The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (from about 200 B.C. to about A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about A.D. 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a South Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century, followed by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; the name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Fighting between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued for over a quarter-century. Although Norway brokered peace negotiations that led to a cease-fire in 2002, the fighting slowly resumed and was again in full force by 2006. The government defeated the LTTE in 2009.
During the post-conflict years under then-President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, the government initiated infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from China. His regime faced allegations of human rights violations and a shrinking democratic space for civil society. In 2015, a new coalition government headed by President Maithripala SIRISENA of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE of the United National Party came to power with pledges to advance economic, political, and judicial reforms. However, implementation of these reforms was uneven. In 2019, Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA won the presidential election and appointed his brother Mahinda prime minister. Civil society raised concerns about the RAJAPAKSA administration’s commitment to pursuing justice, human rights, and accountability reforms, as well as the risks to foreign creditors that Sri Lanka faced given its ongoing economic crisis. A combination of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic; severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel; and power outages triggered increasingly violent protests in Columbo beginning in 2022. In response, WICKREMESINGHE — who had already served as prime minister five times — was named to replace the prime minister, but he became president within a few months when Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA fled the country.
Geography
Location
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Geographic coordinates
7 00 N, 81 00 E
Map references
Asia
Area
total : 65,610 sq km
land: 64,630 sq km
water: 980 sq km
comparison ranking: total 122
Area – comparative
slightly larger than West Virginia
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
1,340 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Terrain
mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
Elevation
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 228 m
Natural resources
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 45.5% (2022 est.)
arable land: 22.2% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 16.2% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 7.1% (2022 est.)
forest: 34.1% (2022 est.)
other: 20.5% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
5,700 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north
Natural hazards
occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Geography – note
strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes; Adam’s Bridge is a chain of limestone shoals between the southeastern coast of India and the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka; geological evidence suggests that this 50-km (31-mi) bridge once connected India and Sri Lanka; ancient records seem to indicate that a foot passage was possible between the two land masses until the 15th century, when the land bridge broke up in a cyclone
People and Society
Population
total: 21,982,608 (2024 est.)
male: 10,642,043
female: 11,340,565
comparison rankings: total 61; female 60; male 62
Nationality
noun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective: Sri Lankan
Ethnic groups
Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)
Languages
Sinhala (official) 87%, Tamil (official) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)
note: data represent main languages spoken by the population aged 10 years and older; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; English is commonly used in government and is referred to as the “link language” in the constitution
Religions
Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 22.6% (male 2,537,918/female 2,423,615)
15-64 years: 65% (male 6,954,869/female 7,336,897)
65 years and over: 12.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,149,256/female 1,580,053)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 53.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 34.7 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 19.1 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 5.2 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 34.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 32.2 years
female: 35.8 years
comparison ranking: total 107
Population growth rate
0.39% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 159
Birth rate
14.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 116
Death rate
7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 101
Net migration rate
-3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 179
Population distribution
the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north
Urbanization
urban population: 19.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
103,000 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) (2018), 633,000 COLOMBO (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
25.6 years (2016 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 30-34
Maternal mortality ratio
29 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 112
Infant mortality rate
total: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 157
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.8 years (2024 est.)
male: 73.7 years
female: 79.9 years
comparison ranking: total population 100
Total fertility rate
2.13 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 93
Gross reproduction rate
1.04 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
64.6% (2016)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 99.7% of population
rural: 91.2% of population
total: 92.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.3% of population
rural: 8.8% of population
total: 7.2% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
4.1% of GDP (2021)
9.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
1.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 96.6% of population
rural: 97.9% of population
total: 97.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.4% of population
rural: 2.1% of population
total: 2.4% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
5.2% (2016)
comparison ranking: 182
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 2.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 122
Tobacco use
total: 18.2% (2025 est.)
male: 36.3% (2025 est.)
female: 2% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 82
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
20.5% (2016)
comparison ranking: 14
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
65.1% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 0.9% (2016)
women married by age 18: 9.8% (2016)
Education expenditure
1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
7.2% national budget (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 188
Literacy
total population: 93% (2023 est.)
male: 93% (2023 est.)
female: 92% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2018)
Environment
Environment – current issues
deforestation; soil erosion; poaching; effects of urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and pollution; coral reef destruction; freshwater resources polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo
Environment – international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation
Climate
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Land use
agricultural land: 45.5% (2022 est.)
arable land: 22.2% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 16.2% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 7.1% (2022 est.)
forest: 34.1% (2022 est.)
other: 20.5% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 19.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 23.88 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 23.36 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 10.95 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,631,650 tons (2016 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 336,588 tons (2016 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.8% (2016 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 810 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 830 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 11.31 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
52.8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
conventional short form: Sri Lanka
local long form: Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya (Sinhala)/ Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu (Tamil)
local short form: Shri Lanka (Sinhala)/ Ilankai (Tamil)
former: Serendib, Ceylon
etymology: the name is composed of the Sanskrit words shri (happiness or holiness) and lanka (island); the former name Serendib was an Arabic derivation of the Sanskrit word simhaladvipa, or “island of the place of lions;” the former name Ceylon came from the Sanskrit simha, or “lion”
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Colombo (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 79 50 E
time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the origin of Colombo’s name is unclear; it may derive from the Sinhalese words kola (leaves) and amba (mango), referring to local mango trees, or from the name Kelantotta, referring to a ferry that crossed the Kelani River; the name was corrupted to Kolambu by Arab traders, and 16th-century Portuguese settlers then called it Colombo, possibly referring to explorer Christopher COLUMBUS; the legislative capital’s name, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, is composed of the Sanskrit honorific sri, the name of Sri Lankan President J.R. JAYEWARDENE, and the Hindi word pura (town)
Administrative divisions
9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
Legal system
mixed system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, Jaffna Tamil customary law, and Muslim personal law
Constitution
history: several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978
amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of its total membership, certification by the president of the republic or the Parliament speaker, and in some cases approval in a referendum by absolute majority of valid votes
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Sri Lanka
dual citizenship recognized: no, except in cases where the government rules it is to the benefit of Sri Lanka
residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (since 23 September 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Harini AMARASURIYA (since 24 September 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
elections/appointments: president directly elected by preferential majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 September 2024 (next to be held in 2029); prime minister appointed by the president
election results:
2024: Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE elected president; percent of vote after reallocation – Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (JVP) 55.9%, Sajith PREMADASA (SJB) 44.1%
2022: Ranil WICKREMESINGHE elected president by Parliament on 20 July 2022; Parliament vote – WICKREMESINGHE (UNP) 134, Dullas ALAHAPPERUMA (SLPP) 82
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 225 (196 directly elected; 29 indirectly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 11/14/2024
parties elected and seats per party: National People’s Power (Jathika Jana Balawegaya, NPP) (159); Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) (40); Other (26)
percentage of women in chamber: 9.8%
expected date of next election: November 2029
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 9 justices); has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation
judge selection and term of office: chief justice nominated by the Constitutional Council (CC), a 9-member high-level advisory body, and appointed by the president; other justices nominated by the CC and appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice; all justices can serve until age 65
subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrates’ Courts; municipal and primary courts
Political parties
Crusaders for Democracy or CFD
Eelam People’s Democratic Party or EPDP
Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front or EPRLF
Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi or ITAK
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP
Jathika Hela Urumaya or JHU
National People’s Power or NPP (also known as Jathika Jana Balawegaya or JJB)
People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE
Samagi Jana Balawegaya or SJB
Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC
Sri Lanka People’s Freedom Alliance or SLPFA (includes SLPFP, SLPP, and several smaller parties)
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (Sri Lanka’s People’s Front) or SLPP
Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization or TELO
Tamil National Alliance or TNA (includes ITAK, PLOTE, TELO)
Tamil National People’s Front or TNPF
Tamil People’s National Alliance or TPNA
United National Front for Good Governance or UNFGG (coalition includes JHU, UNP)
United National Party or UNP
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahinda SAMARASINGHE (since 13 January 2022)
chancery: 3025 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025
FAX: [1] 202-232-2329
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://slembassyusa.org/new/
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Julie J. CHUNG (since 17 February 2022)
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 03
mailing address: 6100 Colombo Place, Washington DC 20521-6100
telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500
FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://lk.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ABEDA, ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
4 February 1948 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948)
Flag description
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the larger panel has a yellow lion holding a sword on a maroon field, as well as a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the sword stands for national sovereignty, the lion for Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery, and the four bo leaves for Buddhism and the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange stands for Tamils, green for Moors, and maroon for the Sinhalese majority; yellow represents other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag
National symbol(s)
lion, water lily
National colors
maroon, yellow
National anthem
name: “Sri Lanka Matha” (Mother Sri Lanka)
lyrics/music: Ananda SAMARKONE
note: adopted 1951
This is an audio of the National Anthem for Sri Lanka. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition – usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise – that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country’s constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.:
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 8 (6 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient City of Polonnaruwa (c); Ancient City of Sigiriya (c); Sacred City of Anuradhapura (c); Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications (c); Sacred City of Kandy (c); Sinharaja Forest Reserve (n); Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple (c); Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (n)
Economy
Economic overview
economic contraction in 2022-23 marked by increased poverty and significant inflation; IMF two-year debt relief program following 2022 sovereign default; structural challenges from non-diversified economy and rigid labor laws; heavy dependence on tourism receipts and remittances
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$287.132 billion (2023 est.)
$293.885 billion (2022 est.)
$317.188 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 63
Real GDP growth rate
-2.3% (2023 est.)
-7.35% (2022 est.)
4.21% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 207
Real GDP per capita
$13,000 (2023 est.)
$13,200 (2022 est.)
$14,300 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 132
GDP (official exchange rate)
$84.357 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
-0.4% (2024 est.)
16.5% (2023 est.)
49.7% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 5
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 8.3% (2023 est.)
industry: 25.6% (2023 est.)
services: 59.9% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 89; industry 88; agriculture 87
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 69.3% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 6.9% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 17.6% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 7.9% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 20.5% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -22.2% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
rice, coconuts, tea, sugarcane, plantains, milk, fiber crops, cassava, chicken, pumpkins/squash (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; tourism; clothing and textiles; mining
Industrial production growth rate
-9.23% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 207
Labor force
8.593 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 63
Unemployment rate
5% (2024 est.)
6% (2023 est.)
4.5% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 95
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 22.3% (2024 est.)
male: 18.4% (2024 est.)
female: 29.6% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 51
Population below poverty line
14.3% (2019 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
37.7 (2019 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 56
Average household expenditures
on food: 27.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.1% (2019 est.)
highest 10%: 30.8% (2019 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
7.14% of GDP (2023 est.)
5.15% of GDP (2022 est.)
6.23% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $7.365 billion (2021 est.)
expenditures: $15.477 billion (2021 est.)
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
79.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 38
Taxes and other revenues
9.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 178
Current account balance
$1.559 billion (2023 est.)
-$1.448 billion (2022 est.)
-$3.284 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 50
Exports
$17.327 billion (2023 est.)
$16.169 billion (2022 est.)
$14.974 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 95
Exports – partners
USA 22%, India 7%, Germany 7%, UK 7%, Italy 5% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
garments, tea, precious stones, used rubber tires, rubber products (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$18.823 billion (2023 est.)
$19.244 billion (2022 est.)
$21.526 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 97
Imports – partners
India 21%, China 19%, UAE 10%, Singapore 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, fabric, crude petroleum, packaged medicine, cotton fabric (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$6.055 billion (2024 est.)
$4.405 billion (2023 est.)
$1.896 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 94
Debt – external
$42.198 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 19
Exchange rates
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
327.507 (2023 est.)
322.633 (2022 est.)
198.764 (2021 est.)
185.593 (2020 est.)
178.745 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 5.326 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 15.763 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.457 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 114; consumption 85; installed generating capacity 89
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 49.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 40.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
consumption: 2.323 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 2.238 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 100,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
19.153 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 14.003 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 88
Energy consumption per capita
12.372 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 145
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 1.707 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 54
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 30 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 143 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 47
Broadcast media
government operates 5 TV channels and 19 radio channels; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 25 private TV stations and about 43 radio stations; 6 non-profit TV stations and 4 radio stations
Internet country code
.lk
Internet users
percent of population: 51% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 2.01 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 61
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
4R
Airports
18 (2025)
comparison ranking: 144
Heliports
1 (2025)
comparison ranking: 147
Railways
total: 1,562 km (2016)
broad gauge: 1,562 km (2016) 1.676-m gauge
Merchant marine
total: 96 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 5, general cargo 15, oil tanker 11, other 65
comparison ranking: total 92
Ports
total ports: 6 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 2
small: 1
very small: 1
size unknown: 2
ports with oil terminals: 2
key ports: Batticaloa Roads, Colombo, Galle Harbor, Hambantota, Kankesanturai, Trincomalee Harbor
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Sri Lanka Armed Forces: Sri Lanka Army (includes National Guard and the Volunteer Force), Sri Lanka Navy (includes Marine Corps), Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Coast Guard; Civil Security Department (Home Guard)
Ministry of Public Security: Sri Lanka Police (2025)
note: the Civil Security Department, also known as the Civil Defense Force, is an auxiliary force administered by the Ministry of Defense
Military expenditures
1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 210,000 active Armed Forces (140,000 Army; 25,000 Air Force; 45,000 Navy) (2025)
note: the Sri Lankan military has been downsizing for several years; in 2025, the Sri Lankan Government announced its intent to decrease the size of the Army to 100,000, the Air Force to 18,000, and the Navy to 40,000 by 2030
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military’s inventory consists mostly of Chinese- and Russian-origin equipment with a smaller mix of material from countries such as India and the US, including donations; defense acquisitions have been limited over the past decade (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023)
Military deployments
110 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 125 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 240 Mali (MINUSMA) (2024)
Military – note
the military of Sri Lanka is responsible for external defense and may be called upon to handle specifically delineated domestic security responsibilities that generally do not include arrest authority; it has sent small numbers of personnel on UN peacekeeping missions; from 1983 to 2009, the military fought against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a conflict that involved both guerrilla and conventional warfare, as well as acts of terrorism and human rights abuses, and cost the military nearly 30,000 killed; since the end of the war, a large portion of the Army reportedly remains deployed in the majority Tamil-populated northern and eastern provinces; the military over the past decade also has increased its role in a range of commercial sectors including agriculture, hotels, leisure, and restaurants
Sri Lanka traditionally has had close security ties to India; India participated in the LTTE war in 1987-1991, losing over 1,000 soldiers; the Sri Lankan and Indian militaries continue to conduct exercises together, and India trains over 1,000 Sri Lankan soldiers per year; in recent years, Sri Lanka has increased military ties with China, including acquiring military equipment, hosting naval port calls, and sending personnel to China for training (2024)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 12,000 (civil war; more than half displaced prior to 2008; many of the more than 480,000 IDPs registered as returnees have not reached durable solutions) (2022)
stateless persons: 35 (2022)
