Keyword Cloud

Sri Lanka History Map Flag Population Capital Facts Britannica Browse Search Quizzes Games On This Day Login Subscribe nbsp Now Entertainment Pop Culture Geography Travel Health Medicine Lifestyles Social Issues Literature Philosophy Religion Politics Law Government Science Sports Recreation Technology Visual Arts World Biographies Week In Review Topic Summaries Infographics Demystified Lists WTFact Companions Image Galleries Spotlight Classics Check out these retro videos from Encyclopedia s archives in find what happened this week or any history Explains explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions Videos has all the to your burning shares some most bizarre facts we can Article Media Additional Info Contents Introduction amp Quick FactsLandReliefDrainageSoilsClimatePlant animal lifePeopleEthnic compositionLanguage religionEthnic relationsSettlement patternsDemographic trendsEconomyResourcesAgriculture forestry fishingIndustryFinanceTradeTransportationGovernment societyConstitutional frameworkJusticePolitical processEducationHealth welfareCultural lifeThe artsCultural institutionsRecreationPress broadcastingHistoryPrehistoric recordEarly settlement spread BuddhismLegendary originsIndo-Aryan settlementConversion BuddhismEarly growth political centralization c bce ce The Anuradhapura periodThe Polonnaruwa periodGovernment societyThe advent impact irrigationThe fall PolonnaruwaDrift southwest Political changesSocial economic changesCollapse Dry Zone civilizationNew cultivation techniquesForeign tradeLand controlCitiesReligious ethnolinguistic changesThe Portuguese expansion controlKandy its struggle with European powersDutch rule GovernmentEconomyLawReligionBritish Ceylon Control KandySocial administrative reformsEmergence capitalist agricultureConstitutionalism nationalism Constitutional reformsGrowth nationalist powerSocial cultural changesDominion statusIndependent Republic LankaCivil warPeace accord discordEnd warAftermath recoveryReconstructionCountry crisis growing debt wrangling terror attack Home Countries Print print Please select which sections you would like Table Of Cite Share social media Facebook Twitter URL https www britannica com place Sri-Lanka More Give Feedback External Websites Corrections Updates Omissions Let us know if have suggestions improve article requires login Type Select type Required Factual Correction Spelling Grammar Link Information Other Your Submit Thank for feedback Our editors will review ve submitted determine whether revise Join Britannica’s Publishing Partner Program our community experts gain global audience work Central Intelligence Agency – Factbook Official Tourism Site Embassy State Kuwait Colombo National Gallery Art Washington Biography George Bellows Organisation Articles Encyclopedias elementary high school students Children’s Ages Student up WRITTEN BY Gerald Hubert Peiris See All Contributors Professor University Peradeniya Research Fellow International Centre Ethnic Studies Kandy Author Structural Change Plantation Agriculture Last Updated Nov Alternative Titles Democratic Socialist Ilangai Jananayaka Socialisa Kudiarasu Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya formerly island country lying Indian Ocean separated peninsular India by Palk Strait It is located between latitudes N longitudes E maximum length miles km width LankaEncyclop dia Inc Nuwara EliyaTea plantation Eliya Dr Wolfgang Beyer Quiz Historical Smorgasbord Fact Fiction Did Diary Anne Frank originally different title Was paper money first issued because shortage coinage From million dollar parties iron bridges Britain sort fact fiction historical smorgasbord Proximity subcontinent facilitated close interaction ancient times At crossroads maritime routes traversing also been exposed influences other Asian civilizations Ancient Greek geographers called it Taprobane Arabs referred as Serendib Later mapmakers name still used occasionally trade purposes officially became distinctive civilization roots that be traced back th century characterized two factors preservation Theravada Buddhism orthodox having literary traditions Pali language development over millennia sophisticated system irrigation drier parts was further enriched Hinduism Islam Dalada MaligavaDalada Maligava Temple Tooth where tooth Buddha believed preserved Dmitry Rukhlenko Fotolia after nearly years British an independent admitted United Nations seven later member Commonwealth South Association Regional Cooperation Get exclusive access content First Edition subscription today emerged main urban centre during remains executive judicial capital Jayewardenepura Kotte suburb legislative For divided into nine provinces subdivided districts ColomboTown hall Myst densely populated majority people are poor live rural areas depend on agriculture their livelihood A physical environment wide-ranging diversity makes one world scenic countries As home several ethnic groups each own heritage highly varied landscape flag LankaNational anthem nameSri Sinhala Tamil Form governmentunitary multiparty republic house Parliament Head state governmentPresident Gotabaya Rajapaksa assisted Prime Minister Mahinda RajapaksaCapitalsColombo languagesSinhala religionnone Monetary unitSri Lankan rupee LKR Currency Exchange Rate USD equals rupeePopulation est rank projection Total area sq mi Density persons per Urban-rural populationUrban Rural Life expectancy at birthMale yearsFemale yearsLiteracy percentage population age literateMale Female GNI U S capita English official status link special recognition Load Next Page Inspire inbox ndash Sign daily fun about day updates offers Enter email By signing agreeing news information Encyclopaedia Click here view Privacy Notice Easy unsubscribe links provided every subscribing Be lookout newsletter get trusted stories delivered right Stay Connected YouTube Instagram Pinterest Newsletters About Us Legal Contact Terms Use copy Encyclop aelig latest podcast episode features popular TED speaker Mara Mintzer