|
 |
 |
Population |
Approximately
19 Million
Sinhalese, 74%
Tamils, 18%
Muslims, 7%
Others, 1%
Growth, 1.1% |
|
Geography |
Size 65,610
sq. miles
Maximum width 146 miles
Maximum length 270 miles |
|
Climate |
Tropical -
average temperature 30 degrees Celsius
Monsoon - May/July & November/December |
|
History |
Inhabited
since 700 BC
Portuguese influence (16th Century)
Dutch influence (18th Century)
British colony 1815 -1948
Independent since 1948 |
|
Religion |
Buddhists,
69%
Hindus, 15%
Christians, 8%
Muslims, 8% |
|
Political
System of Democratic Socialist Republic |
Executive
Presidency (6 year term)
Cabinet of Ministers headed by President
225 seats in the Parliament
General Election
Current President - Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga |
|
Socio-economic
Indicator |
| GNP growth
rate |
6.9% |
| GDP growth
rate |
6.4% |
| Inflation |
6.8% |
| Literacy
rate |
89.3% |
| Unemployment
rate |
10.4% |
| Per Capita
income |
US$ 2490 |
| Annual
exports |
US$ 4
Billion |
| Annual
imports |
US$ 5.2
Billion |
|
