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: 22,184,000 (2020E—World Bank); 22,889,201 (2020E—U.S. Census).

Major Urban Centers (2014E—UN): SRI JAYEWARDENEPURA (Kotte, administrative capital, 128,000), Colombo (Kolamba, commercial capital, 650,000).

Official Languages: Sinhala, Tamil. English is recognized as a link language.

Monetary Unit: Sri Lankan Rupee (market rate September 30, 2020: 184.90 rupees = $1US).

President: Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA (Sri Lanka People’s Front); elected president on November 16, 2019, and sworn in November 18 for a six-year term, succeeding Maithripala SIRISENA (New Democratic Front).

Prime Minister: Percy Mahinda RAJAPAKSA (Sri Lanka’s People’s Front); designated by the president and sworn in on November 21, ...