Full country name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Population: 19 million

Border countries: Sri Lanka is an island off the south-eastern cost shores of

India, 880 km north of the equator, in the Indian Ocean.

Climate: low lands – tropical, average 27C, central hills – cooler, with temperatures dropping to 14C.

Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain, mountains in south-central interior.

Natural hazards: the south-west monsoon brings rain to the western, southern and central regions from May to July, while the north-eastern monsoon occurs in the north and east in December and January.

Cost of living: dependent on the area in which you stay, but usually the cost of living is low.

Utilities: the used voltage of electricity is 230V-240V and 50 cycles of Alternating Current (AC); bottled water is widely available throughout the country.

Internet domain: .lk

People: Sihalese - 74%; Tamil - 18%; Muslim - 7%; Burgher (descendants of Dutch and Portuguese colonist) and others - 1%

Major religion: Buddhism - 70%; Hinduism - 16%; Christianity - 7%; Islam -7%

Local etiquette: when entering places of worship visitors are advised to be properly clad. Briefs, shorts, bare backs and bare shoulders are against accepted norms. When entering Buddhist and Hindu shrines, footwear and headgear should be removed.

Type of government: Sri Lanka has a multi-party system, and the people vote to elect a new government every six years.

Major political parties: Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) (President’s party and largest government party), United National Party (UNP) (main opposition party), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Tamil National Alliance, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC).

Currency: Sri Lanka follows a decimal currency system in Rupees (Rs.) and cents (Cts.) with 100 cents equal to a rupee.

Type of economy: market-based

Unemployment rate: 5.2%. Sri Lanka’s labour force is around seven million.

Main exports: rubber, tea, coconuts, clothing and textiles, tobacco