Sri Lanka Sri Lanka , officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka , is an island country in the Indian Ocean, located south of the Indian subcontinent. Known historically as Ceylon , the country has a long history shaped by ancient civilizations, maritime trade, agriculture, religion, cultural exchange, and colonial rule. Sri Lanka is known for its diverse landscapes, ancient cities, archaeological sites, tropical forests, wildlife, tea-growing regions, beaches, and cultural traditions. Its location in the Indian Ocean has also made the island an important point of contact between South Asia and other regions for centuries. Geography Sri Lanka is situated in the northern Indian Ocean, southeast of the Indian subcontinent. The island covers approximately 65,600 square kilometres and has a varied landscape that includes coastal plains, forests, dry zones, wetlands, and a mountainous central region. The central highlands contain some of the country's highest mountains,...