Sri Jayawardenepura KotteAsking the Sky...
21.8M#60
65.6K km²#120
Southern Asia
Sri Lankan rupee
$99.0B USD#115
Lower middle income
Coastal
Sinhala, Tamil
HISTORIC TIMELINE
29 BCEFourth Buddhist Council
The earliest known Buddhist writings in Sri Lanka, known as the Pali Canon, were recorded.
1505Portuguese Arrival
The Portuguese arrived in Sri Lanka seeking control over maritime trade amid political upheaval.
1658Dutch Control
After the Sinhalese–Portuguese War, the Dutch and Kingdom of Kandy took control over Portuguese areas.
1815British Ceylon Established
The British extended their control over Sri Lanka, marking the beginning of British Ceylon.
1948Independence from Britain
Sri Lanka gained independence as a dominion from British rule.
1972Becoming a Republic
Sri Lanka formally became a republic, changing its name from Ceylon.
1983Civil War Begins
A long Civil War commenced, lasting for 26 years and marked by conflict between the government and Tamil rebels.
2009End of Civil War
The Sri Lankan Armed Forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, ending the protracted conflict.