The Sri Lanka (socialist official name Democratic republic of Sri Lanka , sometimes transcribed in Śri Lanka or Cry Lanka ) is a country of Asia south. Its old name, under the British Empire, was Ceylon . The true flag contains the Surya sun and the Vennilavae moon. Sri Lanka has two official languages, with equal shares, the Cingalais and the Tamoul. But the first being prevalent in greater part of the country, because there is ~85% of the speech of Cingalais, and with the turn of 10-12% of the Tamoul speech. The English is of current use in the governmental and tourist mediums.

History

See also: History of Sri Lanka

This island was named the Taprobane on the chart of Ptolémée. She played a big role in the maritime commercial exchanges of antiquity.

Cingalais, coming from India of North (Goujerat or Orissa), took possession of the island, hitherto occupied by the aboriginals Vedda S, to the VI E. Buddhism is introduced into the island to the III E, probably under the impulse of the Indian emperor Ashoka.

A civilization thrives developed in cities like Anurâdhapura (II E - 1000) and Polonnâruvâ (1070 - 1200). This civilization, with the course 5th century created a hydrological company centered around immense artificial water tanks and peaceful influence of the Bouddhisme. The area of Jaffna, near of the India, known on several occasions, occupation of the king Tamoul S, in particular under the empire of Chola, in India of south. Sri Lanka, thanks to the buddhist monks, is a pay equipped by a written history which covers 25 century. The Mahavamsa (" large the généalogie") is a text written (IVe century) in language faded by the Mahanama Monk, who tells the history of the Singhalese kings and dravidiens of Ceylon (today Sri Lanka). It covers one period which extends from the advent of king Vijaya into 543 before J. - C. with the reign of the king Mahasena (334-361 after J. - C.). The Chulavamsa, or " small the généalogie" this tradition written until XIXe century continued.

The maritime part of the island fell under control from the Portugal at the 16th century, then under that of the Netherlands at the next century, to finish like province of the British Empire in 1796. By the convention of Kandy, English took the control of the island in 1815. The English administration introduced the culture of the in Ceylon, as well as a railway network. Certain historians indicated that English applied the principle of the of dividing to reign by opposing Tamouls (minority) to Cingalais (majority), by the policy of “representation per committee” introduced at the beginning of the 20th century. The racist policies of G.G. Ponnambalam, Tamoul leader, and his Cingalais counterpart, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike started, during the Thirties, of the disorders between the two communities. The first confrontation took place in 1939, after an ignited speech of the leader Tamoul Ponnamabalam. On the other hand, the independence actions were non-violent and had a progressive and constitutional approach.

The second world war delayed the ethnic disorders on the island, and a moderated government, directed by D.S. Senanayake (Prime Minister) declared independence the February 4th 1948. After the death of Senanayake, a nationalist coalition Cingalaise carried out by Bandaranaike gained the elections. The government of S.W.R.D. Banaranaike, with the capacity in 1956, founded Cingalais like only official language. Tamoul, especially the party souverainist Tamoul (Tamilian Arasu Kachchi), used the nationalist feeling of their community, to organize demonstrations against the use of only one official language. The confrontations between the tamouls and cingalais them the Fifties at the years 1970 and especially in 1983 finished by a bipolarisation of the company srilankaise in two hostile groups. The modification of the law in 1977 on the official language, recognizes the tamoul as official language (as well as cingalais), This one arrived too late. At the same time, the democratic leaders Tamouls were under the yoke of the Tamil Tigers of Eelam tamoul, TLET (or LTTE English name). This group eliminated all the Tamoul leaders by assassination with an aim of being the only representatives of the people tamoul . The LTTE also assassinated Indian the Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, because it directed the Indienne army against the LTTE. The method employed was a suicide bombing, method developed and improved by the LTTE in the years 1980. The LTTE used the child-soldiers; it practiced ethnic persecutions, especially against Moors. The LTTE is now an organization proscirt by the law in India, the United States, Canada, European Union, and plusiers different pays.

A civil war opposing the central government and the organization of the Tamil Tigers of Eelam tamoul, became extensive as from 1983. But, fascinating of account the events fronts the war itself, it because death of more than 60.000 people since 1972; this conflict knew a truce between 2002 and 2005, but the confrontations and the attacks began again since the end 2005. The new confrontations between the Government and the LTTE (since August 2007) finished (for the moment) by a victory of the Government. In this moment (at the end of 2007) the presence of the LTTE is limited on two canton (districts) which is called " Killinochchi" (Giranikke in Cingalais) and Mulativu (Mooladoova in Cingalais). Less than 300,000 Tamouls live in an area controlled by the LTTE. Majority of the tamouls resident in the areas in the South (majority Cingalais), especially around the big cities like Colombo, Kandy and Galle.

Sri Lanka was struck by the tsunami of December 26th, 2004. The tsunami there because more than 30.000 victims.

Geography

See also: Geography of Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka is an island located in the Indian Ocean, with 50  km of the India, two countries being separated by the Strait from Palk but almost connected by the Bridge of Adam. Its Superficie is of 65  610 km ² and its population rise with more than 20,4 million inhabitants. Culminating point: the Pidurutalagala mount, with 2524  Mr.

The main cities are Colombo (economic capital, 690.000 inhabitants in 2003), Kandy and Galle. The cities around Colombo are Dehiwela-MT Lavinia (196 000 hab.), Moratuwa (170 000 hab.). The most northern city of the country, Jaffna, (129 000 hab.) is today in the zone disputed between the Tamoul militants and the Government. The political capital is Sri Jayawardenapura (Kotte), located at 15 km north-eastern of Colombo.

Policy

See also: Political of Sri Lanka

The people elect only once a president for a renewable Mandat 6 years. He is at the same time the Head of State, the Head of government and the Commander-in-chief armed forces. The president is responsible before the Parliament for his acts and the respect of the Constitution and the laws. He can be revoked by a vote of the 2/3 of the members of Parliament with the agreement of the Supreme court. The president names and directs a cabinet of Ministre S, which are responsible before the Parliament.

The Parlement Unicaméral of 225 members of Parliament is elected with the Vote for all. The members of Parliament are elected in each province by Scrutin proportional plurinominal for a 6 years mandate. The president can dissolve the Parliament and cause new elections once per annum. The Parliament votes the laws. The president of the Parliament, which is the chief of the majority party at the Parliament, plays the part of Prime Minister.

Sri Lanka is a country in civil war since 1983, and regularly agitated by internal conflicts between the Tigers Tamouls (LTTE: of release of Eelam tamoul) and the government.

Economy

See also: Economy of Sri Lanka

The Gross domestic product (GDP) of Sri Lanka was approximately 27 billion dollars in 2004. During the winter of this same year, a violent one tsunami devastated the country. A painful rebuilding, made all the more difficult by the internal conflicts, was then started. Some economic indicators for 2003:

  • GDP (billion $): 18,2
  • GDP per capita ($, by using the PPPS): 3778
  • Annual growth of PIB/hab. : 3,3% (1990-2003)
  • Annual inflation rate: 6,3%
  • Public expenditure of teaching (1999-2001): 1,3% of the GDP
  • Public expenditure of health (2002): 1,8% of the GDP
  • military Expenditure: 2,7% of the GDP, 93e world rank

Demography

See also: Demography of Sri Lanka

In 2003, the population of Sri Lanka was of 20,4 million. Some demographic data for 2003:

  • Life expectancy: 74 years
  • Rate of elimination of illiteracy of the adults: 90,4%
  • annual demographic Growth rate (1975-2003): 1,3%
  • Index of fruitfulness (2000-2005): 2
  • infantile Death rate: 17/1000
  • Population of less than 15 years: 24,8% of the total
  • Elderly population 65 year old and more: 5,8% of the total
  • Urban population: 21,1%
  • ethnic Composition: 78% of Singhalese, 13% Tamoul (that is to say 8% Tamouls and 5% tamouls of citoyanity Indian), 7% of Moor S
  • IDH in 2006: 0.755,93e

Culture

See also: Culture of Sri Lanka

Bank holidays

Religions

Buddhist 70%, Hindu 8%, Moslem 10%, Christian 12%.

Languages

official languages and main roads: English, Singhalese, tamoul Cingalais 78%, Tamoul 17%, others 5%. (NR. B., Moors Sri lankais speak tamoul).

According to the CIA World fact Book , the ethnic groups are: 73.8% cingalais, 7.2% Moors, 4.6% Tamouls Indian, and 4% Tamouls Sri Lankais.

Others

Important cities:

Archeological sites:

  • Anuradhapura
  • Dambulla
  • Sigiriya
  • Mihintale
  • Polonnaruva, capital of Sri Lanka of the VIIIe at the 14th century

Others:

Personalities sri lankaises

Codes

Sri Lanka has as codes:

See too

Random links:Video Girl Have | Claude de Beauharnais | Its suspect | Evil genius | Laguna Urre Lauquén