About Sri Lanka

History

According to Sri Lanka's historical chronicles, the origins of the Sinhalese people trace back to Vijaya, an exiled North Indian prince who, along with his followers, settled on the island in the 6th century BC, establishing the Sinhalese Kingdom. Anuradhapura became the first capital around 380 BC, marking the beginning of a civilization deeply influenced by Indo-Aryan culture — especially after the introduction of Buddhism in the 3rd century BC. Over time, the center of power shifted to Polonnaruwa and other cities due to invasions from South India. In the 16th century, Sri Lanka encountered Western traders and colonizers for the first time with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505. This initiated a period spanning nearly five hundred years during which the island came under Portuguese, Dutch, and then British control. The Portuguese and Dutch each ruled the maritime regions for approximately 150 years, followed by complete British domination after the fall of the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815. Sri Lanka gained independence on 4 February 1948, after nearly 150 years of British rule.

Geography

Sri Lanka is located in the Indian Ocean to the southeast of India. It covers an area of approximately 65,610 square kilometers (25,330 square miles), making it the 25th largest island in the world.

Climate

Sri Lanka enjoys a consistently warm and pleasant climate throughout the year. Average temperatures hover around 27°C in Colombo and decrease as elevation rises towards the hill country, reaching as low as 10°C in the highest regions. The island experiences two main wet seasons: from May to July in the southwest, and from December to January in the northeast. However, Sri Lanka does not have a distinct off-season — even during the wet periods, bright, sunny, and warm days are frequent. Sea temperatures generally stay around 27°C year-round, making it a comfortable destination for beachgoers and water enthusiasts.

Population

The population of Sri Lanka is approximately 21 million people.

Ethnicity

Language

In Sri Lanka, the official languages are Sinhala and Tamil. Tamil is primarily spoken by the Tamil ethnic minority, while Sinhala is spoken by the Sinhalese majority. Both languages are widely used in daily life, government, education, and the media. Additionally, English serves as a link language and is widely used in business, administration, and higher education. It is frequently spoken by educated Sri Lankans, particularly in urban areas and among professionals, and is taught as a second language in schools. Sri Lanka's trilingual policy encourages fluency in Sinhala, Tamil, and English to facilitate unity and communication among the nation's diverse ethnic and linguistic groups.

Time Zone

Sri Lanka Standard Time (SLST) is UTC+5:30.

Water

Filtered, mineral, and bottled drinking water are widely available. The yellow king coconut is a popular and refreshing local thirst-quencher, and of course, the most popular drink is a hot cup of Ceylon tea.

Religions

Minority religions include small communities of Sikhs, Bahá'ís, and indigenous beliefs.

Elevation Extremes

Natural Resources

Quick Facts