Known officially as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, India's next cricketing host is an island republic, situated in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of India.
A member of the Commonwealth of Nations, Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar. Lying between the two countries is a chain of tiny islands known as Adam's Bridge. Sri Lanka is somewhat pear-shaped, with its apex towards the north. The total area of Sri Lanka is 65,610 sq km and the administrative capital is the ancient city of Sri Jayavardhanapura-Kotte that is on the outskirts of Colombo, the largest city of the Island.
An outstanding feature of the topography of Sri Lanka is a mountainous mass situated in the south-central part of the country, the highest point of which is the peak of Pidurutalagala (8,281 ft).
Sri Lanka's coast, particularly the west, south, and south-east, is palm-fringed and indented by lagoons and inlets. The more rugged northeastern coast contains Trincomalee Harbour, considered one of the best natural harbours in the world. On the southwestern coast other harbours include the ones at Colombo and Galle.
Because Sri Lanka is situated near the equator, the climate is generally hot and humid. The hilly and mountain areas, however, are cool, and the humidity is relatively lower in the dry zone. The average annual temperature is 32.2° C in the lowlands and 21.1° C in the higher mountainous regions.
About 74 per cent of the population of Sri Lanka is of Sinhalese descent. The largest minority groups are the Sri Lankan Tamils and the Indian Tamils, which together account for about 18 per cent of the population. The remaining population includes the descendants of Moors (Arabs), Burghers (Dutch), Malays, and Veddas.
Sri Lanka is divided into 9 provinces and 25 administrative districts. An appointed district minister heads each district. The official language of Sri Lanka is Sinhala, or Sinhalese, spoken by more than 70 per cent of the population. People living in the northern and eastern provinces speak Tamil, a Dravidian language of southern India. English, the official language of the country until 1957, is still widely used.
The economy of the country has been predominantly based on agriculture. Most people are farmers, who make a living by growing rice on their small plots. A large export trade in tea, rubber, and coconuts was the dominant commercial activity until the clothing industry became the main export currency earner. Most businesses engaged in producing these goods were nationalized by the middle and late 1970s. The government also controlled banking and insurance, as well as mining and the manufacture of such basic goods as fertilizers, textiles, cement, and petroleum. Retail businesses and the manufacturing of consumer goods remained in private hands.
India in Sri Lanka
India have played a total of 30 One-Day Internationals in the Sri Lanka to date. Apart from the hosts, India have also played Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh during the course of various tournaments played in the island country
First Match: vs Sri Lanka on 25-08-1985 at Colombo (SSC) - India won by 2 wickets
Last Match: vs Sri Lanka on 29-08-1999 at Colombo (SSC) India won by 23 runs
| Team |
P |
W |
L |
NR |
T |
| Australia |
4 |
1 |
3 |
- |
- |
| Bangladesh |
1 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
| New Zealand |
2 |
- |
- |
2 |
- |
| Pakistan |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
| Sri Lanka |
21 |
6 |
12 |
3 |
- |
| Zimbabwe |
1 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
| Total |
30 |
9 |
15 |
6 |
- |
Series Results for India in Sri Lanka
| Year |
Tournament |
Teams |
M |
Result |
| 1985-86 |
Bilateral series |
Ind,SL |
3 |
Draw (1-1) |
| 1993-94 |
Bilateral series |
Ind,SL |
3 |
SL won (2-1) |
| 1994-95 |
Singer Cup |
Aus,Ind,SL |
4 |
Won by India |
| 1996-97 |
Singer Cup |
Aus,Ind,SL,Zim |
3 |
Won by Sri Lanka |
| 1997-98 |
Asia Cup |
Ban,Ind,Pak,SL |
4 |
Won by Sri Lanka |
| 1997-98 |
Bilateral series |
Ind,SL |
4 |
SL won (2-1) |
| 1998-98 |
Akai Indep Cup |
Ind,SL,NZ |
5 |
Won by India |
| 1999-00 |
Aiwa Cup |
Ind,Aus,SL |
4 |
Won by Sri Lanka |
The Captains to Sri Lanka
| Captain |
Mtch |
Won |
Lost |
NR |
Tie |
Toss: Won / lost |
| M Azharuddin |
12 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
7 / 5 |
| AD Jadeja |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
- / 1 |
| Kapil Dev |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 / 1 |
| SR Tendulkar |
14 |
3 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
9 / 5 |
Most ODI appearances for Indians in Sri Lanka
| Players |
Mtch |
| M Azharuddin |
26 |
| SR Tendulkar |
26 |
| A Kumble |
25 |
| BKV Prasad |
21 |
| SC Ganguly |
20 |
| AD Jadeja |
20 |
| Robin Singh |
17 |
| NR Mongia |
16 |
| RS Dravid |
15 |
| J Srinath |
12 |
| RK Chauhan |
11 |
| VG Kambli |
11 |
| Kapil Dev |
10 |
| NS Sidhu |
10 |
Man of the match awards for Indians in Sri Lanka
| Players |
Mtch |
MOM |
| M Azharuddin |
26 |
2 |
| SR Tendulkar |
26 |
2 |
| AD Jadeja |
20 |
2 |
| SC Ganguly |
20 |
2 |
| Robin Singh |
17 |
1 |
| DB Vengsarkar |
3 |
1 |
