- Full Country Name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
- Local Name: Shri Lamka Prajatantrika Samajaya di Janarajaya or Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu
- Capital: Colombo (commerical), Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (official).
- Language: Sinhala (official and national language) (74%), Tamil (official and national language) (18%), other 8%, including English (Commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population).
- Currency: Sri Lanka rupee Rs (LKR) = 100 cents.
- People: Sinhalese (74%), Tamil (18%), Arab or European descent.
- Life Expectancy: Male: 70.6, Female: 75.86.
- Religion: Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 7%, minority Tamils.
- Size (sq km): 65,610 (122nd)
- Population: 20,743,00 (52nd)
- Population Density per sq km: 316 (35th)
- Country Dialling Code: 94
- Internet Country Code: .lk
- Time Zone:GMT +6
- Voltage Guide: 230/240 AC, 50 Hz.
- Finance: Credit cards and traveller's cheques widely accepted.
- Business Hours: 0800-1630 Mon-Friday.
- GDP (PPP): $86.72 billion
- GDP (PPP) per Capita: $4,300
- Personal Safety: Politically volatile. Separatist guerrilla war by the Tamil Tigers periodically sweeps across the north and east, and sometimes causes attacks in main cities. Seek latest information at time of visit.