Sri Lanka
At a glance
- Official languages
- Tamil, Sinhala
- Currency
- Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)
- Government
- Republic
- Legislature
- Parliament of Sri Lanka
- Demonym
- Sri Lankan
- Time zone
- UTC+05:30
- Driving side
- Left
- Calling code
- +94
- Internet TLD
- .lk, .இலங்கை
- ISO 3166
- LK
- Established
- 1972
- Highest point
- Pidurutalagala (2,524 m (8,281 ft))
- National anthem
- Sri Lanka Matha
Facts via Wikidata.
Economy and developmentUpper middle income
Ranks are among sovereign countries with data; ★ marks a top-5% finish. Sources: World Bank Open Data and Our World in Data (UNDP, UN, V-Dem; CC BY 4.0). Each figure is the most recent year available.
Alliances & Organisations2 full memberships
Full memberDashed border = Candidate / ApplicantItalic = Dialogue / Observer
Leadership History21 leaders · click to expand
Executive Presidency
Harini Amarasuriya✦ Current
2024–PresentPrime Minister
Anura Kurankan Dissanayake✦ Current
2024–PresentPresident
Anura Kumara Dissanayake
2024–2024President
Ranil Wickremesinghe
2022–2024President
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
2019–2022President
Maithripala Sirisena
2015–2019President
Mahinda Rajapaksa
2005–2015President
Chandrika Kumaratunga
1994–2005President
Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
1993–1994President
Ranasinghe Premadasa
1989–1993President
J.R. Jayewardene
1978–1989President
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Harini Amarasuriya✦ Current | Prime Minister | 2024–Present |
| Anura Kurankan Dissanayake✦ Current | President | 2024–Present |
| Anura Kumara Dissanayake | President | 2024–2024 |
| Ranil Wickremesinghe | President | 2022–2024 |
| Gotabaya Rajapaksa | President | 2019–2022 |
| Maithripala Sirisena | President | 2015–2019 |
| Mahinda Rajapaksa | President | 2005–2015 |
| Chandrika Kumaratunga | President | 1994–2005 |
| Dingiri Banda Wijetunga | President | 1993–1994 |
| Ranasinghe Premadasa | President | 1989–1993 |
| J.R. Jayewardene | President | 1978–1989 |
Republic
J.R. Jayewardene
1977–1978Prime Minister
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
1970–1977Prime Minister
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| J.R. Jayewardene | Prime Minister | 1977–1978 |
| Sirimavo Bandaranaike | Prime Minister | 1970–1977 |
Dominion of Ceylon
Dudley Senanayake
1965–1970Prime Minister
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
1960–1965Prime Minister
Dudley Senanayake
1960–1960Prime Minister
Wijeyananda Dahanayake
1959–1960Prime Minister
S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike
1956–1959Prime Minister
John Kotelawala
1953–1956Prime Minister
Dudley Senanayake
1952–1953Prime Minister
D.S. Senanayake
1947–1952Prime Minister
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Dudley Senanayake | Prime Minister | 1965–1970 |
| Sirimavo Bandaranaike | Prime Minister | 1960–1965 |
| Dudley Senanayake | Prime Minister | 1960–1960 |
| Wijeyananda Dahanayake | Prime Minister | 1959–1960 |
| S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike | Prime Minister | 1956–1959 |
| John Kotelawala | Prime Minister | 1953–1956 |
| Dudley Senanayake | Prime Minister | 1952–1953 |
| D.S. Senanayake | Prime Minister | 1947–1952 |
Power over timeThe Power Atlas →
The powerline is the headline share of world power, running from the state’s first ranked year (benchmark estimates with wide error bars before 1816). Latent power is material mass a state could mobilise (population, manpower, heavy industry). Recognised power is what the system actually treats it as (military spending, productive economy, reach, and status such as a Security Council seat or nuclear arsenal). When latent runs above recognised, a power is rising or under-rated; when recognised runs higher, it is punching above its weight or coasting on prestige. Material sub-indices run 1816 through 2016.
National Teams
Sri Lanka on the international stage. Click a card for the full record.
National Teams Champions
Every major championship won by Sri Lanka's national teams, newest first. 2 in total.
| Year | Date | Champion | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2014-04-06 | Sri Lanka | T20 World Cup |
| 1996 | 1996-03-17 | Sri Lanka | Cricket World Cup |
Provinces
9 entries listed under Sri Lanka. Click any to see its metros and footprint.
Sri Lanka metro footprint
8 metrosPolygons shaded by composite tier. Hover for rank, click to open the metro page. Boundaries derived from Overture Maps administrative divisions; metros without source coverage are omitted.
8 tracked metros
| Rank | Metro | State | Population | Score | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #166 | Colombo★ Capital▲ Largest | Western (Basnahira) | 6.2M | 17.1 | Regional Hub |
| #955 | Kandy | Central (Madhyama) | 1.5M | 1.8 | Emerging Metro |
| #993 | Galle | Southern (Dakunu) | 1.1M | 1.6 | Emerging Metro |
| #1100 | Jaffna | Northern (Vatakku, Uturu) | 626K | 1.4 | Emerging Metro |
| #1724 | Kurunegala | North Western (Wayamba) | 1.7M | 0.6 | Local Metro |
| #1920 | Hambantota | Southern (Dakunu) | 676K | 0.5 | Local Metro |
| #1978 | Dambulla | Central (Madhyama) | 530K | 0.4 | Local Metro |
| #2930 | Batticaloa | Eastern (Kilakku, Negenahira) | 590K | 0.2 | Local Metro |