Welcome to Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and southeast of the Arabian Sea; Sri Lanka has a population of around 22 million (2020) and is a multinational state , home to diverse cultures, languages, and ethnicities. Current Trends in Sri Lakan Tourism mobile bookings automation personalizaiton tech empowered travel sustainable tourism active eco-tourism experience tourism staycation Location - August 28, 2022 Sri Lanka , formerly Ceylon , island country lying in the Indian Ocean and separated from peninsular India by the Palk Strait . It is located between latitudes 5°55′ and 9°51′ N and longitudes 79°41′ and 81°53′ E and has a maximum length of 268 miles (432 km) and a maximum width of 139 miles (224 km).