Sri Lanka

Asia

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India.

		7.8633818N 80.0134277E
President Mahinda Rajapaksa	Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne

Capital
Colombo

Government
Democratic Socialist Republic

Religion
Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10%.

Population
21,513,990

Ethnic group
Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10%.

National Language                   
Sinhala
          
National Day
4 February 1948 (from the UK)

Anthem
"Sri Lanka Matha"

Currency
Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)

Attractions
Anuradhapura,  Dambulla Golden Temple,  Kandy,  Sigiriya 

Website     

Art & Cultural

The ICON

Kuttam Pokuna        One of the best specimen of bathing tanks or pools in ancient Sri Lanka is the pair of pools known as "Kuttam Pokuna" (Twin Ponds/Pools). The said pair of pools were built by the Sinhalese in the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura. These are considered one of the significant achievements in the field of hydrological engineering and outstanding architectural and artistic creations of the ancient Sinhalese.