Situated in the Indian Ocean, it comprises one large island and several much smaller ones. Its capital is Colombo.
The climate is tropical, with an average annual temperature of about 27 degree Celsius.
It has an area of about 65,610 square km and a population of 19 million.
Sinhala and Tamil are recognized national languages. Sinhala is spoken by more than 70 percent of the population and Tamil is made the country's second official language in 1988.
According to the 2002 census, 76.7 percent of the population are Buddhist, 8.5 percent are Muslim, 7.9 percent are Hindu and 6. 9 percent are Roman Catholic. The census results do not cover the Tamil-dominated northern and eastern districts where a higher proportion of Hindus could be expected.
A presidential form of government is adopted in October 1977 and confirmed in the Constitution of September 1978. The constitution provides for a unicameral Parliament as the supreme legislative body. Executive powers are vested in the president, who is the head of state.
Sri Lanka comprises nine provinces and 24 administrative districts. The country's gross national income in 2002 is 15,US$894 million, equivalent to US$840 per head, according to estimates by the World Bank.