1. Sri Lanka Category: Introduction - Background: The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C. probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the island were controlled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Tens of thousands have died in the ethnic conflict that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire in February 2002 with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006 and the government regained control of the Eastern Province in 2007. In January 2008, the government officially withdrew from the ceasefire, and has begun engaging the LTTE in the northern portion of the country.


2. Tanzania Category: Geography - Environment - current issues: soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory


3. Micronesia, Federated States of Category: Transnational Issues - Disputes - international: none


4. Haiti Category: Economy - Oil - proved reserves (bbl): 0 bbl (1 January 2006 estimate)


5. Sudan Category: People - Sex ratio (male(s)/female): at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female; under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female; 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female; 65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female; total population: 1.045 male(s)/female (2008 estimate)

Suriname Facts Info Stuff (SR):

1. United Arab Emirates Category: Government - Executive branch: chief of state: President KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); head of government: Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers SULTAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) and HAMDAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 October 2003); cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power; elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC for five-year terms (no term limits); election last held 3 November 2004 upon the death of the UAE's Founding Father and first President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (next to be held in 2009); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president; election results: KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan elected president by a unanimous vote of the FSC; MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum unanimously affirmed vice president after the 2006 death of his brother Sheikh Maktum bin Rashid al-Maktum


2. Trinidad and Tobago Category: People - HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 29,000 (2003 estimate)


3. Malawi Category: Economy - Budget: revenues: .227 billion; expenditures: .337 billion (2008 estimate)


4. Monaco Category: Geography - Natural resources: none


5. Jordan Category: Military - Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 68,067; female: 65,512 (2008 estimate)

1. Jersey Category: Military - Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK


2. Austria Category: Economy - Imports: 3.4 billion f.o.b. (2008 estimate)


3. Portugal Category: Economy - Oil - consumption (bbl/day): 301,000 bbl/day (2007 estimate)


4. Burkina Faso Category: Geography - Land use (%): arable land: 17.66%; permanent crops: 0.22%; other: 82.12% (2005)


5. Slovakia Category: Government - Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory