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
- 1833 -- incorporated into British colony of Ceylon.
- 1948 -- becomes member of British Commonwealth.
- 1972 -- Republic of Sri Lanka proclaimed.
- 1972 -- Foundation of the Tamil (Liberation) Tigers, an insurgent group dedicated to independence for the ethnic Tamil minority.
- 1972-1983 -- Ethnic conflict between the minority Tamils and the majority Sinhalese.
- 1983-present -- Civil war between government and Tamil rebels.
EARLY HISTORY
- 1505 -- Portuguese begin European colonization.
- 1648 -- Dutch wrest control from Portuguese.
- 1795 -- British expel Dutch.
FINANCIAL
- Monetary unit:
- Rupee
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CNN TRAVEL INFORMATION
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CNN WEATHER INFORMATION:
- Forecasts:
- Colombo
- Forecast and satellite maps:
- Asia forecast map
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