History of Sri Lanka

The history of Sri Lanka covers Sri Lanka and its surrounding regions of South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.

Prehistoric Sri Lanka goes back 125,000 years and possibly even as far back as 500,000 years. The earliest humans found in Sri Lanka date to Prehistoric times about 35,000 years ago. Little is known about the history before the Indo-Aryan Settlement in the 6th century BC. The earliest documents of the settlement on the Island and its early history are found in the national chronicles of the Mahāvamsa, Dipavamsa, and the Culavamsa.

According to the Mahāvamsa, a chronicle written in Pāḷi, the preceding inhabitants of Sri Lanka were said to be Yakkhas and Nagas. Sinhalese history traditionally starts in 543 BC with the arrival of Prince Vijaya, a semi-legendary prince who sailed with 700 followers to the island, after being expelled from the Vanga Kingdom, in present-day Bengal. Prince Vijaya thereafter established the Sinhala Kingdom ushering in the historical period of Sri Lanka. During the Anuradhapura period (377 BCE–1017) Buddhism was introduced in the 3rd century BCE by Mahinda, son of Indian emperor Ashoka.

Geographical background

See also: Geography of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal. It sits on the Indian Plate, a large piece of Earth's surface that moves over time. The island is separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.

Sri Lanka has many rivers, with the longest being the Mahaweli River. The island also has beautiful waterfalls, the tallest being Bambarakanda Falls. Sri Lanka’s coastline stretches for 1,585 kilometers and includes many types of marine life, such as coral reefs and seagrasses. The island is rich in minerals and plants, and it is home to many unique animals, including Asian elephants and purple-faced langur. Forests cover much of the land, though there has been a decrease in forest areas over time.

Overview

The history of Sri Lanka is very long, going back a very long time—up to 125,000 years ago! Some of the earliest humans known to live there were around about 35,000 years ago. Sri Lanka's story includes many important events from prehistoric times through today.

Prehistoric Sri Lanka

Main article: Prehistory of Sri Lanka

The history of Sri Lanka begins over 125,000 years ago, and maybe even earlier. During ancient times called the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and early Iron Ages, people lived in places like Pahiyangala, Batadombalena, and Belilena. These early humans, known as Balangoda Man, lived in caves and may have started farming and used dogs to help hunt.

Sri Lanka is mentioned in old stories from India, like the Ramayana. It talks about a place named Lanka, ruled by a rich king named Kubera. Later, a strong ruler named Ravana took over. Some believe the city of Galle might be from a very old seaport linked to myths about King Solomon. The first big settlements, like Anuradhapura, began around 1000 BCE and grew over time. The Vedda people, who still live in parts of Sri Lanka today, may be related to these earliest inhabitants. They built big water reservoirs and pyramid-like structures called stupas. Early ideas of Buddhism may have also started during this time.

Pre-Anuradhapura period (543–377 BCE)

Main article: Early kingdoms period

Main article: Prince Vijaya

Old stories and records from around the 6th century BCE tell us about early Sri Lanka. Important books like the Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Thupavamsa, and the Chulavamsa, along with stone writings, help us learn about this time.

The Mahavamsa, written by a monk named Mahanama around 400 CE, matches up with histories from India. It even talks about Emperor Ashoka. The story of a man named Vijaya and his 700 followers from a place called Vanga is where real history seems to start. Vijaya was said to be a prince from India, son of a king and a queen with very old and special family stories. According to these tales, Vijaya arrived in Sri Lanka on the same day the Buddha passed away. He landed near a place called Mahathitha (Manthota or Mannar) and named the island Tambaparni, meaning "copper-colored sand."

The river called Tamirabharani, now known as Malwatu Oya in Sinhala and Aruvi Aru in Tamil, was very important. It connected the capital city, Anuradhapura, to the port at Mahathitha and was used by ships from Greece and China traveling along an old trade route. There was also an ancient port named Mahathir that linked Sri Lanka to India and faraway places.

Anuradhapura period (377 BCE–1017)

Main articles: Anuradhapura period and Anuradhapura Kingdom

In the early days of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, people made their homes near rivers in the east, north central, and north east areas where water was available all year for farming. The king ruled the land, made laws, led the army, and protected the people's beliefs. Devanampiya Tissa (250–210 BCE) was a Sinhalese king who was a friend of the King of the Maurya clan. Because of his friendship with Emperor Asoka, Buddhism was brought to Sri Lanka by Mahinda around 247 BCE. Sangamitta, Mahinda's sister, brought a Bodhi sapling through Jambukola, west of Kankasanturai. This king's rule was very important for Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Ellalan (205–161 BCE) was a Tamil king who ruled the northern part of Sri Lanka after defeating King Asela. During Ellalan's time, Kelani Tissa was a lesser king in the south-west, and Kavan Tissa was a lesser king in the south-east. Kavan Tissa built Tissa Maha Vihara, Dighavapi Tank, and many shrines in Seruvila. Dutugemunu (161–137 BCE), the eldest son of King Kavan Tissa, defeated a South Indian Tamil invader named Elara when he was 25 years old. The Ruwanwelisaya, built by Dutugemunu, is a large pyramid-shaped structure and was considered a wonderful engineering feat.

There was strong trade between the Roman people and the ancient Tamil country (present day Southern India) and Sri Lanka. Trading settlements were created and lasted long after the Western Roman Empire ended.

It is said that in the first century AD, Saint Thomas the Apostle brought Christianity, Sri Lanka's first religion that focused on one god, to the island.

During the time of Mahasena (274–301), some problems happened with the Theravada branch of Buddhism, and the Mahayanan branch appeared. Later, the king went back to the Maha Vihara. Dhatusena (459–477) and his son Kashyapa (477–495) built the famous Sigiriya rock palace.

Main article: Chola occupation of Anuradhapura

In 993, a large army from the Chola Empire led by Raja Raja Chola conquered the Anuradhapura Kingdom in the north and made it part of the Chola empire. Later, the whole island became part of the Chola empire during the rule of Rajendra Chola.

Polonnaruwa period (1056–1232)

Main articles: Polonnaruwa period and Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa was an important kingdom in Sri Lanka. It began in 1055 under Vijayabahu I and lasted until 1212 when Lilavati ruled. This kingdom started after the Anuradhapura Kingdom was taken over by forces from Chola under Rajaraja I.

Later, Sadayavarman Sundara Pandyan I came from India and took control of parts of Sri Lanka. He defeated a ruler named Chandrabanu in the north. But Chandrabanu grew stronger and tried to take back the land. He was stopped by Veera Pandyan I, the brother of Sadayavarman Sundara Pandyan I. Finally, the Pandyan Dynasty invaded again and set up the Jaffna kingdom in the north.

Transitional period (1232–1505)

Jaffna Kingdom

Main article: Jaffna kingdom

The Jaffna Kingdom, also called the Aryacakravarti dynasty, was a northern kingdom centered around the Jaffna Peninsula. In 1247, a group from the Malay kingdom of Tambralinga, which was part of the larger Srivijaya Empire, briefly invaded Sri Lanka. They were pushed out by a South Indian group called the Pandyan Dynasty. This short invasion brought new people from places like Sumatrans (Indonesia) and Lucoes (Philippines) to live in Sri Lanka.

Kingdom of Dambadeniya

Main article: Kingdom of Dambadeniya

King Vijayabahu III defeated a ruler named Kalinga Magha and set up his kingdom in Dambadeniya. After King Vijayabahu III passed away, his son King Parakramabahu the II took over. He fought and defeated Kalinga Magha after 40 years and built a temple for a special religious relic in Dambadeniya.

Kingdom Of Yapahuwa

Main article: Yapahuwa

After King Parakramabahu II died, his son became king of the Dambadeniya Kingdom. But within two years, he was killed because of a secret plan made in the royal palace. Then his brother, King Buwanekabahu I, became king and made Yapahuwa his new kingdom. He built a palace and fortress there in 1273. After King Buwanekabahu I died in 1284, people from South India called the Pandyans invaded again and took a very important religious relic. After that, Yapahuwa was mostly left empty and became a place for Buddhist monks and holy people.

Kingdom of Gampola

Main article: Kingdom of Gampola

King Buwanekabahu IV, who was said to be the son of Sawulu Vijayabahu, set up the Kingdom of Gampola. During this time, a traveler named Ibn Battuta visited Sri Lanka and wrote a book about it. Important buildings from this time include the Gadaladeniya Viharaya and the Lankatilaka Viharaya.

Kingdom of Kotte

Main article: Kingdom of Kotte

After winning a battle, Parakramabahu VI sent a leader named Alagakkonar to organize the new kingdom of Kotte.

Kingdom of Sitawaka

Main article: Kingdom of Sitawaka

The Kingdom of Sitawaka existed for a short time during the time when the Portuguese came to the area.

Vannimai

Main article: Vanni Nadu

Vannimai, also called Vanni Nadu, were areas ruled by Vanniar chiefs south of the Jaffna Peninsula in northern Sri Lanka. In 1802, a leader named Pandara Vanniyan joined forces with the Kandy Nayakars to fight against British and Dutch rulers. He managed to free Mullaitivu and other northern areas from Dutch control. However, in 1803, he was defeated by the British, and the Vanni area came under British rule.

Crisis of the Sixteenth Century (1505–1594)

Portuguese intervention

Main articles: Portuguese Ceylon and Sinhalese–Portuguese War

In the 1500s, the first Europeans to arrive in Sri Lanka were the Portuguese. They arrived in 1505 and found the island split into seven kingdoms that were fighting among themselves. The Portuguese built a fort in the port city of Colombo in 1517 and slowly took control of the coastal areas. By 1592, the Sinhalese people moved their capital to the safer inland city of Kandy. Fighting between the Portuguese and local kingdoms continued throughout the 16th century.

Many people in the lowlands changed their beliefs because of the Portuguese missionaries. The coastal Moors faced tough times and had to move to the Central highlands. Most people followed Buddhism and did not like Portuguese rule. They hoped someone would come to help them. When a Dutch captain named Joris van Spilbergen arrived in 1602, the king of Kandy asked him for support.

Dutch intervention

Main article: Dutch Ceylon

The king of Kandy, Rajasinghe II, made an agreement with the Dutch in 1638 to remove the Portuguese from the coastal areas. The Dutch promised to give any land they captured to the king, but they also wanted exclusive trading rights on the island. Both sides did not always follow the agreement. The Dutch took Colombo in 1656 and the last Portuguese areas near Jaffnapatnam in 1658. By 1660, the Dutch controlled all the coastal areas, but the kingdom of Kandy remained independent. The Dutch, who did not follow the same beliefs as the Portuguese, were harder on taxes and treated some groups differently, but they mostly left Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims alone.

Kandyan period (1594–1815)

Main article: Kingdom of Kandy

After the Portuguese invaded, a leader named Konappu Bandara, also known as King Vimaladharmasuriya, cleverly won a battle and became the first king of the Kingdom of Kandy. He built a special temple called The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic to honor important traditions. The kingdom’s rule ended many years later with the passing of its last king, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, in 1832.

Colonial Sri Lanka (1815–1948)

Main article: British Ceylon

During the Napoleonic Wars, Great Britain took control of coastal areas of Sri Lanka in 1796, fearing the French might use them. By 1802, a treaty gave Britain control of the island’s Dutch-controlled parts, making it a crown colony. In 1815, after battles, the British took over the Kingdom of Kandy, ending Sri Lanka’s independence.

The British found Sri Lanka’s highlands perfect for growing coffee, tea, and rubber. By the mid-1800s, Ceylon tea became popular in Britain, making some European planters very wealthy. They brought in many workers from south India, called Tamils, who soon made up 10% of the island’s people.

The British favored some groups, like certain Sinhalese and Tamils, and also introduced new ideas of self-government starting in 1833. By 1931, everyone could vote, even though some leaders did not like this idea.

Independence movement

Main article: Sri Lankan independence movement

Groups formed to ask for more freedom from British rule. Some wanted change slowly, while others were more eager for full independence. Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru from India inspired many. Over time, discussions and changes led to plans for a new government.

The Second World War

Main article: Ceylon in World War II

During World War II, Sri Lanka was important to Britain as a base against Japan. Some groups opposed the war, but the government worked closely with Britain. The Japanese bombed Colombo in 1942, which changed some politics on the island. Despite differences, many continued to push for independence.

Independence

The leader Don Stephen Senanayake formed the United National Party in 1946, aiming for independence. In 1947 elections, his party won and formed a government. This included leaders from both Sinhalese and Tamil groups, balancing different needs and hopes for the new nation.

Sri Lanka (1948–present)

Sri Lanka became independent in 1948. At first, it was called the Dominion of Ceylon and had military agreements with Britain. The first Prime Minister was D. S. Senanayake. In 1956, Sinhala became the main language, causing some people to feel left out. There were also conflicts between different groups.

In 1971, a group called the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna tried to take over but were stopped by the government. In 1972, Sri Lanka became a republic. In 1978, the government changed to a presidential system. There were many challenges, including ethnic tensions and violence.

In 1983, riots broke out after an attack on soldiers, leading to many homes being destroyed and people leaving the country. In 2005, Mahinda Rajapaksa became president. Fighting continued until 2009 when the government ended a long conflict. Sadly, many people died during this time.

In 2019, several bombings happened on Easter Sunday, targeting churches and hotels. Many people were killed and injured. In 2022, protests grew because of economic problems, leading to the president leaving the country. In 2024, Anura Kumara Dissanayake became president after elections.