Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Geographic coordinates: 7° 0' N, 81° 0' E
Coastline km: 1,340 km km
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
Elevation: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Natural hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)
Population: 20,222,240 (July 2006 est.)
Languages: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%
Capital: Colombo
Divisions: 8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western