Country Name Sri Lanka
Size 65,525 sq km
Location An island off the south-eastern cost shores of India, 880 km north of the equator, in the Indian Ocean.
Capital Sri Jayawardenepura
Commercial Capital Colombo Government Sri Lanka is a free, independent and sovereign nation with a population of 20,926,315 million (July 2007 est.).
Legislative power is exercised by a Parliament, elected by universal franchise on proportional representation basis. A President, who is also elected by the people, exercises executive power inclusive of defence. Sri Lanka enjoys a multi party system, and the people vote to elect a new government every six years.
National Flag National Flag of Sri Lanka is the Lion Flag. A Lion bearing a sword in its right hand is depicted in gold on red background with a yellow border. Four Bo leaves pointing inwards are at the four corners. Two vertical bands of green and orange at the left end represent the minority ethnic groups. It is an adaptation of the standard of the last King of Sri Lanka.

THE SACRED CITY OF ANURADHAPURA 5 BC
THE MEDIEVAL CAPITAL OF POLONNARUWA 10 AD
THE CAVE TEMPLES OF DAMBULLA 1 BC
THE SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS 5 AD
THE ROYAL CITY OF KANDY 15 AD
THE DUTCH FORTIFICATIONS AT GALLE 17 AD
THE SINHARAJA FOREST RESERVE

Royal and sacred cities, colonial
strongholds, temple caves and virgin forests – with no fewer than seven World Heritage Sites declared and listed by UNESCO, Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s richest treasure troves of both natural and man-made wonders.

Six of these marvels span some 2,500 years of history – from the sacred city of Anuradhapura and the cave temples of Dambulla, to the magnificent temples and palaces of the royal city of Kandy. The Dutch fortification at Galle has the added distinction of being a living World Heritage Site.

But the seventh jewel in Sri Lanka’s heritage crown owes nothing to man and everything to nature: the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a biodiversity hotspot, with its own unique eco-system consisting of protected birds, flora and fauna. The country’s former royal capital, Kandy, the archaeological sites at Polonnaruw, Sigiriya – the palace in the sky – form Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle – a world of ancient wonders.

Spiritually inspiring, year after year, visitors from around the world make their personal pilgrimages to the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.

Aquatic Life
With cascading waterfalls and as many as 103 rivers, all major groups of vertebrates can be found in Sri Lanka. Of these, the highest endemic species are found in the amphibian and reptile group. Most of the 107 species of fish are found in marsh and river dwelling.The 39 endemic species – the Carplet group – being restricted to the perennial streams of the wet zone. The British introduced trout into the clear, cold streams of Horton Plains. Of the 54 species of amphibians, 33 are endemic to the island. According to ongoing research, the largest number of endemic amphibian fauna in the world may soon be found in Sri Lanka. One endemic genus, the Nannophyrus, with three species, is common in the wet zone living on rock ledges, covered by a continuous trickle of water, and sharing the same habitat with tadpoles.

Maritime Turtles Watching
Marine turtles were roaming the oceans for about 190 million years. Among the many different varieties of this species only eight reptiles are found living today. Of the eight, Sri Lanka is famous for five kinds of turtles who regularly visit the sandy beaches to nest in the south-western and south-eastern beaches. Turtles are best seen in the nights.