Profile

As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972.

Overview

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The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century BC, probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-third century BC, and a great civilisation developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 BC to circa 1000 AD) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200).

A short history

the Tamils have been in Sri Lanka from the earliest times because migration was quite common in the pre-Christian and post-Christian eras.

From India (particularly South India) traders, religious preachers and soldiers kept coming into Sri Lanka from the earliest times.

Both Sinhala and Tamil languages developed out of local and Indian influences.The Sinhala language shows a lot of Sanskritic or North Indian influence mainly because of Buddhism which uses Pali as its sacred language.

The Tamil language shows less of Sanskritic influence. The Tamils, who were mostly Siva worshipping Hindus, used Tamil and not Sanskrit for religious purposes.

For reasons of physical proximity, the Northern part of Sri Lanka showed more Tamil influence than the rest of the island. Later, the coastal region of the East also became Tamil speaking because of trade with south India and the traders' settlements there.

As Ceylon, Sri Lanka became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority erupted in violence in the mid-1980s.

The violence has damaged the economy and harmed tourism in what is one of South Asia's more advanced and potentially prosperous societies. Tens of thousands have died in an ethnic war that continues to fester.

After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam began a ceasefire in December 2001, with Norway brokering peace negotiations.

A ceasefire and a political agreement was reached between the government and rebels in late 2002.

Facts

Population: 19.2 million (UN, 2004)
Capital: Colombo (commercial), Sri Jayawardenepura (administrative)
Area: 65,610 sq km (25,332 sq miles)
Major languages: Sinhala, Tamil, English
Major religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity
Life expectancy: 70 years (men), 76 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Sri Lankan rupee = 100 cents
Main exports: Clothing and textiles, tea, gems, rubber, coconuts
GNI per capita: US $930 (World Bank, 2003)
International dialling code: +94