Sri Lanka Permanent Virtual Exhibition and Business Directory

Known as "Serendip" to Arab geographers, the island of Sri Lanka came under Portuguese and Dutch control before it became the Crown Colony of Ceylon in 1815.

The population of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is approximately 74% Sinhalese - Sri Lankan Tamils, whose ancestors emigrated to Sri Lanka centuries ago, comprise about 12% of the population, and both Sinhala and Tamil are official languages.

The use of English has declined since independence, but many middle and upper class Sri Lankans continue to speak it, particularly in Colombo. Sri Lanka's 91% literacy rate and life expectancy (75 years) rank well above those of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. The country gained its independence from Britain in 1948.

Sri Lanka’s natural resources include gems, graphite, limestone, mineral sands and phosphate. The country’s agricultural output includes coconut, rice, rubber, spices and tea.

Sri Lankan companies are active in a number of industries, including chemicals, construction, financial services, food processing, garments and leather goods, gems and jewelry, refined petroleum, rubber products, tourism and transport. The country’s key export markets are the USA, the UK and India.

Sri Lanka’s GDP grew by 8% in 2010, and official foreign reserves reached $6.6 billion. The country’s foreign direct investment target for 2011 is $1 billion, including investments in the tourism sector.

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