Largest Cities in Sri Lanka

Facts about Sri Lanka

Official languages: Sinhala, Tamil, English
Capital: Colombo
Area: 65,610 km²
Population: 21.5 million residents
Population density: 327.91 residents per km²
Currency: LKR
Internet TLD: .lk
ISO codes: LK, LKA , 144
The dialing code for Sri Lanka is +94

Flag of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s “Lion Flag” was adopted in 1948, but had been used as a symbol of justice for a long time before that. Its main motif is a yellow lion on a red field holding a sword as a symbol of power. The green and red stripes were added to the left side of the flag only after 1815 and are meant to symbolize the Hindu Tamils ​​and the Muslim Moors as minorities living on the island alongside the majority Sinhalese. After the 1972 renaming from Ceylon to Sri Lanka, four yellow petals were additionally added to the lion field. Each of the cards is supposed to remind one of the Buddhist values ​​- kindness, compassion and the effort to be beneficial to society, joy and finally peace and a balanced mind.

Sri Lanka, until 1972 Ceylon is an island nation in the Indian Ocean 31km off the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent. The island is also called the pearl of the Indian Ocean and has about 20 million residents. Due to its location, the island is a strategic hub for seafaring between West and Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka was one of the centers of ancient Buddhism. Today the country is a multireligious and multiethnic nation in which, in addition to Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam are major religions.

Biggest Cities of Sri Lanka by Population

Colombo is the largest city in Sri Lanka, with a population of around 645,000 people. Located on the west coast of the country, Colombo is known for its vibrant culture and modern cityscape. It offers visitors plenty to do including exploring its bustling markets selling local goods such as jewelry, textiles, spices and handicrafts made by locals from around Colombo. Additionally, there are many great restaurants serving traditional Sri Lankan cuisine such as kottu (chopped roti) and hoppers (rice pancakes).

Kandy is the second largest city in Sri Lanka with a population of around 216,000 people. It is located in the hills of Central Province and is known for its stunning temples and rich history. Kandy offers visitors plenty to do including exploring its markets selling local goods such as jewelry, textiles, spices and handicrafts made by locals from around Kandy as well as visiting historical sites like Temple of Tooth Relic which dates back to 1592! Additionally, there are some great restaurants serving traditional Sri Lankan cuisine such as curries and pol sambol (coconut relish).

Galle is the third largest city in Sri Lanka with a population of around 120,000 people. It is located on the southwestern coast of Galle district and is known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife. Galle offers visitors plenty to do including exploring its markets selling local goods such as jewelry, textiles, spices and handicrafts made by locals from around Galle as well as visiting historical sites like Galle Fort which dates back to 1588! Additionally, there are some great restaurants serving traditional Sri Lankan cuisine such as ambul thiyal (tuna curry) and lamprais (rice wrapped in banana leaves).

Sri Lanka: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

The current capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.