Head of state: Mahinda RAJAPAKSE
Head of government: Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Jayaratne
Type of state: democratic socialist republic
Land area: 65,610 km2
Capital: Colombo
Population: 20.45m
Ethnic groups: 75% Sinhalese, 18% Tamil, 7% Tamil-speaking Moslems
Religions: 70% Buddhist, 15% Hindu, 8% Moslem, 7% Christian
Languages: Sinhala, Tamil
Monnaie: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)
Gross domestic product (GDP) 2010: USD 49.55bn
Change over previous year: +8%
Per capita GDP: USD 2,423
Swiss colony: 436 persons
Swiss exports 2010: CHF 85.89m
Change over previous year: +21.4%
Swiss imports 2010: CHF 80.5m
Change over previous year: +29.9%