Sri Lanka is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, situated just off the southern tip of India. It is renowned for its production of high-quality Ceylon tea, ancient Buddhist temples, and stunning beaches. The country's diverse landscapes range from tropical coastlines to misty highland tea estates and dense rainforests.
- Capital
- Colombo
- Continent
- Asia
- Region
- Southern Asia
- Area
- 65,610 km²
- Coordinates
- 7° N, 81° E
Country facts
- Sri Lanka has a recorded history stretching back over 2,500 years, with chronicles like the Mahavamsa documenting its ancient kingdoms.
- The country is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya.
- Sinhala and Tamil are both official languages of Sri Lanka, reflecting its two main ethnic communities.
- The Sri Lankan elephant is a subspecies of the Asian elephant and is a national symbol deeply woven into the country's culture and festivals.
- Sri Lanka is one of the world's top exporters of cinnamon, a spice that has been traded from the island for thousands of years.
Capital facts
- Colombo has served as a major Indian Ocean trading port for centuries, attracting Arab, Portuguese, Dutch, and British merchants over its history.
- The city was the administrative capital under British colonial rule and remains Sri Lanka's largest city and commercial hub today.
- Colombo's Gangaramaya Temple is a landmark Buddhist complex that blends Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architectural styles.
- The Galle Face Green, a long oceanside promenade, has been a popular public gathering space in Colombo since the colonial era.
- Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, a suburb of Colombo, serves as the official legislative capital of Sri Lanka.