SRI
LANKA -
FACTS
Full country name:
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Area:
66,000 sq km
Population:
19 million (annual growth 1.04%)
Capital city:
Colombo (pop 2 million)
People:
74% Sinhalese, 18% Tamils, 7% Moor, 1% other
Language:
Sinhala, Tamil, English
Religion:
69% Buddhist, 15% Hindu, 8% Muslim, 8% Christian
Time:
GMT plus five hours 30 minutes
Electricity:
230-40V, 50 Hz
Weights & measures:
Metric
Tourism:
400,000 visitors in 1994
Government:
Democracy
GDP:
US$48.1 billion
GDP per head:
US$2,500
Annual growth:
4.7%
Inflation:
9.3% (June 2002)
Major industries:
Processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural
commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining,
textiles, tobacco, rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses,
oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs,
hides, beef
Major trading partners:
US, UK, Germany, Japan, Singapore, India, Iran, Taiwan,
Belgium, Hong Kong, China, South Korea
Visas:
Visitors from the USA, most western European countries,
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Israel, Japan, Singapore
and Hong Kong do not require visas. Automatic entry
for between 30 and 90 days is given on arrival.
WHEN TO GO
Climatically the driest and best seasons are from
December to March on the west and south coasts and
in the hill country, and from May to September on
the east coast. December to March is also the time
when most foreign tourists come, the majority of them
escaping the European winter.
Out of season travel has its advantages - not only
do the crowds go away but many airfares and accommodation
prices go right down. Nor does it rain all the time.
Reefs may protect a beach area and make swimming quite
feasible at places like Hikkaduwa, which during the
monsoon can be quite pleasant.
