Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)
Muslim 100%
Languages
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya
Exports
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products, rubber manufactures, fish
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum
External Debt
$22,810,000,000 $
$2,816,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - 108.33 (2008), 110.78 (2007), 103.99 (2006), 100.498 (2005), 101.194 (2004)
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.600%
5.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Area
65,610 km sq
1,030,700 km sq
Coastline
1,340 km
754 km
Climate
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
