Sri Lanka

Since 1983, Sri Lankan government forces have battled the rebel Tamil Tigers -- the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

The rebels are fighting for a homeland for minority Tamils, who account for 18 percent of Sri Lanka's 18 million people. They claim discrimination by the Sinhalese, who control the government and military.

The war has killed more than 50,000 people. Over one million people have been displaced and another half million have left as refugees.

Land and People | History |
| Travel | Financial | Weather

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population:
18,553,074
Average life span:
70 male, 75 female
Average income (US$):
$540
GDP per capita (US$):
$3,205
Literacy rate:
90%

THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE

Capital:
Colombo
Size:
25,332 square miles (65,610 sq. km)
(About the size of West Virginia)
Government type:
Republic
Political leaders:
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
Prime Minister Sirimaro Bandaranaike
Religions:
Buddhist (69%); Hindu (15%); Christian (8%); Muslim (8%)
Languages:
Sinhala (official); Tamil (official); English

MODERN HISTORY

EARLY HISTORY

FINANCIAL

Monetary unit:
Rupee

CNN TRAVEL INFORMATION

CNN Travel City Guides: Sri Lanka CNN Travel Guide Currency Converter

CNN WEATHER INFORMATION

CNN WEATHER INFORMATION:
Forecasts:
Colombo
Forecast and satellite maps:
Asia forecast map
Asia satellite image