KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1948 Population: 21,045,000 (2011) GNI p.c.: US$2,580 (2011)2,580 UN HDI 2011: world ranking 97 Geography Area: 65,610 sq km Coastline: 1,340 km Capital: Colombo The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) is an island in the Indian Ocean, separated from south-east India (Tamil Nadu state) by the Palk Strait. It is almost linked to the Indian mainland by Adam’s Bridge, an atoll barrier, mostly submerged, lying between the offshore island of Mannar and India itself. The country comprises nine provinces (from south to north): Southern (provincial capital Galle), Sabaragamuwa (Ratnapura), Western (Colombo), Uva (Badulla), Eastern (Trincomalee), Central (Kandy), North-Western (Kurunegala), North-Central (Anuradhapura) and Northern (Jaffna). Constitution Status: Republic with executive President Legislature: Parliament of Sri Lanka Independence: 4 February 1948 Sri Lanka is a democratic republic with an executive presidency based on the French model. Under the 1978 constitution, the Head of State and Government is the President. There is universal adult suffrage with proportional representation; parliamentary and presidential elections are held every six years. Parliament has a single chamber with 225 members. Members are directly elected, but vacant seats occurring during the life of a parliament go to nominees of the party holding the seat. Ministers are appointed by the President, who chairs the cabinet and appoints the independent judiciary. Amendments may be made to the constitution, subject to a two-thirds majority in parliament; however, to amend certain entrenched articles of the constitution approval in a national referendum is also required. The constitution provides for provincial councils. The Eighteenth Amendment – enacted in September 2010 – removed the limit on the number of terms a President may serve, previously set at two. Judicial system Supreme court: Supreme Court of Sri Lanka Ministry: Justice The judicial system comprises the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, district courts (of which there are 54) and magistrates’ courts, including the seven primary courts. Appeals from the magistrates’ courts come before the High Court; and from the High Court and district courts before the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court is the final court of appeal and has jurisdiction in constitutional matters. The High Court and magistrates’ courts have original jurisdiction in criminal and civil cases, the High Court dealing with the more serious cases; the district courts have unlimited original jurisdiction in civil cases. The judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President of the republic with the advice of the Parliamentary Council, others by the Judicial Service Commission. Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 275 Sri Lanka
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