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A. Climate

Because Sri Lanka is situated near the equator, the climate is generally hot and humid. The hill and mountain areas, however, are cool, and the humidity is relatively lower in the dry zone. The average annual temperature is about 32°C (about 90°F) in the lowlands and about 21°C (about 70°F) in the higher mountainous regions.

Precipitation is characterized by wide seasonal and regional variations. The monsoon season in the southwest is from May to November, at which time the rainfall is exceptionally heavy. In the northern dry zone the main precipitation of about 1,020 mm (about 40 in) annually occurs during the monsoon season, which begins in the first week of November. Most crops in the dry zone, however, require irrigation. The hills and the lowlands of the southwestern section, which is known as the wet zone, normally have some rainfall throughout the year, but peaks occur in May and June and in October and November.


B. Natural Resources

The natural resources of Sri Lanka are chiefly agricultural, but most of the land is not easily cultivated. The mineral deposits of the country are limited.


C. Plants and Animals


Sri Lanka is noted for the beauty and variety of its vegetation. Dense tropical jungles occupy extensive areas in the southwest, and the upper mountain slopes are thickly forested. Many varieties of palm, including the areca, coconut, and palmyra, flourish in the lowlands along the coast. Mangroves and screw pines abound in coastal areas. Numerous varieties of timber trees, notably mahogany and many species of resin-yielding fruit trees, are indigenous to the wet zone. Among the timber trees that are common in the drier sections of the island are ebony and satinwood. Ferns, water hyacinths, orchids, acacias, eucalyptus trees, and cypresses flourish in various regions.

The animal life of Sri Lanka is diverse and includes many species that may be in danger of extinction, such as the cheetah, leopard, several species of monkey, and elephant. The island also contains numerous species of birds and reptiles.

III. Population

About 74 percent of the population of Sri Lanka is of Sinhalese descent. The largest minority groups are the Sri Lankan Tamils and the Indian Tamils, which together account for about 18 percent of the population. The remaining population includes the descendants of Moors (Arabs), Burghers (Dutch), Malays, and Veddas.


A. Population Characteristics

The population of Sri Lanka (2000 estimate) is 19,355,053, yielding an overall population density of 295 persons per sq km (747 per sq mi).


B. Political Divisions

Sri Lanka is divided into 9 provinces and 25 administrative districts. Each district is headed by an appointed district minister.


C. Principal Cities

Only 23 percent of Sri Lanka's population lives in urban communities. Colombo is the largest city. Most of the foreign trade of the island is routed through its commercial capital Colombo, and the city has been an important fueling station for ships that pass through the Suez Canal. Other important urban areas are the rapidly expanding suburb of Colombo, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia; the seaport of Jaffna; Sri Jayawardenepura, the administrative capital; the ancient capital city of Kandy; and the tea-producing community of Galle.

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