What Language Do They Speak in Sri Lanka?

Official languages of Sri Lanka Sinhala, Tamil

Facts last checked 9 October 2026.

Sri Lanka has 2 official languages: Sinhala, Tamil.

Learn some Sinhala before you go

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Languages of Sri Lanka at a glance

Official languages	Sinhala, Tamil
Number of official languages	2
Countries on this site where Sinhala is official	1
People (demonym)	Sri Lankan
Capital	Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Internet domain	.lk

Sri Lanka in context

Sri Lanka covers 65,610 km², making it the 120th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
Its population density of about 332 people per km² ranks 26th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
Sri Lanka has no land borders with other countries on this site.
With 21,763,170 people, Sri Lanka holds about 1.1% of the population of Southern Asia.
With 2 official languages, Sri Lanka has more than most countries on this site.
Traffic drives on the left, and calendars start the week on Monday.
Sri Lanka is a member state of the United Nations.

Compare Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka vs India

Useful phrases for visitors to Sri Lanka

Everyday Tamil phrases you will hear and use in Sri Lanka:

English	Tamil
Hello	வணக்கம் (vanakkam)
Thank you	நன்றி (nandri)
Please	தயவு செய்து (dayavu seydhu)
Yes	ஆம் (aam)
No	இல்லை (illai)

Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.

Languages in Sri Lanka — FAQ