Sri Lanka

Introduction ::Sri Lanka

Background:

The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the island were controlled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire in February 2002 with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006, but the government regained control of the Eastern Province in 2007. By May 2009, the government announced that its military had defeated the remnants of the LTTE. Since the end of the conflict, the government has enacted an ambitious program of economic development projects, many of which are financed by loans from the Government of China. In addition to efforts to reconstruct its economy, the government has resettled more than 95% of those civilians who were displaced during the final phase of the conflict and released the vast majority of former LTTE combatants captured by Government Security Forces. At the same time, there has been little progress on more contentious and politically difficult issues such as reaching a political settlement with Tamil elected representatives and holding accountable those alleged to have been involved in human rights violations at the end of the war.

Geography ::Sri Lanka

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

7 00 N, 81 00 E

Area:

total: 65,610 sq km

country comparison to the world: 122

land: 64,630 sq km

water: 980 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,340 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

Terrain:

mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Natural resources:

limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 18.29%

permanent crops: 14.94%

other: 66.77% (2011)

Irrigated land:

5,700 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

52.8 cu km (2011)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 12.95 cu km/yr (6%/6%/87%)

per capita: 638.8 cu m/yr (2005)

Natural hazards:

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

People and Society ::Sri Lanka

Nationality:

noun: Sri Lankan(s)

adjective: Sri Lankan

Ethnic groups:

Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Languages:

Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%

note: English, spoken competently by about 10% of the population, is commonly used in government and is referred to as the link language in the constitution

Religions:

Buddhist (official) 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Population:

21,675,648 (July 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24.8% (male 2,741,879/female 2,632,613)

15-24 years: 15.1% (male 1,659,566/female 1,615,616)

25-54 years: 42.4% (male 4,484,738/female 4,697,355)

55-64 years: 9.3% (male 939,174/female 1,084,108)

65 years and over: 8.4% (male 778,629/female 1,041,970) (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios:

total dependency ratio: 50.7 %

youth dependency ratio: 37.9 %

elderly dependency ratio: 12.8 %

potential support ratio: 7.8 (2013)

Median age:

total: 31.4 years

male: 30.3 years

female: 32.5 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.89% (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 126

Birth rate:

16.64 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 120

Death rate:

6.01 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 162

Net migration rate:

-1.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 157

Urbanization:

urban population: 15.1% of total population (2011)

rate of urbanization: 1.36% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas - population:

COLOMBO (capital) 681,000 (2009)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth:

22.6

note: Median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2000 est.)

Maternal mortality rate:

35 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

country comparison to the world: 119

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.24 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 147

male: 10.21 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 8.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.15 years

country comparison to the world: 83

male: 72.64 years

female: 79.79 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.15 children born/woman (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 107

Contraceptive prevalence rate:

68% (2006/07)

Health expenditures:

3% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 179

Physicians density:

0.49 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

Hospital bed density:

3.1 beds/1,000 population (2004)

Drinking water source:

improved:

urban: 99% of population

rural: 90% of population

total: 91% of population

unimproved:

urban: 1% of population

rural: 10% of population

total: 9% of population (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access:

improved:

urban: 88% of population

rural: 93% of population

total: 92% of population

unimproved:

urban: 12% of population

rural: 7% of population

total: 8% of population (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 132

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,800 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 129

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 102

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A

vectorborne disease: dengue fever

water contact disease: leptospirosis

animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate:

5.1% (2008)

country comparison to the world: 155

Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

21.6% (2009)

country comparison to the world: 27

Education expenditures:

2% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 166

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 91.2%

male: 92.6%

female: 90% (2010 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 14 years (2011)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 19.4%

country comparison to the world: 61

male: 16.3%

female: 24.7% (2010)

Government ::Sri Lanka

Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

conventional short form: Sri Lanka

local long form: Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu

local short form: Shri Lanka/Ilankai

former: Serendib, Ceylon

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Colombo

geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 79 50 E

time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

note: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

Independence:

4 February 1948 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 February (1948)

Constitution:

adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; amended many times, most recently in 2010

Legal system:

mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and Jaffna Tamil customary law

International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Dissanayake Mudiyanselage JAYARATNE holds the largely ceremonial title of prime minister (since 21 April 2010)

head of government: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister

(For more information visit the World Leaders website )

elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term, eligible for a second term; election last held on 26 January 2010 (next to be held in 2016)

election results: Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA reelected president for second term; percent of vote - Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA 57.88%, Sarath FONSEKA 40.15%, other 1.97%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of an open-list, proportional representation system by electoral district to serve six-year terms)

elections: last held on 8 April 2010 with a repoll in two electorates held on 20 April 2010 (next to be held by April 2016)

election results: percent of vote by alliance or party - United People's Freedom Alliance 60.93%, United National Party 29.34%, Democratic National Alliance 5.49%, Tamil National Alliance 2.9%, other 1.34%; seats by alliance or party - United People's Freedom Alliance 144, United National Party 60, Tamil National Alliance 14, Democratic National Alliance 7

Judicial branch:

highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 10 justices); note - the court has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation

judge selection and term of office: the chief justice appointed by the president; the other justices appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; all justices hold office until age 65

subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrate's Courts; municipal and primary courts

Political parties and leaders:

Coalitions and leaders: Democratic National Alliance, led by General (Retired) Sarath FONSEKA

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Somawansa AMARASINGHE]

Tamil National Alliance led by Illandai Tamil Arasu Kachchi [R. SAMPANTHAN]

United National Front led by United National Party [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE]

United People's Freedom Alliance led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party [Mahinda RAJAPAKSA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Buddhist clergy

labor unions

hard-line nationalist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism

Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jaliya Chitran WICKRAMASURIYA

chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] [phone] through 4028

FAX: [1] [phone]

consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michele J. SISON

embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3

mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo

telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500

FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345

Flag description:

yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green the Sri Lankan Moors; dark red represents the European Burghers, but also refers to the rich colonial background of the country; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag

National symbol(s):

lion

National anthem:

name: ""Sri Lanka Matha"" (Mother Sri Lanka)

lyrics/music: Ananda SAMARKONE

note: adopted 1951

Economy ::Sri Lanka

Economy - overview:

Sri Lanka continues to experience strong economic growth following the end of the 26-year conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The government has been pursuing large-scale reconstruction and development projects in its efforts to spur growth in war-torn and disadvantaged areas, develop small and medium enterprises and increase agricultural productivity. The government's high debt payments and bloated civil service have contributed to historically high budget deficits, but fiscal consolidation efforts and strong GDP growth in recent years have helped bring down the government's fiscal deficit. However, low tax revenues are a major concern. The 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession exposed Sri Lanka''s economic vulnerabilities and nearly caused a balance of payments crisis. Growth slowed to 3.5% in 2009. Economic activity rebounded with the end of the war and an IMF agreement, resulting in two straight years of 8% growth in 2010-11. Growth moderated to about 6% in 2012. Agriculture slowed due to a drought and weak global demand affected exports and trade. In early 2012, Sri Lanka floated the rupee, resulting in a sharp depreciation, and took steps to curb imports. A large trade deficit remains a concern. Strong remittances from Sri Lankan workers abroad have helped to offset the trade deficit.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$128.4 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 67

$120.6 billion (2011 est.)

$111.4 billion (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$59.41 billion (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.4% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 37

8.2% (2011 est.)

8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$6,200 (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 146

$5,900 (2011 est.)

$5,500 (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

Gross national saving:

23.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

22.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

25.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use:

household consumption: 69.6%

government consumption: 13.5%

investment in fixed capital: 28.9%

investment in inventories: 1.8%

exports of goods and services: 22.8%

imports of goods and services: -36.5%

(2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

agriculture: 11.1%

industry: 31.5%

services: 57.5% (2012 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, vegetables, fruit, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish

Industries:

processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction

Industrial production growth rate:

10.3% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

Labor force:

8.194 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 58

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 31.8%

industry: 25.8%

services: 42.4% (June 2012)

Unemployment rate:

5.2% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 47

4.2% (2011 est.)

Population below poverty line:

8.9% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.6%

highest 10%: 39.5% (2009)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

49 (2010)

country comparison to the world: 24

46 (1995)

Budget:

revenues: $7.868 billion

expenditures: $11.63 billion (2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:

13.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 199

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-6.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 183

Public debt:

77.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

78.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

note: covers central government debt, and excludes debt instruments directly owned by government entities other than the treasury (e.g. commercial bank borrowings of a government corporation); the data includes treasury debt held by foreign entities as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement; sub-national entities are usually not permitted to sell debt instruments

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.5% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 182

6.7% (2011 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

7.5% (19 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 37

7% (31 December 2011 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.25% (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 95

9.41% (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$3.539 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 110

$3.852 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money:

$21.89 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

$18.88 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$28.86 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 72

$26.53 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$16.92 billion (31 December 2012)

country comparison to the world: 65

$19.44 billion (31 December 2011)

$19.92 billion (31 December 2010)

Current account balance:

-$4.737 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 164

-$4.638 billion (2011 est.)

Exports:

$9.785 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 95

$10.56 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities:

textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish

Exports - partners:

US 22.6%, UK 9.8%, India 6.4%, Belgium 5.2%, Germany 4.8%, Italy 4.3% (2012)

Imports:

$17.32 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

$18.24 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

India 21.3%, China 16.5%, Singapore 8.6%, Iran 7.7%, UAE 4.4%, Malaysia 4.3% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$6.831 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 83

$6.748 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Debt - external:

$26.87 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 76

$23.98 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -

127.6 (2012 est.)

110.57 (2011 est.)

113.06 (2010 est.)

114.95 (2009)

108.33 (2008)

Energy ::Sri Lanka

Electricity - production:

11.52 billion kWh (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 91

Electricity - consumption:

10 billion kWh (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 89

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 168

Electricity - installed generating capacity:

3.139 million kW (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 87

Electricity - from fossil fuels:

53.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 147

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 61

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

44.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 49

Electricity - from other renewable sources:

1.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

Crude oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 117

Crude oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 92

Crude oil - imports:

41,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 59

Crude oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 115

Refined petroleum products - production:

50,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 84

Refined petroleum products - consumption:

89,620 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 81

Refined petroleum products - exports:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 162

Refined petroleum products - imports:

48,140 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 68

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 111

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 127

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 75

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 172

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 120

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

14.09 million Mt (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 90

Communications ::Sri Lanka

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.832 million (2013)

country comparison to the world: 52

Telephones - mobile cellular:

19.336 million (2013)

country comparison to the world: 49

Telephone system:

general assessment: telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country

domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing

international: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)

Broadcast media:

government operates 8 TV channels and a radio network; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 35 private TV stations and about 50 radio stations (2012)

Internet country code:

.lk

Internet hosts:

9,552 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 136

Internet users:

1.777 million (2009)

country comparison to the world: 77

Transportation ::Sri Lanka

Airports:

19 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 138

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15

over 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m:

3 (2013)

Heliports:

1 (2013)

Railways:

total: 1,449 km

country comparison to the world: 80

broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2007)

Roadways:

total: 91,907 km (2008)

country comparison to the world: 51

Waterways:

160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2012)

country comparison to the world: 101

Merchant marine:

total: 21

country comparison to the world: 94

by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 13, chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 2

foreign-owned: 8 (Germany 8) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Colombo

Military ::Sri Lanka

Military branches:

Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force (2013)

Military service age and obligation:

18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 5-year service obligation (Air Force) (2012)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,342,147

females age 16-49: 5,466,409 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,177,432

females age 16-49: 4,574,833 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 167,026

female: 162,587 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.9% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 42

Transnational Issues ::Sri Lanka

Disputes - international:

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 118,376 (civil war; more than half displaced prior to 2008; many of the more than 470,000 IDPs registered as returnees had not reached durable solutions as of September 2012) (2012)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Sri Lanka is primarily a source and, to a much lesser extent, a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; some Sri Lankan adults and children who migrate willingly to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Malaysia, and Singapore to work as domestic servants, construction workers, or garment factory workers face conditions indicative of forced labor; some Sri Lankan women are forced into prostitution in Jordan, Singapore, Maldives, and other countries; within Sri Lanka, women and children are subjected to sex trafficking in brothels, while other children are forced to work in the agriculture, fireworks, and fish-drying industries

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Sri Lanka does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; law enforcement efforts and victim protection, particularly identification, are very weak, with no reported prosecutions or convictions under the country's penal code article prohibiting human trafficking; government employees' complicity in trafficking offenses remains a problem; the government has not approved its draft standard operating procedures for identifying trafficking victims and referring them to protective services, consequently, victims may have been punished for crimes committed as a direct result of being trafficked; the government adopted an anti-trafficking action plan in 2012 (2013)"