Lanka

Lanka is a historical and literary name associated with the island nation of Sri Lanka. In ancient Sanskrit and Pali texts, Lanka refers to the island itself; in the Ramayana, the city and kingdom of Ravana is described as Lanka, a powerful realm in the Indian Ocean. In contemporary usage, the country is officially called Sri Lanka, with Lanka continuing to appear in literary and historical contexts.

Geography and demographics: Sri Lanka lies in the Indian Ocean, southeast of the Indian subcontinent. It covers about 65,610 square kilometers. The population is around 22 million. The majority ethnic group is Sinhalese, with significant Tamil and Muslim communities. The official languages are Sinhala and Tamil. Buddhism is the largest religion, followed by Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. The commercial capital and largest city is Colombo, while the administrative capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

Government and economy: Sri Lanka is a unitary semi-presidential republic with a president as head of state and government and a unicameral parliament of 225 members. The economy is diversified, with agriculture (notably tea, rubber, coconut), manufacturing, and services such as tourism. Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain in 1948 and became a republic in 1972. It is a member of regional and international organizations, including the United Nations and the Commonwealth.