Sri Lanka History

History
Sri Lanka was known from the beginning of British colonial rule as Ceylon, US also /seɪˈlɒn/). A nationalist political movement arose in the country in the early 20th century to obtain political independence, which was granted in 1948; the country became a republic and adopted its current name in 1972. Sri Lanka's recent history has been marred by a 26-year civil war, which decisively ended when the Sri Lanka Armed Forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009.

After years of agitation, Ceylon was granted independence in 1948. However, conflicts between Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Christians continues. In 1972, Ceylon became a democratic socialists republic, and the name Sri Lanka was chosen to replace Ceylon. The current constitution stipulates the political system as a republic and a unitary state governed by a semi-presidential system. It has had a long history of international engagement. Along with the Maldives, Sri Lanka is one of only two South Asian countries rated high on the Human Development Index, with its rating and per capita income the highest among South Asian nations. The Sri Lankan constitution accords Buddhism the foremost place, although it does not identify it as a state religion. Buddhism is given special privileges in the Sri Lankan constitution.

The island is home to many cultures, languages and ethnicities. The majority of the population is from the Sinhalese ethnicity, while a large minority of Tamils have also played an influential role in the island's history. Moors, Burghers, Malays, Chinese, and the indigenous Vedda are also established groups on the island. 

Timeline
1517 - The Portuguese built a fort at the port city of Colombo and gradually extended their control over the coastal areas