<Tr> <Th> Pop . density </Th> <Td> 323 / km (837 / sq mi) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Ethnic groups </Th> <Td> Sinhalese - 75%, Sri Lanka Tamils - 16%, Sri Lankan Moors 9% </Td> </Tr> <P> Sri Lanka, formerly called "Ceylon", is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, southeast of the Indian subcontinent, in a strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes . The nation has a total area of 65,610 km2, with 64,740 km2 of land and 870 km2 of water . Its coastline is 1,340 km long . The main island of Sri Lanka has an area of 65,268 km2--it's the twenty - fifth largest island of the world by area . Dozens of offshore islands account for the remaining 342 km2 area . The largest offshore island, Mannar Island, leads to Adam's Bridge . </P> <P> Adam's Bridge, a land connection to the Indian mainland, is now mostly submerged with only a chain of limestone shoals remaining above sea level . According to temple records, this natural causeway was formerly complete, but was breached by a violent storm (probably a cyclone) in 1480 . The formation is also known as Rama's Bridge, as according to Hindu mythology, it was constructed during the rule of Lord Rama . </P>

Where is sri lanka located on a map