Sri Lanka

Languages:

Sri Lanka, an island nation in South Asia, has two official languages: Sinhala and Tamil. Sinhala, spoken by the majority of the population, belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family, while Tamil, spoken by the Tamil ethnic community, belongs to the Dravidian language family. English is widely spoken as a second language and is used in administration, education, and commerce. The linguistic landscape of Sri Lanka reflects the nation's diverse cultural heritage and the coexistence of different ethnic communities.

Religion:

Religion in Sri Lanka is diverse, with the majority of the population adhering to Buddhism (70.2%), predominantly of the Theravada tradition. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and other significant religious communities include Hindus (12.6%), Muslims (9.7%), and Christians (7.4%), with Roman Catholics being the largest Christian denomination. The religious landscape of Sri Lanka is characterized by a high degree of tolerance and interfaith cooperation, reflecting the nation's diverse cultural heritage and the harmonious coexistence of different religious communities.

Ethnic Groups:

Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)