spoken by 28.5% of the people. It's not just a language; it's a vital part of Tamil culture! ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ฐ
  • English: With 23.8% of the population using it, English serves as a bridge connecting different cultures in Sri Lanka! ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง

Together, these languages create a beautiful blend of communication and understanding in this island nation! ๐ŸŒž

Percentage of Sinhala speakers

87%

Percentage of Tamil speakers

28.5%

Percentage of English speakers

23.8%

Languages Spoken in Sri Lanka

Imports - partners

๐ŸŒ Sri Lanka imports a variety of goods from different countries! Here's a quick look at where most of their imports come from in 2022:

  • India is the biggest partner, accounting for a whopping 34% of Sri Lanka's imports! ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • China follows in second place with 19% of imports. ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • The UAE contributes 5% of the imports. ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • Both Malaysia and Singapore have the same share, each providing 4% of imports. ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฌ

With these exciting numbers, we can see how connected Sri Lanka is to its trading partners worldwide! ๐Ÿ“ˆ

Percentage of Imports from India

34%

Percentage of Imports from China

19%

Percentage of Imports from UAE

5%

Percentage of Imports from Malaysia

4%

Percentage of Imports from Singapore

4%

Sri Lanka's Import Partners (2022)

Population

๐ŸŒ Sri Lanka has a total population of 21,982,608 people! That's a lot of vibrant lives, diverse cultures, and unique stories all in one beautiful island. ๐Ÿ๏ธ๐ŸŒž

Total Population

21,982,608

Area

๐ŸŒ Sri Lanka's Area Overview ๐ŸŒ

Sri Lanka showcases a total area of 65,610 sq km! Out of this, a vast majority is land.

  • Land Area: 64,630 sq km ๐ŸŒณ
  • Water Area: 980 sq km ๐ŸŒŠ

This means that most of Sri Lanka is covered by land, making it a beautiful destination with lush greenery and stunning landscapes!

Total Area

65610 sq km

Land Area

64630 sq km

Water Area

980 sq km

Sri Lanka's Area Breakdown

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

๐Ÿ“ˆ Let's explore the Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) of Sri Lanka over the past few years! ๐Ÿ’ฐ This measure helps us understand how the economy is doing by showing how much all goods and services produced in a country are worth. Here are the estimates for the last three years:

  • 2021: $317.188 billion
  • 2022: $293.885 billion
  • 2023: $287.132 billion

As we can see, the Real GDP has been decreasing! ๐Ÿ“‰ This is important for understanding Sri Lanka's economic health.

Stay tuned for more exciting economic facts! ๐ŸŒ

Real GDP (2023 estimate)

$287.132 billion

Real GDP (2022 estimate)

$293.885 billion

Real GDP (2021 estimate)

$317.188 billion

Sri Lanka's Real GDP Over Time

Real GDP per capita

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ“ˆ Sri Lanka's Real GDP per capita has shown some interesting changes in recent years! Check this out:

  • 2021: $14,300
  • 2022: $13,200
  • 2023: $13,000

This means that while Sri Lanka's economy was doing really well in 2021, there was a decrease in GDP per capita in 2022 and 2023. Let's visualize this trend in a chart! ๐Ÿ“Š

Real GDP per Capita in 2021

14,300

Real GDP per Capita in 2022

13,200

Real GDP per Capita in 2023

13,000

Real GDP per Capita in Sri Lanka (2021-2023)

Imports

๐Ÿ“Š Sri Lanka's imports are a crucial part of its economy! Let's take a peek at how they have changed over the past few years:

  • In 2021, imports were valued at $21.526 billion.
  • In 2022, they decreased slightly to $19.244 billion.
  • Now, the estimate for 2023 shows a further drop to $18.823 billion.

These numbers help us understand Sri Lanka's trade dynamics better! ๐Ÿ“‰

Estimated Imports in 2023

$18.823 billion

Estimated Imports in 2022

$19.244 billion

Estimated Imports in 2021

$21.526 billion

Sri Lanka Imports Over Time

Exports

๐Ÿ“ฆ Exports from Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's exports have been a significant part of its economy, showcasing growth over the past few years! ๐Ÿš€ Hereโ€™s how the export values have changed:

  • In 2021, the export value was $14.974 billion.
  • This number increased to $16.169 billion in 2022.
  • Fast forward to 2023, and exports are forecasted to reach $17.327 billion!

That's a fantastic upward trend! ๐Ÿ“ˆ

Let's visualize the growth in exports over these years!

Export value in 2023

$17.327 billion

Export value in 2022

$16.169 billion

Export value in 2021

$14.974 billion

Exports Growth in Sri Lanka (2021-2023)

Population growth rate

๐ŸŒ Let's take a look at the population growth rate in Sri Lanka! As of 2024, the estimated population growth rate is 0.39%. This means that the number of people living in Sri Lanka is slowly increasing. ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธ Every little percentage counts when it comes to understanding how a country grows and changes over time!

Estimated population growth rate for 2024

0.39%