Official name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Geographic coordinates: 7°00′N, 81°00′E

Land area: 24,996 sq mi (64,740 sq km)

Total area: 25,332 sq mi (65,610 sq km)

Population: 20,926,315 (2007)

Government: Democratic Socialist Republic

President: Mahinda Rajapaksa (2005)

Prime Minister: Ratnasiri Wickremanayake (2005)

Languages: Sinhala 74% (official and national), Tamil 18% (national), other 8%; English is commonly used in government and spoken competently by about 10%

Capital and the largest city: Colombo

Other large cities: Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Moratuwa, Kandy

Religion: Buddhist 70%, Islam 8%, Hindu 7%, Christian 6% (2001)

Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)

Race: Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001)

Literacy rate: 92% (2003)

Independence Day: 4th February (1948)

Republic Day: 22nd March (1972)

Time zone: (UTC +5:30)

Country calling code: +94

Internet TLD: .lk