(Click to enlarge)
Size: 65,610 square kilometers
Population: 20,926,315
Religions: Buddhist, 70 percent; Hindu; Christian; Muslim
Languages: Sinhala (official), 74 percent; Tamil (national language); English; others
Population below poverty line: 22 percent
Average annual income: $1.300 USD
Ethnic groups: Sinhalese, 74 percent; Tamil; Moor; Burgher; Malay; and Vedda
Life expectancy: 74 years
(Source: U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, World Factbook 2008; The World Bank 2006)
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Sri Lanka
Honoring Human Rights
The Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize was awarded in 1990 to the Civil Rights Movement (CRM) of Sri Lanka. Founded in 1971, this group is a nonpartisan, interethnic organization that promotes and protects civil and political rights in Sri Lanka. President Carter said, "The citizens of Sri Lanka have for decades borne the brunt of grave violations of their rights and dignity with insufficient attention or assistance from the rest of the world. The growth of the CRM illustrates once again the importance of individuals of conscience and commitment coming together when government no longer feels obligated to respect the rule of law."
President Carter and the late Dominique de Menil established the $100,000 prize to promote the protection of human rights. It has been awarded to individuals or organizations for their outstanding efforts on behalf of human rights, often at great personal sacrifice. The award enabled human rights activists to continue their work and focused global attention on their struggles for justice. Read more about the Carter Center's Human Rights Program.
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