Capital of Sri Lanka: Colombo — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo. Sri Lanka sits in Asia, has a population of 21,832,143, and uses the LKR. Official languages include Sinhala, Tamil.
Quick facts
- Capital: Colombo
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~21,832,143
- Area: 65,610 km²
- Population density: 333 people per km²
- Official languages: Sinhala, Tamil
- Currency: LKR
- ISO code: LK
How big is Sri Lanka?
By population, Sri Lanka ranks 61st in the world, holding roughly 0.27% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 120th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Sri Lanka has 333 people per square kilometre, which is about 5.6 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Asia, Sri Lanka is the 24th most populous country of 48.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Sri Lanka in population are Syria (22,125,249) and Mali (22,593,590).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Lithuania (65,300 km²) and Latvia (64,589 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Sinhala is listed as an official language of Sri Lanka alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
Sri Lanka uses the LKR, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has two capitals. Colombo, the largest city, is the executive and judicial capital, while its neighbour Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital. Our quizzes use Colombo. For the flag, look for the lion with a sword.
The flag of Sri Lanka: maroon, gold, green and orange
🇱🇰 The flag is a gold border around two panels: on the left, a green and an orange vertical stripe; on the right, a gold lion holding a sword on a maroon field, with a gold bo leaf in each corner. The lion stands for bravery and the strength of the nation, and the sword for sovereignty. The four bo leaves stand for Buddhism and the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness and equanimity. The orange and green stripes stand for the Tamil and Moor communities, and maroon for the Sinhalese majority.
Region and neighbours
Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia, in the Indian Ocean, separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. As an island country it has no land neighbours.
Three facts about Sri Lanka
- In 1960 Sirimavo Bandaranaike became prime minister of Sri Lanka, the world's first elected female head of government.
- Sri Lanka became independent in 1948 as the Dominion of Ceylon, and became a republic in 1972.
- Sigiriya, an ancient fortress on top of a huge rock, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sources: Wikipedia: Sri Lanka, Wikipedia: Flag of Sri Lanka, Wikipedia: Colombo, Wikipedia: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Wikipedia: Sigiriya, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Sri Lanka
- Asian capitals quiz — match Sri Lanka to Colombo
- Asian flags quiz — spot the Sri Lanka flag among its neighbours
- Island nations quiz — Sri Lanka is an island country
Sri Lanka capital quiz
What is the capital of Sri Lanka 🇱🇰?
- Doha
- Tokyo
- Colombo
- Tehran
Show answer
Colombo
What is the capital of Syria 🇸🇾?
- Manama
- Damascus
- Taipei
- Hanoi
Show answer
Damascus
What is the capital of Taiwan 🇹🇼?
- Amman
- Beirut
- Doha
- Taipei
Show answer
Taipei
What is the capital of Kazakhstan 🇰🇿?
- Astana
- Kuwait City
- Beijing
- Phnom Penh
Show answer
Astana
What is the capital of North Korea 🇰🇵?
- Manama
- Ramallah
- Astana
- Pyongyang
Show answer
Pyongyang
Sri Lanka in Asia
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block Sri Lanka belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Sri Lanka.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Sri Lanka?
The capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo.
What is the population of Sri Lanka?
About 21,832,143, making it the 61st most populous country in the world.
How big is Sri Lanka?
65,610 square kilometres, ranking 120th by land area, at a density of 333 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Sri Lanka use?
The LKR, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Sri Lanka flag?
The flag of Sri Lanka is a gold border around two panels: on the left, a green and an orange vertical stripe; on the right, a gold lion holding a sword on a maroon field, with a gold bo leaf in each corner. The lion stands for bravery and the strength of the nation, and the sword for sovereignty. The four bo leaves stand for Buddhism and the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness and equanimity. The orange and green stripes stand for the Tamil and Moor communities, and maroon for the Sinhalese majority.
Which countries border Sri Lanka?
None. Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia, in the Indian Ocean, separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, so it has no land borders with other countries.
How can I remember the capital of Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has two capitals. Colombo, the largest city, is the executive and judicial capital, while its neighbour Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital. Our quizzes use Colombo. For the flag, look for the lion with a sword.
More capitals to learn
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