Population 19.043 million
Male 9.707 million
Female 9.336 million
Density per sq/km 304
Growth Rate 1.4

Languages
Sinhala & Tamil English is widely spoken throughout Sri Lanka, with the exception of remote villages.

Ethnic mix
Sihalese- 74 per cent; Tamil- 18 per cent; Muslim -7 per cent; Burgher (descendants of Dutch and Portuguese colonist) and others- 1 per cent

Religion
Buddhism- 70 per cent; Hinduism- 16 per cent; Christianity- 7 per cent; Islam-7 per cent

Capital Sri Jayawardenepura
Commercial Capital Colombo

Government
Sri Lanka, is a free, independent and sovereign nation .Legislative power is exercised by a Parliament, elected by universal franchise on proportional representation basis. A President, who is also elected by the people, exercises executive power inclusive of defense. Sri Lanka enjoys a multi party system, and the people vote to elect a new government every six years.

President: Mahinda Rajapakse (2005)
Prime Minister: Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka (2005)

Annual per capita GNP: US$870

Industries: Processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco.
Agriculture - Products Rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, roots, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, meat.

Currency
Sri Lanka follows decimal currency system in Rupees (Rs.) and cents (Cts.) with 100 cents equal to a rupee. Currency notes are available in the denominations of Rs. 2,10,20,50,100,200, 500, 1000 and 2000. Coins are issued in values of Cts.1,2,5,10, 25 and 50 and Rs.1,2,5 and 10. The intervention currency continuously will be the US Dollar.

Working week
Sri Lanka works a five-day week, from Monday to Friday.
Business hours Government offices 9.00 a.m. -5.00 p.m, Monday to Friday
Banks 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. or 3.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday
Post office 8.30 a.m.- 5.00 p.m.