Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is a prominent island nation located in the Indian Ocean, situated in the Southern Asian region. Geographically, it is separated from the Indian mainland by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and shares a maritime border with the Maldives. The country's capital, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, is distinct from the commercial hub of Colombo. With an area of 65,610 km², Sri Lanka possesses a rich blend of tropical geography, diverse ecosystems, and a complex history spanning ancient civilizations to modern geopolitical challenges.