United States. Central Intelligence Agency

“ The economy rebounded in 1997-2000 with average growth of 5.3%, but 2001 saw the first contraction in the country's history, -1.4%, due to a combination of power shortages, severe budgetary problems, the global slowdown, and continuing civil strife. ”

“ Sri Lankan Ethnic groups: Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1% Religions: Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 7% (1999) 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: 92.3%
male: 94.8%
female: 90% (2003 est.) ”

“ 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 ”

“ Public debt: 105.1% of GDP (2003) Agriculture - products: rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef Industries: rubber processing, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (2003) Electricity - production: 6.36 billion kWh (2001) Electricity - consumption: 5.915 billion kWh (2001) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2001) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2001) Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2001 est.) ”

“ Tamil National Alliance or TNA [R.SAMPANTHAN] ; Tamil United Liberation Front or TULF [V. ANANDASANGAREE] ; United National Party or UNP [Ranil WICKREMASINGHE] ; Up-country People's Front or UPF [P. CHANDRASEKARAN] ; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties, represented in either Parliament or provincial councils Political pressure groups and leaders: Buddhist clergy; labor unions; Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE [Velupillai PRABHAKARAN] (insurgent group fighting for a separate state) ; radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism ”

“ Population growth rate: 0.81% (2004 est.) Birth rate: 15.88 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) Death rate: 6.47 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) Net migration rate: -1.31 migrant (s) /1,000 population (2004 est.) ”

“ Constitution: adopted 16 August 1978 Legal system: a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994) ; note - Mahinda RAJAPAKSE (since 6 April 2004) i s the prime minister; the president is considered both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994) ”