To which language should you translate to localize in Sri Lanka?
LANGUAGE INSIGHT
Official language
Sinhala (74%), Tamil (18%)
Actual languages
Sinhala (74%), Tamil (18%), other (8%).
What the top 150 best localized websites in the world do in Sri Lanka
(Top 150 websites listed in the Global by Design ranking – published annually by Byte Level Research, this report provides a list of globally localized websites, showcasing best practices and emerging trends in their globalization)
4/150 localize by translating into Sinhala
1/150 localizes by translating into both Sinhala and Tamil
1/150 localizes by translating into Tamil
1/150 localizes by translating into French
1/150 localizes by translating into Sinhala, Tamil and Sri Lankan Sign Language
1/150 localizes by translating into French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, Bahasa Indonesia, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Turkish, Russian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Thai and Ukrainian
Imports $16.2 billion (2020). Petroleum; not crude ($1.27B), Fabrics ($722M), Medicaments ($413M), Petroleum crude ($384M), and Transmission apparatus for radio-broadcasting or television ($311M), importing mostly from China ($4.01B), India ($3.32B), United Arab Emirates ($920M), Malaysia ($685M), and Singapore ($648M).
Financial inclusion factors (over 15 years of age) • 74% have an account with a financial institution • 5.3% have a credit card • 6.2% make online purchases
Ease of doing business Easy to conduct business (61.8 out of 100) 4th out of South Asian countries, 99th worldwide out of 190 countries (2019, World Bank)
Global Innovation Index Ranked 5th out of 10 Central and Southern Asian countries, 95th out of 132 worldwide.
The Global Innovation Index captures the innovation ecosystem performance of 132 economies and tracks the most recent global innovation trends.
Exports $11.3 billion (2020). Tea ($1.27B), Brassieres, girdles, corsets, braces, suspenders, garters and similar articles($518M), Slips, petticoats, briefs, panties, nightdresses, pyjamas, negligees, bathrobes, dressing gowns and similar ($466M), Suits, ensembles, jackets, dresses, skirts, divided skirts, trousers, bib and brace overalls ($447M), and Suits, ensembles, jackets, dresses, skirts, divided skirts, trousers, bib and brace overalls ($446M), exporting mostly to United States ($2.61B), United Kingdom ($922M), India ($740M), Germany ($678M), and Italy ($460M).
Economic freedom ‘Mostly not free’ (53.3 out of 100) 28th out of 39 countries in Asia Pacific Region 132rd worldwide out of 186 countries (2022, Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal)
Specialisation is measured using Revealed Comparative Advantage, an index that takes the ratio between Sri Lanka observed and expected exports in each product
Relatedness measures the distance between a country's current exports and each product, the barchart show only products that Sri Lanka is not specialized in
Information channels Sri Lanka’s media is divided along language and ethnic lines. Privately-owned networks have the lion’s share of the TV audience. Non-state media often engage in political debate and criticise government policies. The state runs two TV stations, radio networks and newspapers in Sinhala, Tamil and English. At the height of the civil war Sri Lanka was one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists. Despite the pledges given by President Sirisena in 2015 to investigate past attacks on journalists, nearly all the crimes of violence against journalists remain unpunished, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in 2018. RSF said political control over media ownership is a major concern and has the potential to undermine pluralism and impartiality. There were major restrictions to online connectivity and social media platforms during communal violence in early 2018, said US-based Freedom House.
News agency
Lankapuvath – state-owned Roar Media – news, multimedia TamilNet – US-based Tamil news site, widely described as pro-Tamil Tiger
The Data Factbook is a work in progress project. Our community is helping us to fill it up always with new and updated data. Your contribution is precious. If you want to help us, please write your advices at imminent@translated.com
Languages research
Languages/dialects spoken in Sri Lanka
Legend
Sri Lankan Tamil
Sri Lankan Tamil and Moors
Moors
Burghers
Indian Tamils and Sinhalese
Indian Tamils
Sinhala-speaking Catholics
Sinhalese
Sinhala-speaking Catholics and Sinhalese
Moors and Sinhalese
Tamil-speaking Catholics and Sri Lankan Tamils
Moors and Tamil-speaking Catholics
Tamil-speaking Catholics
Uninhabited
Photo credit: Adam Vanderme, Unsplash
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