World  > Indian Subcontinent  > Sri Lanka
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General Information Area: 65,525 sq km (25,299 sq miles). Population: 19,043,000 (official estimate 1999). Population Density: 290.6 per sq km. Capital: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (official); Colombo (commercial). Population: 2,281,000 (1998). Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is only 10km (6 miles) from Colombo. GEOGRAPHY: Sri Lanka is an island off the southeast coast of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is separated from India by the Indian Ocean, in which lies the chain of islands called Adam’s Bridge. Sri Lanka has an irregular surface with low-lying coastal plains running inland from the northern and eastern shores. The central and southern areas slope into hills and mountains. The highest peak is Pidurutalagala (2524m/8281ft). Government: Democratic Socialist Republic since 1978. Gained independence from the UK in 1948. Head of State: President Chandrika Kumaratunga since 1994. Head of Government: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe since 2001. Language: Sinhala, Tamil and English. Religion: Buddhist majority, with Hindu, Christian and Muslim minorities. Time: GMT + 6. Electricity: 230/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Round three-pin plugs are usual, with bayonet lamp fittings. Communications:   Telephone IDD facilities are available to the principal cities. Country code: 94. Outgoing international code: 00. Phone cards are available at post offices and shops. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network. Network operators include Celltel Infiniti (website: www.celltel.lk), Lanka Cellular Services (Pte) Ltd and Dialog GSM (website: www.dialog.lk). Fax The General Post Office in Colombo (address below) provides a service. Many hotels also have facilities. Internet Internet cafes provide public access to Internet and e-mail services. ISPs include Pan Lanka Networking P.L. (website: www.panlanka.net). Telegram These can be sent from all post offices. Post Airmail to Europe takes up to a week. The main post office in Colombo is opposite the President’s house: General Post Office, Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 1. Press Daily newspapers published in English include the Daily News, The Island and The Observer. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.31 11.96 6.195 1.413 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 17.74 11.71 9.645 6.110 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.