For more information see the Sri Lanka profile.

Sri Lanka is a large island republic in the Indian Ocean, just off the southeast coast of India. Tea and rubber are the most important export products.

Civil war has damaged trade and development, and has destroyed tourism. Buddhists' traditional image of non-violence has been tarnished by the long conflict between the Buddhist Sinhala and Hindu Tamil.

Buddhism is the state religion and is protected and promoted. Though freedom of religion is assured, discrimination and rising anti-Christian feelings exist. However, after centuries of decline, the church is beginning to grow again.