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Country Fact File : Sri Lanka
Volunteer with Elephants and Communities in Sri Lanka
Head for the rolling hills to escape the heat of the plains in the cool of tea plantations. The entire island is teeming with bird life, and exotics like elephants and leopards are not uncommon. To top it all off, the people are friendly, the food is delicious and costs are low. Marco Polo considered Sri Lanka the finest island of its size in all the world, and you'll likely agree after exploring the country's fabled delights. What takes your fancy? Beaches? The coastal stretch south of Colombo offers palm-lined sandy expanses as far as the eye can see. Culture? Try the Kandyan dances, a procession of elephants or the masked devil dances. Ruins? You'll find enough ancient and inspiring architecture in the cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa to satisfy that inner archaeologist.
| Location | Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India |
| Area | 65,610 sq km |
| Border Countries | None |
| 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 |
| Highest Point | Pidurutalagala 2,524 m |
| Natural Hazards | Occasional cyclones and tornadoes |
| Environmental 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 |
| Population | 19,905,165 |
| Ethnic Groups | Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1% |
| Religions | Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 7% (1999) |
| Languages | Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% |
| Type of Government | Republic |
| Capital | Colombo |
| Independence Day | 4 February 1948 (from UK) |
| Chief of State/ Head of Government |
Chief of State: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994); note - Mahinda RAJAPAKSE (since 6 April 2004) is the prime minister; the president is considered both the chief of state and head of government |
| Currency | Sri Lankan rupee |
| Time | GMT +5.5 |
Useful Numbers & Web Addresses
International dialing code: +94
Police tel: 1 691095 / 699935
Ambulance tel: 1 691095 / 699935
British Embassy: British High Commission, 190 Galle Road, Kollupitiya, (PO Box 1433), Colombo 3. Tel: (94) (11) 2437336-43. Email: bhc@eureka.lk
Embassy in UK: 13 Hyde Park Gardens, London W2 2LU. Tel: (020) 7262 1841–7. Email: mail@slhc.globalnet.co.uk
01727 250250
Duration and Costs
| Duration | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2 Weeks | £735 |
| 4 Weeks | £995 |
| 6 Weeks | £1280 |
| 8 Weeks | £1565 |
| 10 Weeks | £1695 |
| 12 Weeks | £1975 |
| Group Size |
|---|
| Maximum six, plus project staff. |
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