Sri Lanka Facts For Kids

Here are some interesting Sri Lanka Facts which were chosen and researched by children especially for children.

Sri Lanka Facts | Country Facts

  • Population: 23 million inhabitants (2021)
  • Capital city: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, referred to as Kotte, with about 100,000 inhabitants and Colombo
  • Name: Sri Lanka, previously called Ceylon or Serendip, nickname: “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”
  • Government: Presidential republic
  • Languages: Sinhala and Tamil
  • Religion: mainly Buddhists (70%), Hindus (12%), Muslims (9%) Catholics (6%)
  • Currency: 1 Sri Lankan rupee  = 100 cents
  • History: The island was first settled in the 6th century BC, most probably by people from India. Various kingdoms ruled on the island from about 200 BC. Portuguese and Dutch settlers arrived here in the 16th and 17th century before the British arrived on the island. In 1802 Sri Lanka became a British crown colony. Sri Lanka was granted independece on 4 February 1948.
  • National Day: 4 February (Independence Day)
  • National Symbols: Ceylon junglefowl (national bird), Ceylon iron wood tree (national tree), blue water lily (national flower), jackfruit (national fruit)
  • National Anthem: Sri Lanka Matha (Mother Sri Lanka)