Sri Lanka

Preface

SRI LANKA: A COUNTRY STUDY replaces the edition of this work published in 1982. Like its predecessor, this study attempts to treat in a concise and objective manner the dominant social, political, economic, and military aspects of Sri Lankan society. Central to the study of contemporary Sri Lanka is the SinhaleseTamil conflict, its history, ramifications, and the toll it has taken on the country. For all intents and purposes, The National Capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo--the site of its government ministries and foreign embassies. In 1982, however, a new parliamentary compiles opened in Sri Jayenardenepura, bottle a suburb of Colombo, and the administrative capital was moved there. A Glossary also is included. Contemporary place names used in this book are those approved by the United States Board Geographic Names. Sources of information included books, scholarly journals, foreign and domestic newspapers, and numerous periodicals. Chapter bibliographies appear at the end of the book, and brief comments on some of the more valuable sources recommended for further reading appear at the end of each chapter. Measurements are given in the metric system; a conversion table is provided to assist those readers who are unfamiliar with metric measurements (see table 1, Appendix).

Data as of October 1988