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| The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon before 1972) is a tropical island nation off the southeast coast of the Indian subcontinent. The island was known in ancient times as Lanka, Lankadeepa (Sanskrit for "resplendent land"), Simoundou, Taprobane (from the Sanskrit Tamaraparni), Serendib (from the Sanskrit Sinhala-dweepa), and Selan. During colonization, the island became known as Ceylon, a name still used on occasion. Its unique shape and proximity to the Indian mainland have led some to refer to the island as India's teardrop. |
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| Statistics |
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| Full Name |
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Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka |
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| Capital |
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Sri Jayewardenepura |
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| Commercial Capital |
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Colombo |
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| Area |
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66,000 sq km / 25,483 sq miles |
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| Population |
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20.22 Million |
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| Time Zone |
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+0530 UTC |
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| Climate |
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Low Lands – tropical, average 27C
Central Hills – cooler, with temperatures dropping to 14C. The south-west monsoon brings rain to the western, southern and central regions from May to July, while the north-eastern monsoon occurs in the north and east in December and January. Sri Lanka has a good climate for holiday-makers throughout the year. |
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| People |
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74% Sinhalese | 18% Tamils | 7% Moor | 1% other |
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| Languages |
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Sinhala, Tamil, English |
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| Religion |
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69% Buddhist | 15% Hindu | 8% Muslim | 8% Christian |
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| Currency |
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Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs) |
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| Major industries |
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Processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco, rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef |
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| Major trading partners |
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US, UK, Germany, Japan, Singapore, India, Iran, Taiwan, Belgium, Hong Kong, China, South Korea |
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