Sri Lanka Statistics

Geography-Population

Capital:  Colombo

Area:  65,610 sq km

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

Population:  21,283,913 (July 2011 est.)

Languages:  Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%. (English is c

Government-Economy

Government type: republic

Independence Day: 4 February 1948 (from the UK)

Currency: Sri Lankan rupees (LKR

GDP: $104.7 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,900 (2010 est.)

Information for Foreign Students in Sri Lanka

Obtaining a Visa

Since visa requirements are different according to the departure country, we highly advise travelers to contact the embassy or to go on its website.

Housing

Link for hotels:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/hotels/Asia/Sri_Lanka/Sri_Lanka-1416785/Hotels_and_Accommodations-Sri_Lanka-TG-C-1.html

Health

Food and waterborne diseases are a primary cause for ill health in travelers. Visitors should only drink bottled water, avoid ice in drinks, and take care to eat well-cooked food. Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travelers to Sri Lanka. Cholera is regarded as a serious risk and precautions are advised, while typhoid is more of a problem in rural areas. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required by travelers coming from infected areas. Malaria, Chikungunya fever, Japanese encephalitis and dengue fever are a risk and protection against mosquito bites is essential. Prophylactics for malaria are also strongly recommended.

Money

MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. American Express is also often accepted. Major cities have ATMs, although not all will accept international cards. The tourist board urges caution when paying by credit card due to the potential for fraud.

Transportation

Buses are usually crowded. Taking a taxi can be a good option, plus it is not expensive.