The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C. probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning
in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa
200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty seized
power in the north and established a Tamil kingdom. Occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the
17th century, the island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was united under British rule
by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese
majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Tens of thousands have died in the ethnic conflict that continues
to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire
in February 2002 with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in
2006, but neither side has formally withdrawn from the cease-fire.
Location
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Area
Total
Land
Water
65610 sq km
64740 sq km
870 sq km
Population
Number: 20926315 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14
15-64
65+
Percentage share (count, rate)
24.3% (male 2,596,295/female 2,495,949)
67.9% (male 6,947,310/female 7,259,271)
7.8% (male 765,507/female 861,983)
Population grow rate: 0.982% (2007)
Birth rate: 17 (2007)
Death rate: 6.01 (2007)
Net migration rate: -1.16 (2007)
Sex birth rate: 1.04 male(s)/female (2007)
Sex rate
0-14
15-64
65+
1.04 male(s)/female 0-14
0.957 male(s)/female 15-64
Infant mortality
Total
Male
Female
19.45 total
21.2 deaths/1,000 live births male
17.63 deaths/1,000 live births female
Life expectancy
Total
Male
Female
74.8 years total
72.81 years male
76.88 years female
2.05 (2007)
Leteracy (age 15 and over can read and write)
Total
Male
Female
90.7% total
92.3% male
89.1% female
Economy
Gross domestic product - Purchasing power parity: 95460000000.0 (2006)
Gross domestic product - Real growth rate: 7.4% (2006)
Gross domestic product - Per capita: 4700 (2006)
Unemployment rate: 7.6
Population below poverty line: 22
Others
Internet - Country code: lk
Internet - Hosts: 6,198 (2007)
Internet - Users: 428 (2006)