Country
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Sri Lanka
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajawadi Janarajaya (Sinhala)
Llankais Sananayaka Socialisak Kutiyarasa (Tamil)
Political Status: Independent since February 4, 1948; present constitution adopted on August 6, 1978, effective September 7.
Area: 25, 332 sq. mi. (65, 610 sq. km.).
Population: 16, 864, 544 (2001C); 20, 686, 000 (2010E). The census figure is provisional and lacks results from several districts where security concerns prohibited enumeration.
Major Urban Centers (2005E): SRI JAYEWARDENEPURA (Kotte, administrative capital, 119, 000), Colombo (Kolamba, commercial capital, 650, 000), Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia (219, 000), Jaffna (154, 000), Kandy (Maha Nuwara, 111, 000).
Official Languages: Sinhala, Tamil. English is recognized as a link language.
Monetary Unit: Rupee (market rate November 1, 2010: 111.67 rupees = $1US).
President: Mahinda RAJAPAKSE (United People’s Freedom Alliance); elected president on November 17, 2005, and ...