Sri Lanka: flag, capital and map

Sri Lanka at a glance: its flag, its capital Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, its population and where it sits on the world map. Plus a way to test yourself afterwards.

Flag — Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: its flag

The Lion Flag continues a banner carried by Sinhalese kings since antiquity. Adopted in 1948 at independence, it gained two vertical stripes for the Muslim and Tamil minorities in 1951, then bodhi leaves replacing older motifs in 1972.

The golden lion bearing a sword, set on a maroon field, stands for Sinhalese courage and sovereignty; the green and saffron stripes honour the Muslim and Tamil communities, while the bodhi leaves in the corners recall the four Buddhist virtues.

Location map — Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka on the world map
Explore on the world map

Sri Lanka in figures

Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Population
21.4 million inhabitants as of 2017
Area
65,610 km²
Currency
Sri Lankan rupee
Official languages
Sinhala, Tamil
Demonym
Sri Lankan
Local name
ශ්රී ලංකා ප්රජාතාන්ත්රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජය, ශ්රී ලංකාව, இலங்கை சனநாயக சோசலிசக் குடியரசு
Internet domain
.lk, .இலங்கை
Calling code
+94
UN member since
Admission date: 14-12-1955

Sri Lanka: bordering countries

No land border.

Test your knowledge

So you know this country? Check that you know the other 192 too.

Data: Wikidata (CC0). Flags and map: Geo Nerd.

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