About Sri Lanka

 ශ්‍රී ලංකාව - Sri Lanka - இலங்கை

Sri Lanka, often referred to as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, the Wonder of Asia, and the Granary of the East, can be described as the Island of Paradise.

• Time Zone - (UTC+5:30)
• Internet Domain Name - (.lk)
• Telephone Dialing Code - (+94)
• Currency - Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
• Driving Side - Left

Official Name

• ශ්‍රී ලංකා ප්‍රජාතාන්ත්‍රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජය   (Sinhala)
• இலங்கை சனநாயக சோசலிசக் குடியரசு   (Tamil)
• Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (English) 
  
  

Although referred to by these names in the past

• Prince Vijaya referred to it as Tambapanni,
• The Greeks called it Taprobane,
• The Arabs referred to it as Serendib,
• The British called it Ceylon,
• It has also been known as Helanka, Lanka, Ceylon, Siv Hela, Hela, Sīla Dīpa, and Ratnadīpa.

Location

• Location - Sri Lanka is located on the Indo-Australian tectonic plate. It is situated southwest of the Bay of Bengal and lies between latitudes 5-10°N and longitudes 79-82°E.
• Area - Total: 65,610 sq. km (25,332 sq. miles)
• Land Area - Main Island Only: 65,525 sq. km
• 
  Inland Water Area - 1,570 sq. km
• Water Coverage - 4.4% of the total area
• Rank by Size - 122nd in the world

• Capital - Sri Jayawardenepura
• Largest City - Colombo

• National Name - Sri Lanka
• Independence - From Great Britain
• Dominion Self-Government - February 4, 1948
• Republic - May 22, 1972
• Oldest Political Party - Lanka Sama Samaja Party

Population

• Population - 20,238,000 (2009 estimate)
• 2012 Census - 20,227,597
• Global Population Rank - 53rd
• Population Density - 323 people per sq. km
• Density Rank - 40th in the world
• Official Languages - Sinhala, Tamil
• Ethnic Groups - 73.9% Sinhalese, 12.6% Tamil, 7.4% Muslim, 5.2% Indian-origin Tamil, 0.5% Other

National Symbols

Official National Flag

Official National Emblem

• National Flower - Blue Water Lily
• National Tree - Ironwood (Na Tree)
• National Bird - Sri Lankan Junglefowl
• National Butterfly - Ceylon Rose (Troides darsius)
• National Sport - Volleyball
• National Gem - Blue Sapphire

National Anthem

Sri Lanka Matha
Apa Sri..... Lanka Namo Namo Namo Namo Matha
Sundara Siribharini Surandi Athi Sobamana Lanka
Dhanya Dhanaya Neka Mal Palathuru Piri Jaya Bhumiya Ramya
Apa Hata Sapa Siri Setha Sadana Jeevanaye Matha
Piliganu Mana Apa Bhakthi Pooja
Namo Namo Matha
Apa Sri..... Lanka Namo Namo Namo Namo Matha

Oba We Apa Vidya
Oba Maya Apa Sathya
Oba We Apa Shakthi
Apa Hada Thula Bhakthi
Oba Apa Aloke
Apage Anuprane
Oba Apa Jeevana We
Apa Mukthiya Oba We

Nava Jeevana Demine Nithina Apa Pubudu Karan Matha
Gnana Veerya Vadavamina Ragena Yanu Mana Jaya Bhoomi Kara
Eka Mavakage Daru Kela Bevina
Yamu Yamu Vi Nopama
Prema Vada Sema Bheda Durara Da Namo Namo Matha
Apa Sri..... Lanka Namo Namo Namo Namo Matha

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Administration

• The administration is divided into 9 provinces, which are further subdivided into 25 districts.
• There are 256 Divisional Secretariat divisions.
• There are 14,008 Grama Niladhari divisions.

9 provinces

25 districts

Sabaragamuwa Province (Kegalle, Ratnapura)

• Main City - Ratnapura
• Area - 4,921 km²
• Population - 1,918,880
• Divisional Secretariats - 28
• Provincial Flower - Wesak Mal

Uva Province (Badulla, Monaragala)

• Main City - Badulla
• Area - 8,335 km²
• Population - 1,259,900
• Divisional Secretariats - 26
• Provincial Flower - Gurulu Raja Mal

Central Province (Matale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya)

• Main City - Kandy
• Area - 5,575 km²
• Population - 2,558,716
• Divisional Secretariats - 36
• Provincial Flower - Maharath Mal

North Central Province (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa)

• Main City - Anuradhapura
• Area - 9,741 km²
• Population - 1,259,567
• Divisional Secretariats - 29
• Provincial Flower - Aehela Mal

North Western Province (Kurunegala, Puttalam)

• Main City - Kurunegala
• Area - 7,506 km²
• Population - 2,370,075
• Divisional Secretariats - 46
• Provincial Flower - Aththeriya Mal

Western Province (Gampaha, Colombo, Kalutara)

• Main City - Colombo
• Area - 3,593 km²
• Population - 5,821,710
• Divisional Secretariats - 40
• Provincial Flower - White Lotus

Southern Province (Hambantota, Matara, Galle)

• Main City - Galle
• Area - 5,388 km²
• Population - 2,464,732
• Divisional Secretariats - 45
• Provincial Flower - Hinbovitiya Mal

Eastern Province (Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara)

• Main City - Batticaloa
• Area - 9,361 km²
• Population - 1,551,381
• Divisional Secretariats - 42
• Provincial Flower - Goda Manel Mal

Northern Province (Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya)

• Main City - Jaffna
• Area - 8,290 km²
• Population - 1,058,762
• Divisional Secretariats - 32
• Provincial Flower - Wall Pitcha Mal