Where is Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka is a small island often referred to as “India’s teardrop” due to its shape and location just off the southeastern coast of India. The country has a population of about 22 million. Of that number, approximately 70% are Buddhist, 12% are Hindu, 10% are Muslim, 6% are Roman Catholic, and only about 1.5% are Protestant.

The two primary ethnic groups in Sri Lanka are the Sinhalese and the Tamils. The Sinhalese practice Buddhism and speak Sinhala. They are predominantly in the southern, central, and western parts of the country and make up about 75% of the population. The Tamils, who are mostly Hindu and speak Tamil, make up roughly 11% of the population and are largely in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

Due to tensions between the Sinhalese, who control the majority of the government, and the Tamils, who sought to create an independent Tamil state in the northeast of the island, civil war broke out in 1983. The war lasted until 2009, when the Sinhalese-majority government regained control of the island. A heavy military presence remains in Tamil-majority areas, with military checkpoints and patrols being commonplace.

Although freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Sri Lankan Constitution, Buddhism is given a foremost place. Sri Lankan Christians sometimes face pressure or persecution from non-Christian family members and local communities, especially in rural and Buddhist-dominated areas.

Some of Sri Lanka’s main industries include agriculture (notably tea, coconut, and rubber), tourism, and information technology (IT). The country also has a significant manufacturing sector, particularly in textiles and apparel.