Sri Lanka

<p>The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (from about 200 B.C. to about A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about A.D. 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a South Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century, followed by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; the name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Fighting between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued for over a quarter-century. Although Norway brokered peace negotiations that led to a cease-fire in 2002, the fighting slowly resumed and was again in full force by 2006. The government defeated the LTTE in 2009.</p> <p>During the post-conflict years under then-President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, the government initiated infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from China. His regime faced allegations of human rights violations and a shrinking democratic space for civil society.  In 2015, a new coalition government headed by President Maithripala SIRISENA of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE of the United National Party came to power with pledges to advance economic, political, and judicial reforms. However, implementation of these reforms was uneven. In 2019, Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA won the presidential election and appointed his brother Mahinda prime minister. Civil society raised concerns about the RAJAPAKSA administration’s commitment to pursuing justice, human rights, and accountability reforms, as well as the risks to foreign creditors that Sri Lanka faced given its ongoing economic crisis. A combination of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic; severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel; and power outages triggered increasingly violent protests in Columbo beginning in 2022. In response, WICKREMESINGHE -- who had already served as prime minister five times -- was named to replace the prime minister, but he became president within a few months when Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA fled the country. </p>

Land

64,630 sq km

Total

65,610 sq km

Water

980 sq km

slightly larger than West Virginia

tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

1,340 km

Asia

Highest point

Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

228 m

7 00 N, 81 00 E

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes; Adam's Bridge is a chain of limestone shoals between the southeastern coast of India and the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka; geological evidence suggests that this 50-km (31-mi) bridge once connected India and Sri Lanka; ancient records seem to indicate that a foot passage was possible between the two land masses until the 15th century, when the land bridge broke up in a cyclone

5,700 sq km (2012)

Total

0 km

Agricultural land

48.6% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 22.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 19.3% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 7.1% (2023 est.)

arable land

22.18%

Forest

34.4% (2023 est.)

Other

16.7% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

19.32%

No

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/VkPHoeFSfgzRQCDv8

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/536807

Asia

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower, arable land

the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north

Southern Asia

mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

UTC+05:30

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

22.6% (male 2,537,918/female 2,423,615)

15-64 years

65% (male 6,954,869/female 7,336,897)

65 years and over

12.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,149,256/female 1,580,053)

Beer

0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

2.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

14.38 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Women married by age 15

0.9% (2016)

Women married by age 18

9.8% (2016)

10.5%

17.1% (2024 est.)

66.3% (2016 est.)

7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

55 per 1,000

adult male

129 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

19.7 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

5.1 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

53.9 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

34.2 (2025 est.)

improved total

46.93%

Improved: rural

rural: 87.2% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 89.3% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 12.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 10.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

7.2% national budget (2024 est.)

2 % of GDP

Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)

1.03 (2025 est.)

4 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.1% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

9.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.1%

4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Female

6.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

7.5 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

4 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Sinhala (official) 87%, Tamil (official) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)

languages

Sinhala, Tamil

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represent main languages spoken by the population aged 10 years and older; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; English is commonly used in government and is referred to as the "link language" in the constitution

number of languages

2

Female

79.9 years

Male

73.7 years

Total population

76.8 years (2024 est.)

Female

92% (2023 est.)

Male

93.4% (2023 est.)

Total population

92.7% (2023 est.)

103,000 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) (2018), 633,000 COLOMBO (capital) (2023)

18 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

35.8 years

Male

32.2 years

Total

34.2 years (2025 est.)

25.6 years (2016 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 30-34

Adjective

Sri Lankan

Noun

Sri Lankan(s)

-4.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

5.2% (2016)

1.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Female

11,382,033

Male

10,668,528

Total

22,050,561 (2025 est.)

0.22% (2025 est.)

Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)

Improved: rural

rural: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 99% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 97.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)

Female

14 years (2023 est.)

Male

12 years (2023 est.)

Total

13 years (2023 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.73 male(s)/female

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

2% (2025 est.)

Male

36.3% (2025 est.)

Total

18.2% (2025 est.)

2.12 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

19.2% of total population (2023)

measles

99%

9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

Etymology

the origin of Colombo's name is unclear; it may derive from the Sinhalese words <em>kola </em>(leaves) and <em>amba </em>(mango), referring to local mango trees, or from the name Kelantotta, referring to a ferry that crossed the Kelani River; the name was corrupted to Kolambu by Arab traders, and 16th-century Portuguese settlers then called it Colombo, possibly referring to explorer Christopher COLUMBUS; the legislative capital's name, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, is composed of the Sanskrit honorific <em>sri, </em>the name of Sri Lankan President J.R. JAYEWARDENE, and the Hindi word <em>pura </em>(town)

Geographic coordinates

6 55 N, 79 50 E

Name

Colombo (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

Time difference

UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

no

Citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Sri Lanka

Dual citizenship recognized

no, except in cases where the government rules it is to the benefit of Sri Lanka

Residency requirement for naturalization

7 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/lk.svg

Amendment process

proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of its total membership, certification by the president of the republic or the Parliament speaker, and in some cases approval in a referendum by absolute majority of valid votes

History

several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978

alternative spellings

LK, ilaṅkai, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Conventional long form

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Conventional short form

Sri Lanka

Etymology

the name is composed of the Sanskrit words <em>shri </em>(happiness or holiness) and <em>lanka </em>(island); the former name Serendib was an Arabic derivation of the Sanskrit word <em>simhaladvipa</em>, or "island of the place of lions;" the former name Ceylon came from the Sanskrit <em>simha</em>, or "lion"

FIFA code

SRI

Former

Serendib, Ceylon

Local long form

Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya (Sinhala)/ Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu (Tamil)

local long form (sin)

ශ්‍රී ලංකා ප්‍රජාතාන්ත්‍රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජය

Local short form

Shri Lanka (Sinhala)/ Ilankai (Tamil)

Chief of mission

Ambassador Julie J. CHUNG (since 17 February 2022)

Email address and website

<br>colomboacs@state.gov<br><br>https://lk.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

210 Galle Road, Colombo 03

FAX

[94] (11) 243-7345

Mailing address

6100 Colombo Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-6100

Telephone

[94] (11) 249-8500

Chancery

3025 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Mahinda SAMARASINGHE (since 13 January 2022)

Consulate(s)

New York

Consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

Email address and website

<br>slemb.washington@mfa.gov.lk<br><br>https://slembassyusa.org/

FAX

[1] 202-232-2329

Telephone

[1] (202) 483-4025

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister

Chief of state

President Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (since 23 September 2024)

Election results

<em><br>2024: </em>Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE elected president; percent of vote after reallocation - Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (JVP) 55.9%, Sajith PREMADASA (SJB) 44.1%

Election/appointment process

president directly elected by preferential majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president

Expected date of next election

2029

Head of government

President Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (since 23 September 2024)

Most recent election date

21 September 2024

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the president is both chief of state and head of government

<strong>description:</strong> yellow with two panels; the smaller panel on the left has two equal vertical bands of green (left side) and orange; the larger panel has a yellow lion holding a sword on a maroon field, with a yellow bo leaf in each corner<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the sword stands for national sovereignty; the lion for Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the four bo leaves for Buddhism and the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange stands for Tamils, green for Moors, and maroon for the Sinhalese majority; yellow represents other ethnic groups

note

<strong>note:</strong> the banner is sometimes referred to as the Lion Flag

The flag of Sri Lanka features two large adjacent but separate rectangular areas, centered on a golden-yellow field. The smaller hoist-side rectangle is divided into two equal vertical bands of teal and orange, and the larger fly-side rectangle is maroon with a centered golden-yellow lion holding a Kastane sword in its right fore-paw and four golden-yellow Bo leaves, one in each corner.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/lk.svg

presidential republic

4 February 1948 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

ABEDA, ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 9 justices); has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation

Judge selection and term of office

chief justice nominated by the Constitutional Council (CC), a 9-member high-level advisory body, and appointed by the president; other justices nominated by the CC and appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice; all justices can serve until age 65

Subordinate courts

Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; municipal and primary courts

mixed system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, Jaffna Tamil customary law, and Muslim personal law

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

November 2029

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Parliament

Most recent election date

11/14/2024

Number of seats

225 (196 directly elected; 29 indirectly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

National People's Power (Jathika Jana Balawegaya, NPP) (159); Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) (40); Other (26)

Percentage of women in chamber

9.8%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

maroon, yellow

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Ancient City of Polonnaruwa (c); Ancient City of Sigiriya (c); Sacred City of Anuradhapura (c); Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications (c); Sacred City of Kandy (c); Sinharaja Forest Reserve (n); Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple (c); Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (n)

Total World Heritage Sites

8 (6 cultural, 2 natural)

Independence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948)

lion, water lily

Crusaders for Democracy or CFD<br>Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP<br>Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front or EPRLF<br>Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi or ITAK<br>Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP<br>Jathika Hela Urumaya or JHU<br>National People's Power or NPP (also known as Jathika Jana Balawegaya or JJB)<br>People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE<br>Samagi Jana Balawegaya or SJB<br>Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP<br>Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC<br>Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance or SLPFA (includes SLPFP, SLPP, and several smaller parties)<br>Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (Sri Lanka's People's Front) or SLPP<br>Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization or TELO<br>Tamil National Alliance or TNA (includes ITAK, PLOTE, TELO)<br>Tamil National People's Front or TNPF<br>Tamil People's National Alliance or TPNA<br>United National Front for Good Governance or UNFGG (coalition includes JHU, UNP)<br>United National Party or UNP

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

rice, coconuts, tea, sugarcane, plantains, milk, fiber crops, cassava, chicken, pumpkins/squash (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

3.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

27.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$17.144 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$9.387 billion (2023 est.)

code

LKR

name

Sri Lankan rupee (LKR) [Rs රු]

$1.21 billion

Current account balance 2021

-$3.284 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$1.448 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$1.559 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$56.83 billion

Debt - external 2023

$42.198 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

economic contraction in 2022-23 marked by increased poverty and significant inflation; IMF two-year debt relief program following 2022 sovereign default; structural challenges from non-diversified economy and rigid labor laws; heavy dependence on tourism receipts and remittances

Currency

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

178.745 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

185.593 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

198.764 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

322.633 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

327.507 (2023 est.)

$19.68 billion

Exports 2021

$14.974 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$16.169 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$17.327 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

garments, tea, precious stones, used rubber tires, rubber products (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

USA 22%, India 7%, Germany 7%, UK 7%, Italy 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$761.14 million

Exports of goods and services

19.9% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

7% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

68.7% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-22.5% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

18.8% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

8.2% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

8.3% (2024 est.)

Industry

25.5% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

57.5% (2024 est.)

$98.963 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$4,516

39.3 (2016)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

37.7 (2019 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$96.5 billion

$3,860

27 % of GDP

Highest 10%

30.8% (2019 est.)

Lowest 10%

3.1% (2019 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$22.28 billion

Imports 2021

$21.526 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$19.244 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$18.823 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, fabric, crude petroleum, packaged medicine, cotton fabric (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

India 21%, China 19%, UAE 10%, Singapore 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

11% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; tourism; clothing and textiles; mining

-0.43%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

49.7% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

16.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

-0.4% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

8.499 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

8.37 million persons

agriculture

25.86%

industry

26.3%

services

47.84%

14.3% (2019 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2017

79.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

$342.6 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$293.878 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$287.031 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$301.407 billion (2024 est.)

5.01%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

-7.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-2.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

5% (2024 est.)

$15,633

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$13,200 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$13,000 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$13,800 (2024 est.)

$6.72 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

6.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

$6.09 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$1.896 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$4.405 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$6.094 billion (2024 est.)

11 % of GDP

10 % of GDP

9.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

4.01%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

4.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5% (2024 est.)

Female

29.6% (2024 est.)

Male

18.4% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

22.3% (2024 est.)

Consumption

2.323 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

2.238 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

15.763 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

684 kWh

Installed generating capacity

5.326 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

1.457 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Biomass and waste

0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

49.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

40.78%

Hydroelectricity

40.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

49.24%

Solar

4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

474 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

12.372 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

100,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

48.8%

per 100 inhabitants

9 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

9 (2023 est.)

Total

2.01 million (2023 est.)

government operates 5 TV channels and 19 radio channels; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 25 private TV stations and about 43 radio stations; 6 non-profit TV stations and 4 radio stations

.lk

Percent of population

51% (2023 est.)

#####

+94

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

7 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

1.707 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

142 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

133 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

30.6 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

3.87 million passengers

registered carrier departures

24,228 departures

18 (2025)

4R

Left

1 (2025)

By type

bulk carrier 5, general cargo 15, oil tanker 11, other 65

Total

96 (2023)

Key ports

Batticaloa Roads, Colombo, Galle Harbor, Hambantota, Kankesanturai, Trincomalee Harbor

Large

0

Medium

2

Ports with oil terminals

2

Size unknown

2

Small

1

Total ports

6 (2024)

Very small

1

Broad gauge

1,562 km (2016) 1.676-m gauge

Total

1,562 km (2016)

CL

armored vehicles

tanks

the military of Sri Lanka is responsible for external defense, maritime security, and maintaining internal security; it has sent small numbers of personnel on UN peacekeeping missions; from 1983 to 2009, the military fought against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a conflict that involved both guerrilla and conventional warfare, as well as acts of terrorism and human rights abuses, and cost the military nearly 30,000 killed; since the end of the war, a large portion of the Army reportedly remains deployed in the majority Tamil-populated northern and eastern provinces; the military over the past decade also has increased its role in a range of commercial sectors including agriculture, hotels, leisure, and restaurants<br><br>Sri Lanka traditionally has had close security ties to India; the Sri Lankan and Indian militaries conduct exercises together, and India trains approximately 1,000 Sri Lankan soldiers per year; in recent years, Sri Lanka has increased military ties with China, including acquiring military equipment, hosting naval port calls, and sending personnel to China for training (2025)

Sri Lanka Armed Forces: Sri Lanka Army (includes National Guard and the Volunteer Force), Sri Lanka Navy (includes Marine Corps), Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Coast Guard; Civil Security Department (Home Guard) <br><br>Ministry of Public Security: Sri Lanka Police (2025)

active duty personnel

317,000

note

<strong>note: </strong>the Civil Security Department, also known as the Civil Defense Force, is an auxiliary force administered by the Ministry of Defense

percent of total labor force

3.74 %

estimated 210,000 active Armed Forces (140,000 Army; 25,000 Air Force; 45,000 Navy) (2025)

note

<strong>note: </strong>the Sri Lankan military has been downsizing for several years; in 2025, the Sri Lankan Government announced its intent to decrease the size of the Army to 100,000, the Air Force to 18,000, and the Navy to 40,000 by 2030

120 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 130 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)

the military's armaments are mostly of Chinese, Indian, Russian/Soviet, and US origin (2025)

1 % of GDP

current USD

$1,333,312,353

Military Expenditures 2020

2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

7.25 %

percent of GDP

1.43 % of GDP

generally 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women, although upper age limits may vary by branch of service, roles, specialties, etc; no conscription (2026)

PowerIndex score

1.3822

IDPs

5,549 (2024 est.)

Refugees

500 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

229 (2024 est.)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

note

<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

From coal and metallurgical coke

5.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

14.003 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

19.153 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

deforestation; soil erosion; poaching; effects of urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and pollution; coral reef destruction; freshwater resources polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo

Party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation

24.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

3 % of total land area

8 % of total

52.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

25 % of internal resources

Agricultural

11.31 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

831 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

805 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

2.632 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

24.5% (2022 est.)