• Sri Lanka:
• Society

Sri Lanka - Society

Population: 20,570,000 (2004); 21% lives in urban areas; growth 1.6% p.a. 1970–90 and 1.0% p.a. 1990–2004; birth rate (2004) 16 per 1,000 people (29 in 1970); life expectancy 74 years (43 in 1946 and 64 in 1970).

The largest ethnic group is Sinhalese (74%), followed by Sri Lankan Tamils (12%), Indian Tamils (5%), Muslims (7%), minorities of Malays and Burghers (persons of Dutch or partly Dutch descent) and a small number of Veddhas, descended from the earliest inhabitants. Sinhalese settlers arrived in the 5th and 6th centuries BC. Sri Lankan Tamils settled mainly from the 10th century onwards. Indian Tamils arrived later, brought in by the British in the 19th century as labour for the plantations. Some Indian Tamils were repatriated from 1964, and since 1988 all remaining Indian Tamils have attained Sri Lankan citizenship. The Muslims are mostly descendants of Arab traders, and the Burghers descendants of European settlers of the 17th century onwards.

Religion: Buddhists 70%, Hindus 15%, Christians 8% and Muslims 7%

Language: The official languages are Sinhala and Tamil. English is used in commerce and government and very widely understood.

Media: Several daily newspapers in Sinhala, Tamil and English, including the state-owned Daily News , and independent Daily Mirror and The Island , and several weeklies, including The Sunday Times and state-owned Sunday Observer . There are 117 TV sets and 17 personal computers per 1,000 people, and 250,000 internet users (2002/2003).

Education: Public spending on education was 3.1% of GDP in 1998/99. There are nine years of compulsory education starting at age five. The pupil–teacher ratio for primary is 23:1 and for secondary 20:1 (2003/04). The school year starts in January.

Illiteracy among people age 15–24 is 4.4% (4.9% for males and 4.0% for females, 2001 census).

Health: Both Western and Ayurvedic (traditional) medicine are practised, though most doctors practise Western medicine. A free health service is available, with hospitals and clinics countrywide, supplemented by several private hospitals and clinics in Colombo. 78% of the population uses an improved drinking water source and 91% adequate sanitation facilities (2002). Infant mortality was 12 per 1,000 live births in 2004 (83 in 1960). Over 90% of children are born in hospital. Family planning is common, with about 68% of married women practising contraception. Polio has been eradicated, but malaria remains a problem.

Public holidays: Independence Day (4 February), Sinhala and Tamil New Year (mid-April, 2 days), Labour Day (1 May) and Christmas Day.

Religious and other festivals whose dates vary from year to year include Tamil Thai Pongal Day (mid-January), Prophet’s Birthday, Good Friday, Vesak Poya Days (2 days generally in May) and Deepavali (Diwali, October/November). There is a Buddhist Poya holiday each month on the day of the full moon. With the exception of the Vesak Poya Days, when Poya Days fall at the weekend they are nonetheless observed on the full moon day. Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) are observed only by Muslims, and Mahasivarathri only by Hindus.