Sri Lanka:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Sri Lanka:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition 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 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. Tens of thousands have died in the ethnic conflict that continues to fester. 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 and the government regained control of the Eastern Province in 2007. In January 2008, the government officially withdrew from the ceasefire, and has begun engaging the LTTE in the northern portion of the country.

Location	Definition Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Geographic coordinates	Definition 7 00 N, 81 00 E
Map references	Definition Asia
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 65,610 sq km land: 64,740 sq km water: 870 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries	Definition 0 km
Coastline	Definition 1,340 km
Maritime claims	Definition 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	Definition tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Terrain	Definition mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Natural resources	Definition limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 13.96% permanent crops: 15.24% other: 70.8% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 7,430 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	Definition 50 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 12.61 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%) per capita: 608 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards	Definition occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Environment - current issues	Definition 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	Definition 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	Definition strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

Sri Lanka: Geography

Sri Lanka:
Geography