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: 21,553,031 (2012E—UN); 21,481,334 (2012E—U.S. Census).

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: Sri Lankan Rupee (market rate November 5, 2012: 130.45 rupees = $1US).

President: Mahinda RAJAPAKSE (United People’s Freedom Alliance); elected president on November 17, 2005, and sworn in November 19 for a six-year term, succeeding Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (United People’s Freedom Alliance); reelected on January 26, 2010.

Prime Minister: Disanayaka Mudiyanselage ...