Country Information on Sri Lanka 

Terrain

Most of the island is either flat or undulating. The country's highest peak, Mt Pidurutalagala (2,527 m), is located in a mountain range in the centre of the country. The northern half of the country is a large plain that extends from the bottom of the plateaus up to the Jaffna peninsula. The longest river is the Mahaweli, which flows into the Indian Ocean.

Climate

Sri Lanka is a typically tropical country. The climate in the mountains is however cool. The rainy season varies according to region: whilst it rains throughout the year in the plains of the south east, monsoons last from May to November in the south and November to January in the north.

Fauna/Flora

Ebony, teak, orange jasmine and spectacular orchids are found in the dense tropical rainforests of the south-west. There are mainly hardy grasslands and rhododendrons in the cool, damp plateaus; there are shrubs and grasslands in the arid areas of the north. At the coast, there are mainly mangroves and swamps. Animal life is diverse and includes the ubiquitous elephant, as well as leopards, deer, monkeys, sloth bears, wild boars, cobras, crocodiles, dugong and turtles. The island is an important seasonal home to migratory birds, such as flamingos.

History/Politics

The Vedda were the original inhabitants of Sri Lanka. In the 5th century BC, the country was successively invaded by Aryans from India, who formed what is now the country's largest ethnic group, the Singhalese. The Tamils immigrated from India between the 3rd century BC and AD 1200, forming the second-largest ethnic group. Until colonial powers controlled Ceylon (the country's name until 1972), the Singhalese and Tamils fought for control of the island.

The Tamils finally claimed the northern section of the island and the Singhalese controlled the south. The Portuguese occupied Ceylon in 1505 and remained in power until the Dutch India Company usurped control in 1658. The British occupied the island in 1796; Ceylon became a British Crown Colony in 1802. There were a number of nationalist uprisings over the course of the 19th century (1817, 1843 and 1848). However, it was not until 1931 that the British government allowed the country semi-autonomous control of national affairs. The nationalists, who had not been appeased, continued to apply pressure (which briefly unified the Tamils and the Singhalese) until they finally gained independence on 4 February 1948.

The country then became part of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Sirimavo Bandaranaike became prime minister in 1956 and was assassinated in 1959. A year later, his widow, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, won the elections and became the first female prime minister. She confronted the issue of guerrilla activities and also re-named the country Sri Lanka in 1972, which severed the last ties with the British crown.

The decades that followed were characterised by conflicts between the Tamils and Singhalese, as the Tamils wanted their independence. The conflicts led to civil war in 1983.

In 2000, after the Tamils had occupied various military bases in the Jaffna peninsula and therefore got closer to their goal of turning the area into their homeland. They proposed a ceasefire in exchange for the evacuation of government troops.

However, President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who was elected in 1994, rejected the proposal. In the elections of August 2000, she refused to implement constitutional reforms and give the Tamils more autonomy, which might have brought an end to the civil war. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake has been prime minister since 10 August 2000. Norwegian intervention brought an end to the civil war in 2002, which gave rise to a series of negotiations with regard to the Tamil minority. The tidal wave which followed the tsunami of December 2004 hit the region hard, devastating the island's eastern coast. Around 30,000 people lost their lives and more than 5,500 people were left unaccounted for.

Economy

The country's economy is mainly based on agriculture. Rice, fruit, and vegetables are grown for local consumption. Industry primarily involves the processing of agricultural products, such as tea, rubber, and coconut. Petroleum refining is important, as is the mining of precious stones, graphite and sand.

By the mid-1980s, textiles had become Sri Lanka's main export. Around 45% of the country's labour force works in the services sector, with 17% in manufacturing and another 38% in agriculture. In 2003, the inflation rate was 9% and the unemployment rate was 7.5%.

Culture

Strong Buddhist influences can be seen in Sri Lanka's classical architecture, sculpture and painting. Stupas (buildings made of rock) are found throughout the country and there are several large Buddha sculptures, such as those at Aukana and Buduruvagala. Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa have the most impressive archaeological legacy. Folk theatre combines dance, masked drama, drumming and exorcism rituals.