INTRODUCTION

Government of Sri Lanka, is an independent and sovereign nation with a population of 20.3 million (2011 est). Legislative power is exercised by a Parliament, elected by universal franchise on proportional representation basis. 

A President, who is also elected by the people, exercises executive power including defense. Sri Lanka enjoys a multi party system, and the people vote to elect a new government every six years



Brief  History

Recent excavations show that even during the Neolithic Age, there were food gatherers and rice cultivators in Sri Lanka. Very little is known of this period documented history began with the arrival of the Aryans from North India. The Aryans introduced the use of iron and an advanced form of agriculture and irrigation. They also introduced the art of government. Of the Aryan settlements, Anuradhapura grew into a powerful kingdom under the rule of king Pandukabhaya. According to traditional history he is accepted as the founder of Anuradhapura.

During the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa, a descendant of Pandukabhaya, Buddhism was introduced in 247 B.C. by Arahat Mahinda, the son of Emperor Asoka of India. This is the most important event in Sri Lankan history as it set the country on the road to cultural greatness. As a new civilization flourished Sri Lanka became rich and prosperous.In the mid 2nd century B.C. a large part of north Sri Lanka came under the rule of an invader from South India.

 From the beginning of the Christian era and up to the end of the 4th century A.D. Sri Lanka was governed by an unbroken dynasty called Lambakarna, which paid great attention to the development of irrigation. A great king of this dynasty, Mahasen (3rd century A.D.) started the construction of large `tanks’ or irrigation reservoirs. Another great `tank’ builder was Dhatusena, who was put to death by his son Kasyapa who made Sigiriya a royal city with his fortress capital on the summit of the rock.As a result of invasions from South India the kingdom of Anuradhapura fell by the end of the 10th century.

A.D. Vijayabahu 1 repulsed the invaders and established his capital at Polonnaruwa in the 11th century A.D. Other great kings of Polonnaruwa were Parakrama Bahu the Great and Nissanka Malla both of whom adorned the city with numerous buildings of architectural beauty.Invasion was intermittent and the capital was moved constantly until the Portuguese arrived in 1505, when the chief city was established at Kotte, in the western lowlands. The Portuguese came to trade in spices but stayed to rule until 1656 in the coastal regions, as did the Dutch thereafter. Dutch rule lasted from 1656 to 1796, in which year they were displaced by the British. 

During this period the highland Kingdom, with its capital in Kandy, retained its independence despite repeated assaults by foreign powers who ruled the rest of the country. In 1815 the kingdom of Kandy was ceded to the British and thus they established their rule over the whole island. Modern communications, western medical services, education in English, as well as the plantation industry (first coffee then tea, rubber and coconut) developed during British rule. By a process of peaceful, constitutional evolution, Sri Lanka won back her independence in 1948 and is now a sovereign republic, with membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations Organization.




Economy

Sri Lanka is an agricultural country. The major crop is rice with which the country is almost self sufficient. Tea, rubber and coconut are also important agricultural crops, with tea being a major foreign exchange earner.In addition, other crops of importance are cocoa and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, pepper and cloves. Fruit and vegetables, native to both tropical and temperate regions, grow well in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is also a major exporter of precious and semi-precious stones. Within the last few years remittances from Sri Lankans employed abroad have contributed a large share towards foreign exchange.The last three decades have seen tourism emerge as an important industry. There has also been a rapid growth in manufacturing industries which offer a wide range of export goods such as petroleum products, leather goods, ready made garments and electronic equipment.

Basic Data.

        Name         Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

        Capital                 Sri Jayewardenepura

        Commercial Capital         Colombo

        Languages         Sinhala & Tamil 

        Literacy Rate         92.7%


Location

North Latitude   5° 55° -     9° 50° 

East Longitude   79° 31° -   81° 53° 


Distance

North to South 433 km

West to East         226 km 

Elevation                        2,525 m


Area

Total area                          65,610 sq/km.

Land area                          62,705 sq/km.

Inland waters                    2,905  sq/km.


Climate

                   Min.    Max.

Low country         24.7° C  32.3° C

Hill country          18.5° C  27.7° C


Annual rainfall (average) 2019    2,054mm

                  2020  1,613mm

Ethnic Mix

Sihalese         74.9 %

Tamil         15.4 %

Muslim          9.2 %

Burgher & others 0.5 %


Religion

        Buddhism     70.19 %

        Hinduism      12.61 %

        Christianity      7.45 %

         Islam      9.71 %


THANK YOU & COME AGAIN

Source :     Sri Lnakan Government  Gezette 2020 & Sri Lnakan Government Website