Sri Lanka is an island nation in the Indian Ocean located just southeast of the southern tip of India, separated by the Palk Strait. The country covers about 65,600 square kilometres and has a population of roughly 22 million people. Its administrative capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, while Colombo serves as the commercial and financial centre. The island has a tropical climate, long coastlines, and fertile plains with mountainous highlands in the centre, which support agriculture and tea plantations.
Sri Lanka’s population is ethnically diverse. About 74% are Sinhalese, the majority ethnic group, followed by Sri Lankan Tamils (about 11%), Indian Tamils (about 4%), and Moors and other Muslim communities (around 9%), along with smaller groups of Burghers and Malays. The main languages are Sinhala and Tamil, both official languages, while English is widely used in government, education, and business.
Religion plays a major role in the country’s culture and identity. Theravada Buddhism is practiced by about 70% of the population and holds a prominent place in national life. Hinduism is practiced mainly among Tamil communities, while Islam and Christianity also have significant followings.
Sri Lanka’s economy has traditionally been based on plantation agriculture, particularly tea, rubber, and coconut, with Ceylon tea being one of the country’s most famous exports. Today the economy is more diversified and includes garment manufacturing, tourism, shipping, and growing service and technology sectors. Its location along major Indian Ocean shipping routes makes the country strategically important for trade and logistics.
Historically, Sri Lanka has been influenced by ancient Buddhist kingdoms and later colonial rule by Portugal, the Netherlands, and Britain before gaining independence in 1948. The country experienced a long civil war from 1983 to 2009, but has since focused on rebuilding its economy and tourism sector while maintaining relatively high literacy and education levels compared with many countries in South Asia.