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Flowering acacias flourish onMiddle Eastern influences and practices are found in traditional Moor dishes, while Dutch and Portuguese influences are found with the island's Burgher community preserving their culture through traditional dishes such as Lamprais (rice cooked in stock and baked in a banana leaf), Breudher (Dutch Holiday Biscuit), Bolo Fiado (Portuguese-style layer cake), and Gumbo Lillas (Dutch style honey The movie Kadawunu Poronduwa (The broken promise), produced by S. M. Nayagam of Chitra Kala Movietone, heralded the coming of Sri Lankan cinema in xxxx. Ranmuthu Duwa (Island of treasures, xxxx) marked the transition cinema from black-and-white to colour. It in the recent years has featured subjects such as family melodrama, social transformation and the years of conflict between the military and the LTTE.[296] Their cinematic style is similar to the Bollywood movies. In xxxx, movie attendance rose to an all-time high, but has been in steady decline since then.[297] Undoubtedly the most influential and revolutionary filmmaker in the history of Sri Lankan cinema is Lester James Peiris, who has directed a number of movies which led to global acclaim, including Rekava (Line of destiny, xxxx), Gamperaliya (The changing village, xxxx), Nidhanaya (The treasure, xxxx) and Golu HadawathaThe earliest music in Sri Lanka came from theatrical performances such as Kolam, Sokari and Nadagam.[299] Traditional music instruments such as Béra, Thammátama, Daula and Raban were performed at these dramas. The first music album, Nurthi, was released through Radio Ceylon, in xxxx. Songwriters like Mahagama Sekara and Ananda Samarakoon and musicians such as W. D. Amaradeva, H. R. Jothipala and Clarence Wijewardene have contributed much towards the upliftment of Sri Lankan music.[300] Baila is another popular music genre in the country, originated among Kaffirs or the or Afro-Sinhalese There are three main styles of Sri Lankan classical dance. They are, the Kandyan dances, low country dances and Sabaragamuwa dances. Of these, the Kandyan style, which flourished under kings of the Kingdom of Kandy, is more prominent. It is a sophisticated form of dance,[302] that consists of five sub-categories: Ves dance, Naiyandi dance, Udekki dance, Pantheru dance and 18 Vannam.[303] An elaborate headdress is worn by the male dancers and a drum called Geta Béraya is used to assist the dancer to keep on rhythm.[304] In addition, four folk drama variants named Sokri, Kolam, Nadagam, Pasu, and several devil dance variants such as Sanni Yakuma and Kohomba Kankariya can be also Sri Lankan literature spans at least two millennia, and is heir to the Aryan literary tradition as embodied in the hymns of the Rigveda.[307] The Pali Canon, the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, was written down in Sri Lanka during the Fourth Buddhist council, at the Alulena cave temple, Kegalle, as early as 29 BC.[308] Ancient chronicles such as the Mahavamsa, written in the 6th century, provide vivid descriptions of Sri Lankan dynasties. According to the German philosopher Wilhelm Geiger, the chronicles are based on Sinhala Atthakatha (commentary), that dates few more centuries back.[307] The oldest surviving prose work is the Dhampiya-Atuva-Getapadaya, compiled in the 9th century.[307] The greatest literary feats of medieval Sri Lanka include Sandesha Kavya (poetic messages) such as Gira Sandeshaya (Parrot message), Hansa Sandeshaya (Swan message) and Salalihini Sandeshaya (Myna message). Poetry including Kavsilumina, Kavya-Sekharaya (diadem of poetry) and proses such as Saddharma-Ratnavaliya, Amavatura (Flood of nectar) and Pujavaliya are also notable works of this period, which is considered to be the golden age of Sri Lankan literature.[307] The first modern-day novel, Meena, a work of Simon de Silva appeared in xxxx,[303] and was followed by a number of revolutionary literary works. Martin Wickramasinghe, the author of Madol Doova is considered the iconic figure of Sri Lankan With a literacy rate of 92.5%,[232] Sri Lanka has one of the most literate populations amongst developing nations.[310] Its youth literacy rate stands at 98%,[311] computer literacy rate at 35%,[312] and primary school enrolment rate at over 99%.[313] An education system which dictates 9 years of compulsory schooling for every child is in place. The free education system established in xxxx,[314] is a result of the initiative of C. W. W. Kannangara and A. Ratnayake.[315][316] It is one of the few countries in the world that provide universal free education from primary to Kannangara led the establishment of the Madhya Maha Vidyalayas (Central Schools) in different parts of the country in order to provide education to Sri Lanka's rural children.[312] In xxxx a special education committee proposed extensive reforms to establish an efficient and quality education system for the people. However in the xxxxs changes to this system saw the separation the of administration of schools between the central government and the provincial government. Thus the elite National Schools are controlled directly by the Ministry of Education and the provincial schools by the provincial government. Sri Lanka has approximately xxxx government schools, 817 private schools and Pirivenas.[232] The number of public universities in Sri Lanka is 15.[318] However, lack of responsiveness of the education system to labour market requirements, disparities in access to quality education, lack of an effective linkage between secondary and tertiary education remain major challenges for the education sector.[319] A number of private, degree awarding institutions have emerged in recent times to fill in these gaps. But still, the participation at tertiary level education hovers around 5.1%.[320] The proposed private university bill has been withdrawn by the Higher Education Ministry after university students? heavy demonstrations andThe Sri Lanka national cricket team achieved considerable success beginning in the xxxxs, rising from underdog status to winning the xxxx Cricket World Cup.[324] They also became the runners up of the Cricket World Cup in xxxx,[325] xxxx.[326] and of the ICC World Twenty20 in xxxx and xxxx.[327] Former Sri Lankan off-spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan has been rated as the greatest Test match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.[328] Sri Lanka has won the Asia Cup in xxxx,[329] xxxx,[330] xxxx[331] and xxxx.[332] Current world records for highest team score in all three formats of the game are also held by Sri Lanka.[333] The country co-hosted the Cricket World Cup in xxxx, xxxx and have hosted the xxxx ICC World Twenty20. They lost to the WestSri Lankans have won two medals at Olympic Games, one silver, by Duncan White at xxxx London Olympics for men's 400 metres hurdles[334] and one silver by Susanthika Jayasinghe at xxxx Sydney Olympics for women's 200 metres.[335] In xxxx, Mohammed Lafir won the World Billiards Championship, highest feat of a Sri Lankan in a Cue sport.[336] Aquatic sports such as boating, surfing, swimming, kitesurfing[337] and scuba diving on the coast, the beaches and backwaters attract a large number of Sri Lankans and foreign tourists. There are two styles of martial arts native to Sri Lanka, Cheena di and angampora.[338] Indies by 36 runs. resistance.[321]tertiary stage.[317]literature.[309]observed.[303]community.[301] (Cold heart, xxxx).[298]coated sweet treats). tThe per capita income of Sri Lanka has doubled since xxxx.[238] During the same period, poverty has dropped from 15.2% to 7.6%, unemployment has dropped from 7.2% to 4.9%, market capitalisation of CSE has quadrupled and budget deficit has doubled.[232] 90% of the households in Sri Lanka are electrified, 87.3% of the population have access to safe drinking water and 39% have access to pipe-borne water.[232] Income inequality has also dropped in recent years, indicated by a gini coefficient of 0.36 in xxxx.[239] Sri Lanka's cellular subscriber base has shown a staggering 550% growth, from xxxx to xxxx.[232] Sri Lanka was the first country in the South Asian region to introduce 3G (Third Generation), 3.5G HSDPA, 3.75G HSUPA and 4G LTE mobile broadband Internet The Global Competitiveness Report, published by the World Economic Forum, has described Sri Lanka's economy as transitioning from the factor-driven stage to the efficiency-driven stage, and that it ranks 52nd in global competitiveness.[241] Also, out of the 142 countries surveyed, Sri Lanka ranked 45th in health and primary education, 32nd in business sophistication, 42nd in innovation, and 41st in goods market efficiency. Sri Lanka ranks 8th in the World Giving Index, registering high levels of contentment and charitable behaviour in its society.[242] In xxxx, The New York Times placed Sri Lanka at the top of its list of 31 places to visit.[243] The Dow Jones classified Sri Lanka as an emerging market in xxxx, and Citigroup classified it as a 3G country in February xxxx.[244] Sri Lanka ranks well above other South Asian countries in the Human Development Index (HDI) with 0.715 Although poverty has reduced by 50% during last five years, malnutrition remains a problem among children. 29% of the children under five years of age are reported to be underweight.[246] Nearly 58% of infants between six and eleven months and 38% of children between twelve and twenty-three months are anaemic. While Dengue remains the major infectious disease,[247] non-communicable diseasees (NCDs) account for 85% of ill health, disability and early death.[248] Sri Lankans have a life expectancy of 77.9 years at birth, which is 10% higher than the world average.[232] The infant mortality rate stands at 8.5 per 1,000 births and the maternal mortality rate at 0.39 per 1,000 births, which is on par with figures from the developed countries. The universal "pro-poor"[249] health care system adopted by the country has contributed much towardsSri Lanka's road network consists of 35 A grade highways and one Controlled-access highway (E01).[251] The railway network, operated by the state-run national railway operator, Sri Lanka Railways, spans 1,447 kilometres (900 mi).[252] Sri Lanka also has three deep-water ports, at Colombo, Galle, and Trincomalee, in addition to the newest port being built at Hambantota. The port at Trincomalee is the fifth largest natural harbour in the world: during World War II the British stated that they could place their entire navy in the harbour with room to spare. Sri Lanka's flag carrier airline is SriLankan Airlines. Fitch Ratings has affirmed Sri Lanka's Foreign- and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at 'BB-' with a "stable" outlook.[citation needed]. With a grant of 20 million dollars from the US and help from China, a space academy has been set up for the purpose of developing an indigenous space sector to launch satellites of other nations as well as of Sri Lanka. This dual use of launching technology will also serve to develop missile technology. On 26 September xxxx China launched Sri Lanka's first satellite, with plans for more launches in the coming years.Sri Lanka is the 57th most populated nation in the world,[256] with an annual population growth rate of 0.73%.[257] Sri Lanka has a birth rate of 17.6 births per 1,000 people and a death rate of 6.2 deaths per 1,000 people.[232] Population density is highest in western Sri Lanka, especially in and around the capital. Sinhalese constitute the largest ethnic group in the country, with 74.88% of the total population.[258] Sri Lankan Tamils are the second major ethnic group in the island, with a percentage of 11.2. Sri Lankan Moors comprise 9.2%. Tamils of Indian origin were brought into the country as indentured labourers by British colonists to work on estate plantations. Nearly 50% of them were repatriated following independence in xxxx.[259] They are distinguished from the native Tamil population that has resided in Sri Lanka since ancient times. There are also small ethnic groups such as the Burghers (of mixed European descent) and Austronesian peoples from Southeast Asia. Moreover, there is a small population of Vedda people who are believed to be the original indigenous group to Sinhalese and Tamil are the two official languages of Sri Lanka.[261] The Constitution defines English as the link language. English is widely used for education, scientific and commercial purposes. Members of the Burgher community speak variant forms of Portuguese Creole and Dutch with varying proficiency, while members of the Malay community speak a form of Creole Malay that is Sri Lanka is also a multi-religious country. 70% are Buddhists,[263] most of whom follow the Theravada school of Buddhism.[264] Most of the Buddhist are from majority Sinhalese ethnic group. Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 2nd century BCE by Venerable Mahinda.[264] A sapling of the Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment was brought to Sri Lanka during the same time. The Pali Canon (Thripitakaya), having previously been preserved as an oral tradition, was first committed to writing in Sri Lanka around 30 BCE.[265] Sri Lanka has the longest continuous history of Buddhism of any predominately Buddhist nation,[264] with the Sangha having existed in a largely unbroken lineage since its introduction in the 2nd century BCE. During periods of decline, the Sri Lankan monastic lineage was revived through contact with Thailand and Burma.[265] Buddhism is given special recognition in the Constitution which requires Sri Lankan to "protect and foster Christianity was also brought into the country by Western colonists in the early 16th century.[270] Around 7.4% of the Sri Lankan population are Christians. Out of those, 82% are Roman Catholics, who trace their religious heritage directly to the Portuguese. The rest of the Christians are evenly split between the Anglican Church of Ceylon and other Protestant faiths.[271] There is also a small population of Zoroastrian immigrants from India (Parsis) who settled in Ceylon during the period of British rule.[272] But the community has steadily dwindled in recent years.[273] Religion plays a prominent role in the life and culture of Sri Lankans. The Buddhist majority observe Poya Days, once per month according to the Lunar calendar. The Hindus and Muslims also observe their own holidays. Sri Lanka was ranked the 3rd most religious country in the world by a xxxx Gallup poll, with 99% of Sri Lankans saying religion is an important part of The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (formerly Radio Ceylon) is the oldest-running radio station in Asia,[275] established in xxxx by Edward Harper just three years after broadcasting began in Europe.[275] The station broadcasts services in Sinhalese, Tamil, English and Hindi. Since the xxxxs, a large number of private radio stations have also been introduced. Broadcast television was introduced to the country in xxxx when the Independent Television Network was launched. Initially all Television stations were state controlled, but private television networks began broadcasts in xxxx.[276] As of xxxx, 51 newspapers (30 Sinhala, 10 Tamil, 11 English) are published and 34 TV stations and 52 radio stations are in operation.[232] However in the recent years, freedom of the press in Sri Lanka has been alleged by media freedom groups to be amongst the poorest in democratic countries.[277] Alleged abuse of a newspaper editor by a senior government minister[278] achieved international notoriety because of the unsolved murder of the editor's predecessor Lasantha Wickrematunge[279] who had also been a critic of the government and had presaged his own death in a posthumously Officially, the constitution of Sri Lanka guarantees human rights as ratified by the United Nations. However human rights in Sri Lanka have come under criticism by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch,[281] as well as the United States Department of State.[282] Both the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the government of Sri Lanka are accused of violating human rights. A report by an advisory panel to the UN secretary-general has accused both the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government of alleged war crimes during final stages ofThe UN Human Rights Council has documented over 12,000 named individuals who have undergone disappearance after detention by security forces in Sri Lanka, the second highest figure in the world, since the Working Group came into being in xxxx.[285] The Sri Lankan government has confirmed that 6,445 of these are dead. Allegations of human rights abuses have not ended with the close of the The UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navanethem Pillay visited Sri Lanka in May, xxxx.After her visit she said ?the war may have ended [in Sri Lanka], but in the meantime democracy has been undermined and the rule of law eroded.? She also sounded the alarm about the military?s increasing involvement in civilian life and reports of military land grabbing. Navanethem Pillay also said that she was allowed to go wherever she wanted but that Sri Lankans who came to meet her were harassed and intimidated by security The culture of Sri Lanka dates back over xxxx years.[289] It is influenced primarily by Buddhism and Hinduism.[290] According to Islamic folklore, Adam and Eve were offered refuge on the island as solace for their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.[291] The island is the home to two main traditional cultures: the Sinhalese (centred in the ancient cities of Kandy and Anuradhapura) and the Tamil (centred in the city of Jaffna). In more recent times, the British colonial culture has also influenced the locals. Sri Lanka claims a democratic tradition matched by few other developing The first Tamil immigration was probably around the 3rd century BC.[290] Tamils co-existed with the Sinhalese people since then, and the early mixing rendered the two ethnic groups almost physically indistinct.[292] Ancient Sri Lanka is marked for its genius in hydraulic engineering and architecture. The rich cultural traditions shared by all Sri Lankan cultures is the basis of the country's long life expectancy, advanced health standards and high literacy rate.[291]countries.[291]forces.[287][288]ethnic conflict.[286] the civil war.[283][284]published article.[280]their daily life.[274]the Buddha Sasana".[266]unique to the island.[262]inhabit the island.[260][253][254][255] these figures.[250]points.[245]technologies.[240]he arid Jaffna Peninsula. Among the trees of the dry-land forests are valuable species such as satinwood, ebony, ironwood, mahogany and teak. The wet zone is a tropical evergreen forest with tall trees, broad foliage, and a dense undergrowth of vines and creepers. Subtropical evergreen forests resembling those of temperate climates flourish in the Yala National Park in the southeast protects herds of elephant, deer, and peacocks. The Wilpattu National Park in the northwest, the largest national park, preserves the habitats of many water birds such as storks, pelicans, ibis, and spoonbills. The island has four biosphere reserves: Bundala, Hurulu Forest Reserve, the Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya, and Sinharaja.[159] Of these, Sinharaja forest reserve is home to 26 endemic birds and 20 rainforest species, including the elusive Red-faced Malkoha, the Green-billed Coucal and the Sri The untapped genetic potential of Sinharaja flora is enormous. Of the 211 woody trees and lianas within the reserve, 139 (66%) are endemic. The total vegetation density, including trees, shrubs, herbs and seedlings, has been estimated at 240,000 individuals per hectare. The Minneriya National Park borders the Minneriya tank, which is an important source of water for numerous elephants (Elephus maximus) inhabiting the surrounding forests. Dubbed "The Gathering", the congregation of elephants can be seen on the tank-bed in the late dry season (August to October) as the surrounding water sources steadily disappear. The park also encompasses a range of micro-habitats which include classic dry zone tropical monsoonal evergreen forest, thick stands of giant bamboo, hilly pastures (patanas). and grasslands Sri Lanka is home to over 250 types of resident birds (see List). It has declared several bird sanctuaries including Kumana.[161] During the Mahaweli Program of the xxxxs and xxxxs in northern Sri Lanka, the government set aside four areas of land totalling 1,900 km2 (730 sq mi) as national parks. However, the country's forest cover, which was around 49% in xxxx, had fallen to approximately 24% Sri Lanka is the oldest democracy in South Asia.[164] The Donoughmore Constitution, drafted by the Donoughmore Commission in xxxx, enabled general elections with adult universal suffrage (universal adult franchise) in the country.[165] It was the first time a non-white country within the empires of Western Europe was given one man, one vote and the power to control domestic affairs. The first election under the universal adult franchise, held in June xxxx, was for the Ceylon State Council.[citation needed] Sir D. B. Jayatilaka was elected as Leader of the House.[166] In xxxx, the Soulbury Commission was appointed to draft a new constitution. During this time, struggle for independence was fought on "constitutionalist" lines under the leadership of D. S. Senanayake.[167] The draft constitution was enacted in the same year, and Senanayake was appointed Prime Minister following the parliamentary election in xxxx. The Soulbury constitution ushered in Dominion status and granted independence to Sri Current politics in Sri Lanka is a contest between two rival coalitions led by the centre-leftist and progressivist United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), an offspring of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), and the comparatively right-wing and pro-capitalist United National Party (UNP).[168] Sri Lanka is essentially a multi-party democracy with many smaller Buddhist, socialist and Tamil nationalist political parties. As of July xxxx, the number of registered political parties in the country is 67.[169] Of these, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), established in xxxx, is the oldest.[170] The UNP, established by D. S. Senanayake in xxxx, was until recently the largest single political party .[171] It is the only political group which had representation in all parliaments since independence.[171] SLFP was founded by S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, who was the Cabinet minister of Local Administration before he left the UNP in July xxxx.[172] SLFP registered its first victory in xxxx, defeating the ruling UNP in xxxx Parliamentary election.[172] Following the parliamentary election in July xxxx, Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the prime minister and the world's first elected female G. G. Ponnambalam, the Tamil nationalist counterpart of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike,[174] founded the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) in xxxx. Objecting to Ponnambalam's cooperation with D. S. Senanayake, a dissident group led by S.J.V. Chelvanayakam broke away in xxxx and formed the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), also known as the Federal Party, becoming the main Tamil political party in Sri Lanka for next two decades.[175] The Federal Party advocated a more aggressive stance toward the Sinhalese.[176] With the constitutional reforms of xxxx, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) and Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) created a common front called the Tamil United Front (later Tamil United Liberation Front). Following a period of turbulence as Tamil militants rose to power in the late xxxxs, these Tamil political parties were succeeded in October xxxx by the Tamil National Alliance.[176][177] Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a Marxist-Leninist political party founded by Rohana Wijeweera in xxxx, serves as a third force in the current political context.[178] It endorses leftist policies which are more radical than the traditionalist leftist politics of the LSSP and the Communist Party.[176] Founded in xxxx, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress is the largest Muslim political party Sri Lanka is a democratic republic and a unitary state which is governed by a semi-presidential system, with a mixture of a presidential system and a parliamentary system.[182] It constitutes a parliamentary system governed under the constitution. Most provisions of the constitution can be amended by a two-thirds majority in parliament. However, the amendment of certain basic features such as the clauses on language, religion, and reference to Sri Lanka as a unitary state require both a two-thirds majority and approval in a Executive: The President of Sri Lanka is the head of state, the commander in chief of the armed forces, as well as head of government, and is popularly elected for a six-year term.[183] In the exercise of duties, the President is responsible to the parliament. The President appoints and heads a cabinet of ministers composed of elected members of parliament.[184] The president is immune from legal proceedings while in office with respect to any acts done or omitted to be done by him or her in either an official or private capacity.[185] Following passage of the 18th amendment to the constitution in xxxx, the President has no term limit, which previously stoodLegislative: The Parliament of Sri Lanka is a unicameral 225-member legislature with 196 members elected in multi-seat constituencies and 29 elected by proportional representation.[187] Members are elected by universal (adult) suffrage based on a modified proportional representation system by district to a six-year term. The president may summon, suspend, or end a legislative session and dissolve Parliament any time after it has served for one year. The parliament reserves the power to make all laws.[188] Judicial: Sri Lanka's judiciary consists of a Supreme Court ? the highest and final superior court of record,[188] a Court of Appeal, High Courts and a number of subordinate courts. The highly complex legal system reflects diverse cultural influences.[189] Criminal law is based almost entirely on British law. Basic Civil law derives from Roman law and Dutch law. Laws pertaining to marriage, divorce, and inheritance are communal.[190] Due to ancient customary practices and/or religion, the Sinhala customary law (Kandyan law), the Thesavalamai, and Sharia law are followed in special cases.[191] The President appoints judges to the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Courts. A judicial service commission, composed of the Chief Justice and two Supreme Court judges, appoints, transfers, and dismisses There have been provinces (Sinhala: ????Tamil: ???????) in Sri Lanka since the 19th century, but they had no legal status until xxxx when the 13th Amendment to the xxxx constitution established provincial councils after several decades of increasing demand for a decentralisation of the Government of Sri Lanka.[194] Each provincial council is an autonomous body not under the authority of any Ministry. Some of its functions had been undertaken by central government ministries, departments, corporations, and statutory authorities,[194] but authority over land and police is not as a rule given to provincial councils.[195][196] Between xxxx and xxxx, the Northern and Eastern provinces were temporarily merged to form the North-East Province.[197][198] Prior to xxxx, all administrative tasks for the provinces were handled by a district-based civil service which had been in place since colonial times. Now each province is administered by a directly elected Sri Lanka is also divided into 25 districts (Sinhala: ?????????????? sing. ?????????????Tamil: ????????).[199] Each district is administered under a District Secretariat. The districts are further subdivided into 256 divisional secretariats, and these, in turn, to approximately 14,008 Grama Niladhari divisions.[200] The Districts are known in Sinhala as Disa and in Tamil as Mawaddam. Originally, a Disa (usually rendered into English as Dissavony) was a duchy, notably Matale and Uva. A government agent, who is known as District Secretary,There are three other types of local authorities: Municipal Councils (18), Urban councils (13) and Pradeshiya Sabha, also called Pradesha Sabhai (256).[201] Local authorities were originally based on feudal counties named korale and rata, and were formerly known as 'D.R.O. divisions' after the 'Divisional Revenue Officer'.[202] Later the D.R.O.s became 'Assistant Government Agents' and the divisions were known as 'A.G.A. divisions'. These Divisional Secretariats are currently administered by a 'Divisional Sri Lanka is a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). While ensuring that it maintains its independence, Sri Lanka has cultivated relations with India .[204] Sri Lanka became a member of the United Nations in xxxx. Today, it is also a member of the Commonwealth, the SAARC, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank,United National Party, has traditionally favoured links with the West while its left-leaning counterpart, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, has favoured links with the East.[204] Sri Lankan Finance Minister J. R. Jayewardene, together with then Australian Foreign Minister Sir Percy Spencer, proposed the Colombo Plan at the Commonwealth Foreign Minister's Conference held in ColomboSan Francisco Peace Conference in xxxx, while many countries were reluctant, Sri Lanka argued for a free Japan and refused to accept payment of reparations for World War II damage because it believed it would harm Japan's economy.[206] Sri Lanka-China relations started as soon as the PRC was formed in xxxx. The two countries signed an important Rice-Rubber Pact in xxxx.[207] Sri Lanka played a vital role at the Asian?African Conference in xxxx, which was an important step in the crystallisation The Bandaranaike government of xxxx significantly changed the pro-western policies set by the previous UNP government. It recognised Cuba under Fidel Castro in xxxx. Shortly afterward, Cuba's revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara paid a visit to Sri Lanka.[209] The Sirima-Shastri Pact of xxxx[210] and Sirima-Gandhi Pact of xxxx[211] were signed between Sri Lankan and Indian leaders in an attempt to solve the long standing dispute over the status of plantation workers of Indian origin. In xxxx, Kachchatheevu, a small island in Palk Strait, was formally ceded to Sri Lanka.[212] By this time, Sri Lanka was strongly involved in the NAM and Colombo held the fifth NAM summit in xxxx.[213] The relationship between Sri Lanka and India became tense under the government of J. R. Jayawardene.[121][214] As a result, India intervened in the Sri Lankan Civil War and subsequently deployed an Indian Peace Keeping Force in xxxx.[215] In the present, Sri Lanka enjoys extensive relations with China,[216] Russia[217]The Sri Lanka Armed Forces, comprising the Sri Lanka Army, the Sri Lanka Navy, and the Sri Lanka Air Force, come under the purview of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).[219] The total strength of the three services is around 259,000 personnel, with nearly 36,000 reserves.[220] Sri Lanka has not enforced military conscription.[221] Paramilitary units include the Special Task Force, the Civil Security Force, and the Sri Lanka Coast GSince independence in xxxx, the primary focus of the armed forces has been internal security, crushing three major insurgencies, two by Marxist militants of the JVP and a 30-year long conflict with the LTTE which has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation by 32 countries. The armed forces have been in a continuous mobilised state for the last 30 years.[224][225] Marking a rare occurrence in modern military history, the Sri Lankan military was able to bring a decisive end to the Sri Lankan Civil War in May xxxx.[226] Sri Lanka has claimed to be the first country in the modern world to eradicate terrorism on its own soil.[227] The Sri Lankan Armed Forces have engaged in United Nations peacekeeping operations since the early xxxxs, contributing forces to permanent contingents deployed in several UN peacekeeping missions in Chad, Lebanon,While the production and export of tea, rubber, coffee, sugar and other commodities remain important, industrialisation has increased the importance of food processing, textiles, telecommunications and finance. The country's main economic sectors are tourism, tea export, clothing, rice production and other agricultural products. In addition to these economic sectors, overseas employment, especially in the Middle East, contributes substantially in foreign exchange.[232] As of xxxx, the service sector makes up 60% of GDP, the industrial sector 28%, and the agriculture sector 12%.[232] The private sector accounts for 85% of the economy.[233] India is Sri Lanka's largest trading partner.[234] Economic disparities exist between the provinces, with the Western province contributing 45.1% of the GDP and the Southern province and the Central province contributing 10.7% and 10%, respectively.[235] With the end of the war, the Northern province reported a record 22.9% GDP growth in xxxx.[236] and Haiti.[228]uard[222][223] and Pakistan.[218]of the NAM.[208] in xxxx.[205] At the and the Colombo Plan.Secretary'. administers a district.provincial council:lower court judges.The president's deputy, the Prime at two years.[186]nation-wide referendum.in Sri Lanka.[179]head of state.[173]Lanka in xxxx.[165]by xxxx.[162][163](talawas).[160]Lanka Blue Magpie.higher altitudes.[158]