Official name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Government type: Republic Location: Latitude 5° 55. to 9° 50. north, longitude 79° 42. to 81° 52., 650km north of the equator Dimensions: 430km north to south, 225km east to west Coastline: 1,340km Area: 65,525km Currency (code): Sri Lankan rupee (LKR) Independence: 4 February 1948 Administrative capital: Sri Jayewardenepura Commercial capital: Colombo Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western, Eastern Province. Climate: Typically tropical, with a northeast monsoon (December to March) bringing unsettled weather to the north and east, and a southwest monsoon (June to October) bringing bad weather to the south and west Terrain: Mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior Highest mountain: Pidurutalagala, 2,524m Highest waterfall: Bambarakanda, 263m National
