Home|Services|Newsroom The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (commonly known as Sri Lanka ) is a country and a sovereign state off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. An island nation in South Asia, it was until 1972 known as Ceylon). Sri Lanka is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. As a result of its location in the path of major sea routes, Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia. It has also been a center of the Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times and is one of the few remaining abodes of Buddhism in South Asia along with Ladakh, Bhutan and the Chittagong hill tracts. The Sinhalese community forms the majority of the population; Tamils, who are concentrated in the north and east of the island, form the largest ethnic minority. Other communities include Moors, Burghers, Kaffirs, Malays and the aboriginal Vedda people. The country is famous for the production and export of tea, coffee, coconuts, rubber and cinnamon, the latter which is native to the country. Sri Lankan Human Genome The Human Genetics Unit, University of Colombo established in 1983, is one of the oldest Genetics Centres in the Asian Region. The HGU serves as the National Referral Centre for Human Genetics in Sri Lanka setting standards for Human Genetics in the Country. The Human Genetics Unit of the Faculty of Medicine s the only centre in Sri Lanka dedicated to providing clinical genetic services including genetic testing and genetic counseling. In addition HGU conduct both undergraduate, postgraduate, and CME courses in genetics for medical and allied health professionals and programmes aimed at raising genetic awareness among the public. HGU has an active research programme in reproductive genetics and play in advocacy to make genetic services available to the people of Sri Lanka and contribute to policy formation in the field of genetics in Sri Lanka. [more] Sri Lankan Genome variation Database (SLGVD) SLGVD is a database of SNPs found in Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamils and Moors, the three major ethnic groups in the Sri Lankan population. The database was designed confirming to guidelines issued by the Human Genome Variation Society (HGVS)1. Take a tour to SLGVD Genomics facility The collaboration of Sri Lankan Twin Registry project and King's College, London is about to launch modern genetic laboratory equipped with a fully automated gene sequencer. This would be the first of its kind in the country and would see the growth of genomics. The lab will be available for genetic research work as well as other related work such as medical diagnostic and forensic services in Sri Lanka.   The Centre for Genomic Application (An IGIB-IMM Joint Initiative) 254, Ohkla Industrial Estate, Phase III, New Delhi, 110020, INDIA Ph: +91-11-41422220 Fax: +91-11-41708321 Email: info@tcgaresearch.org