Asia · Southern Asia

Sri Lanka

Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Population: 21,919,000
Region: Asia
Languages: Sinhalese, Tamil

Fun fact

Sri Lanka holds the unique distinction of having the world's oldest human-planted tree with a known planting date, the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, which was brought as a sapling from India in 288 BCE. The island was also the first nation in modern history to elect a female head of government when Sirimavo Bandaranaike became Prime Minister in 1960. Furthermore, the country is one of the few places where you can witness the 'Big Two' of the animal kingdom, the Blue Whale and the Asian Elephant, within a single day's journey. Use of cinnamon originated here, and the island remains the primary global source of 'true' cinnamon.

Currency

The official currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee, denoted by the ISO code LKR. While the rupee has been used since the British colonial period, the first uniquely Ceylonese banknotes were issued in 1885 to replace the Indian Rupee. Modern banknotes are distinctive for their vertical orientation on the reverse side and often depict local birds and traditional dancers.

Flag symbolism

The Golden Lion holding a sword represents the bravery of the Sinhalese people and the first king of the island. The four Bo leaves in the corners of the maroon rectangle symbolize the four Buddhist virtues of kindness, compassion, equanimity, and joy. To ensure inclusivity, the vertical green and orange stripes were added to represent the Muslim and Tamil ethnic minorities respectively. The yellow border surrounding the entire flag signifies the unity of the citizens and the protection of the Buddhist faith and the nation.

Emblem history

The current national emblem of Sri Lanka was adopted in 1972 when the country became a republic and reflects deep Buddhist traditions. It features a gold lion passant within a circle of lotus petals, which is topped by the Dharmachakra, or the Wheel of Truth, symbolizing the country's righteous rule. At the base, a traditional grain vase overflowing with rice stalks represents national prosperity and self-sufficiency. These symbols are flanked by the sun and moon, ancient heraldic signs indicating that the nation will endure as long as these celestial bodies exist.