Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the
southern Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
8 38 N, 111 55 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: less than 5 sq km
country comparison to the world: 247
land: less than 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts
scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South
China Sea
Area - comparative:
NA
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
926 km
Maritime claims:
NA
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
Natural resources:
fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the
central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls,
shoals, and coral reefs
People ::Spratly Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several
claimant states
Government ::Spratly Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Economy ::Spratly Islands
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to
nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the
potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely
unexplored. There are no reliable estimates of potential reserves.
Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Transportation ::Spratly Islands
Airports:
4 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 185
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Spratly Islands
Military - note:
Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of
which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
Transnational Issues ::Spratly Islands
Disputes - international:
all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China (including Taiwan)
and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia and the
Philippines; despite no public territorial claim to Louisa Reef,
Brunei implicitly lays claim by including it within the natural
prolongation of its continental shelf and basis for a seabed median
with Vietnam; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on
the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased
tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; in
March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines,
and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic
activities in the Spratly Islands
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Sri Lanka (South Asia)
Introduction ::Sri Lanka
Background:
The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century
B.C. probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about
the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at
the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa
A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th
century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in
northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the island were controlled
by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th
century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown
colony in 1802, and was united under British rule by 1815. As
Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri
Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil
separatists erupted into war in 1983. After two decades of fighting,
the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
formalized a cease-fire in February 2002 with Norway brokering peace
negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces
intensified in 2006 and the government regained control of the
Eastern Province in 2007. In May 2009, the government announced that
its military had finally defeated the remnants of the LTTE and that
its leader, Velupillai PRABHAKARAN, had been killed.
Geography ::Sri Lanka
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
country comparison to the world: 121
land: 64,630 sq km
water: 980 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
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 extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Natural resources:
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 13.96%
permanent crops: 15.24%
other: 70.8% (2005)
Irrigated land:
7,430 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
50 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 12.61 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%)
per capita: 608 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by
poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining
activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being
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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
People ::Sri Lanka
Population:
21,513,990
country comparison to the world: 55
note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and
armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand
Tamil civilians have fled the island and more than 200,000 Tamils
have sought refuge in the West (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.9% (male 2,594,815/female 2,493,002)
15-64 years: 68% (male 7,089,307/female 7,418,123)
65 years and over: 8.1% (male 803,172/female 926,372) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.3 years
male: 30.3 years
female: 32.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.863% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Birth rate:
15.88 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Death rate:
6.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Net migration rate:
-1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Urbanization:
urban population: 15% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.044 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 18.14 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 105
male: 19.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.3 years
country comparison to the world: 85
male: 73.22 years
female: 77.47 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.96 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and chikungunya
water contact disease: leptospirosis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective: Sri Lankan
Ethnic groups:
Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri
Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census
provisional data)
Religions:
Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified
10% (2001 census provisional data)
Languages:
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national
language) 18%, other 8%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken
competently by about 10% of the population
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.7%
male: 92.3%
female: 89.1% (2001 census)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Sri Lanka
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
conventional short form: Sri Lanka
local long form: Shri Lamka Prajatantrika Samajaya di
Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu
local short form: Shri Lamka/Ilankai
former: Serendib, Ceylon
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Colombo
geographic coordinates: 6 56 N, 79 51 E
time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North
Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
Independence:
4 February 1948 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 February (1948)
Constitution:
adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; amended 20
December 2001
Legal system:
a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch,
Kandyan, and Jaffna Tamil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November
2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; Dissanayake Mudiyanselage JAYARATNE holds the largely
ceremonial title of prime minister (since 21 April 2010)
head of government: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19
November 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the
prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(two-term limit); election last held on 26 January 2010 (next to be
held in 2016)
election results: Mahinda RAJAPAKSA reelected president for second
term; percent of vote - Mahinda RAJAPAKSA 57.88%, Sarath FONSEKA
40.15%, other 1.97%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on
the basis of an open-list, proportional representation system by
electoral district to serve six-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 April 2010 with a repoll in two
electorates held on 20 April 2010 (next to be held by April 2016)
election results: percent of vote by alliance or party - United
People's Freedom Alliance 60.93%, United National Party 29.34%,
Democratic National Alliance 5.49%, Tamil National Alliance 2.9%,
other 1.94%; seats by alliance or party - United People's Freedom
Alliance 144, United National Party 60, Tamil National Alliance 14,
Democratic National Alliance 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts are
appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:
Coalitions and leaders: Democratic National Alliance led by Janatha
Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Somawansa AMARASINGHE]; Tamil National
Alliance led by Illandai Tamil Arasu Kachchi [R. SAMPANTHAN]; United
National Front led by United National Party [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE];
United People's Freedom Alliance led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party
[Mahinda RAJAPAKSA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE [P. SIVAPARAN, Chief of
International Secretariat; V. RUDRAKUMARAN, legal advisor]; note -
this insurgent group suffered military defeat in May 2009; some
cadres remain scattered throughout country;
other: Buddhist clergy; labor unions; radical chauvinist Sinhalese
groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese
Buddhist lay groups
International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO,
MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO
(dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaliya Chitran WICKRAMASURIYA
chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028
FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia A. BUTENIS
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500
FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345
Flag description:
yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal
vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger
panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red
rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each
corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag
and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese
ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword
demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves -
symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for
the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and
equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green the Sri Lankan
Moors; dark red represents the European Burghers, but also refers to
the rich colonial background of the country; yellow denotes other
ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag
National anthem:
name: "Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka)
lyrics/music: Ananda SAMARKONE
note: adopted 1951
Economy ::Sri Lanka
Economy - overview:
Sri Lanka is engaging in large-scale reconstruction and development
projects following the end of the 26-year conflict with the LTTE,
including increasing electricity access and rebuilding its road and
rail network. Additionally, Sri Lanka seeks to reduce poverty by
using a combination of state directed policies and private
investment promotion to spur growth in disadvantaged areas, develop
small and medium enterprises, and promote increased agriculture,
High levels of government funding may be difficult, as the
government already is faced with high debt interest payments, a
bloated civil service, and historically high budget deficits. The
2008-09 global financial crisis and recession exposed Sri Lanka's
economic vulnerabilities and nearly caused a balance of payments
crisis, which was alleviated by a $2.6 billion IMF standby agreement
in July 2009. The end of the civil war and the IMF loan, however,
have largely restored investors' confidence, reflected in part by
the Sri Lankan stock market's recognition as one of the best
performing markets in the world. Sri Lankan growth rates averaged
nearly 5% in during the war, but increased government spending on
development and fighting the LTTE in the final years spurred GDP
growth to around 6-7% per year in 2006-08. After experiencing 3.5%
growth in 2009, Sri Lanka's economy is poised to achieve high growth
rates in the postwar period.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$104.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$97.91 billion (2009 est.)
$94.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$48.24 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
3.5% (2009 est.)
6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
$4,600 (2009 est.)
$4,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.6%
industry: 29.8%
services: 57.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
8.1 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 32.7%
industry: 26.3%
services: 41% (December 2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
5.9% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
23% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 39.7% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 27
46 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Public debt:
86.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
85.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
7.25% (December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 55
7.5% (31 December 2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.37% (December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 41
15.89% (31 December 2008)
Stock of narrow money:
$4.4 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 96
$3.628 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$19.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$16.41 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$18.34 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$16.64 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$11.5 billion (December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 70
$8.133 billion (31 December 2009)
$4.326 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture - products:
rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, vegetables, fruit,
tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish
Industries:
processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural
commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism,
shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining,
information technology services, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
6.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Electricity - production:
9.882 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Electricity - consumption:
8.417 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Oil - consumption:
90,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Oil - imports:
90,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Current account balance:
-$1.784 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
-$291 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$7.908 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$7.085 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious
stones; coconut products, fish
Exports - partners:
US 20.59%, UK 12.87%, Italy 5.51%, Germany 5.29%, India 4.54%,
Belgium 4.43% (2009)
Imports:
$11.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$9.186 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment,
building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
India 20.73%, China 13.45%, Singapore 7.26%, Iran 6.7%, South Korea
5.23% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$5.63 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$5.358 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$17.97 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$17.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - 113.36 (2010), 114.95
(2009), 108.33 (2008), 110.78 (2007), 103.99 (2006)
Communications ::Sri Lanka
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.523 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 44
Telephones - mobile cellular:
15.868 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 46
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone services have improved significantly
and are available in most parts of the country
domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital
microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area
and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is
strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership
is increasing
international: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4
submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle
East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian
Ocean)
Broadcast media:
government operates 2 television channels and a radio network;
multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services are
obtainable; 8 private TV stations and about a dozen private radio
stations in operation (2008)
Internet country code:
.lk
Internet hosts:
8,865 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 131
Internet users:
1.777 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 77
Transportation ::Sri Lanka
Airports:
18 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 139
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Railways:
total: 1,449 km
country comparison to the world: 82
broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2007)
Roadways:
total: 91,907 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 54
Waterways:
160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 101
Merchant marine:
total: 22
country comparison to the world: 99
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, petroleum
tanker 3
foreign-owned: 5 (Germany 5) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Colombo
Military ::Sri Lanka
Military branches:
Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 5-year service
obligation (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,493,050
females age 16-49: 5,622,632 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,518,582
females age 16-49: 4,701,942 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 172,081
female: 166,358 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 55