Sri Lanka History

Asia Sri Lanka

According to legend, Sri Lanka was founded about 500 B.C. by a prince from northern India. He allegedly founded the Sinhalese Kingdom, which was prominent in the northern part of the island. In the second half of the third century B.C., the Sinhalese king was converted to Buddhism. From this time until approximately 1000 A.D., Sri Lanka was a center for the development and spread of Buddhism. It also became an important trading center during this period, and Tamil Hindu settlements were established in the northern and eastern portions of the island.

From about 1000 to 1500 A.D., Sri Lanka was ruled by Buddhist Sinhalese kings who struggled to prevent encroachments from the Hindu mainland. A Tamil kingdom was established in the northern portion of the island, during this time, which eventually separated itself from the Sinhalese kingdom. The Portugese first arrived in 1505, and established coastal settlements for trade and missionary work. The Dutch intervened in a local civil war in 1638, and eventually expelled the Portugese from most of their coastal settlements. By 1766, the coastal areas of Sri Lanka were entirely controlled by the Dutch, while the interior remained under the jurisdiction of the Sinhalese and Tamil kingdoms. In 1796, the British seized the Dutch settlements on Sri Lanka and expelled the Dutch Colonists. In 1802, Sri Lanka was ceded to Great Britain by the Treaty of Amiens and became the British colony of Ceylon.

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 ( which means something akin to holy place) was chosen to replace Ceylon.