Sri Lanka, A Country Study

368 Pages·1990·27.978 MB·English

by  Federal Research Division

area handbook series
Lanka
Sri
a country study
A,.

Lanka
Sri
country study
Federal Research Division
Library of Congress
Edited by
Russell R. Ross
and Andrea Matles Savada
Research Completed
October 1988
On the cover: Ruwanveli Dagoba, Buddhist shrine built by
Dutthagamani, near Anuradhapura
Second Edition, First Printing, 1990.
Copyright ®1990 United States Government as represented by
the Secretary of the Army. All rights reserved.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sri Lanka: A Country Study.
Area handbook series, DA pam 550-96
Research completed October 1988.
Bibliography: pp. 281-300.
Includes index.
1. Sri Lanka. I. Ross, Russell R., 1935- . II. Savada, Andrea
Matles, 1950- III. Library of Congress. Federal Research
.
Division. IV. Series. V. Series: Area handbook series.
DS489.S68 1990 954.93 89-600370
Headquarters, Department of the Army
DA Pam 550-96
ForsalebytheSuperintendentofDocuments,U.S. GovernmentPrintingOffice
Washington,D.C. 20402
Foreword
This volume is one in a continuing series of books now being
prepared by the Federal Research Division ofthe Library ofCon-
—
gress underthe Country Studies Area HandbookProgram. The
last page of this book lists the other published studies.
Most books in the series deal with a particular foreign country,
describing and analyzingits political, economic, social, and national
security systems and institutions, and examining the interrelation-
ships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural
factors. Each study iswritten by a multidisciplinary team ofsocial
scientists. The authors seek to provide a basic understanding of
the observed society, striving for a dynamic rather than a static
portrayal. Particular attention is devoted to the people who make
up the society, theirorigins, dominantbeliefs andvalues, theircom-
mon interests and the issues on which they are divided, the nature
andextentoftheirinvolvementwithnationalinstitutions, andtheir
attitudes toward each other and toward their social system and
political order.
The books represent the analysis ofthe authors and should not
be construed as an expression ofan official United States govern-
ment position, policy, or decision. The authors have sought to
adhere to accepted standards ofscholarly objectivity. Corrections,
additions, and suggestions for changes from readers will be wel-
comed for use in future editions.
Louis R. Mortimer
Acting Chief
Federal Research Division
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20540
111

Acknowledgments
This edition supercedes the Area Handbookfor Sri Lanka written
by Richard F. Nyrop, et alia, in 1970. Some parts ofthat edition
have been used in the preparation of the current book, and the
authors of Sri Lanka: A Country Study are grateful for the seminal
work done by the earlier edition's authors. The authors also wish
to thank various members of the staff of the Embassy of the
Democratic Socialist Republic ofSri Lanka in Washington, D.C.
for their assistance.
Various members ofthe staffofthe Federal Research Division
ofthe Library ofCongress assisted in the preparation ofthe book.
Richard F. Nyrop made helpful suggestions during his review of
all parts ofthe book. Elizabeth A. Park prepared the telecommu-
nication sections in chapters 3 and 4; Robert L. Wordenresearched
the datausedin preparingmaps forthe book; Carolina E. Forrester
checked the content ofall ofthe maps and reviewed the text ofthe
sectionon geography; andArviesJ. Statoncontributedtothe figures
on military ranks and insignia. David P. Cabitto, Kimberly Lord,
and Paulette Marshall did the illustrations; and DavidP. Cabitto,
Sandra K. Ferrell, and Kimberly Lord prepared the graphics.
Martha E. Hopkins edited portions ofthe manuscript andmanaged
editing of the book; Marilyn L. Majeska edited portions of the
manuscript and managed production; and Barbara Edgerton and
Izella Watson performed word processing.
Others who contributed were Harriet R. Blood, who assisted
in the preparation of maps; Mimi Cantwell, Richard Kollodge,
Ruth Nieland, and Gage Ricard, who editedportions ofthe manu-
script; Catherine Schwartzstein, who performed final prepublica-
tion editorial review, and Shirley Kessel of Communications
Connection, who prepared the index. Malinda B. Neale of the
Library ofCongess ComposingUnit prepared camera-ready copy,
underthe direction ofPeggy Pixley. The inclusion ofphotographs
in this bookwas madepossible bythe generosity ofvarious individ-
uals and public and private agencies.