Sri Lanka civics quiz: questions and answers
All 15 general civics quiz questions about Sri Lanka with answers and explanations, grouped by topic. This is a learning quiz, not an official exam. Select a question to see the answer.
Government and law 5 questions
The capital, the official languages, the 1978 Constitution and the Sri Lankan rupee.
Practise only: Government and law →
What is the official administrative and legislative capital of Sri Lanka?
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, a suburb of Colombo, is home to the Parliament. Colombo is the largest city and commercial capital.
What are the official languages of Sri Lanka?
Sinhala and Tamil
The Constitution makes Sinhala and Tamil the official languages. English is recognised as a link language.
What is the currency of Sri Lanka?
Sri Lankan rupee
The Sri Lankan rupee is issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
In which year was Sri Lanka’s current Constitution adopted?
1978
The current Constitution was adopted in 1978 and created an executive presidency. It has been amended many times since.
What is the full official name of Sri Lanka?
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Since the 1978 Constitution, the country's official name has been the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
History 5 questions
Ancient kingdoms such as Sigiriya, colonial rule and independence from Britain in 1948.
In which year did Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) gain independence from Britain?
1948
Ceylon became independent on 4 February 1948, which is celebrated each year as National Day.
In which year did Ceylon change its name to Sri Lanka?
1972
The 1972 Republican Constitution renamed the country Sri Lanka and ended its status as a dominion.
Which European power was the first to establish control over parts of Sri Lanka’s coast?
Portugal
The Portuguese arrived in the early 1500s, followed by the Dutch in the 1600s and the British from 1796.
In 1960, Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world’s first woman to hold which office?
Prime Minister
Sirimavo Bandaranaike became Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1960, the first woman in the world to head a government.
Which king is traditionally credited with building the rock fortress of Sigiriya?
King Kashyapa
King Kashyapa built his palace on Sigiriya rock in the 5th century AD. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Geography, culture and symbols 5 questions
Mountains and rivers, the Lion Flag, Kandy's Temple of the Tooth and the Palk Strait.
Practise only: Geography, culture and symbols →
What is the highest mountain in Sri Lanka?
Pidurutalagala
Pidurutalagala, near Nuwara Eliya, is the highest point at about 2,524 metres. Adam's Peak is lower but more famous.
What is the longest river in Sri Lanka?
Mahaweli
The Mahaweli River is the longest river in Sri Lanka and flows from the central hills to the sea near Trincomalee.
What animal appears on the national flag of Sri Lanka?
A lion holding a sword
The national flag, often called the Lion Flag, shows a golden lion holding a sword on a dark red field.
Which famous temple in Kandy houses a relic of the Buddha?
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy holds a tooth relic of the Buddha.
Which strait separates Sri Lanka from India?
Palk Strait
The Palk Strait lies between northern Sri Lanka and the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
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