Sri Lanka has had a continuous
record of human settlement for more than two millennia. The Sinhalese claim to
have been the origins of human inhabitants and earliest colonizers of Sri
Lanka; first settling in the dry north-central regions as early as 500 B.C.
Later, by about 240 BC, arrivals from India brought the Buddhism which helped
to develop great civilizations in cities as such as Anuradhapura and
Polonnaruwa.
According to Mahavamsa, one of
the traditional chronicles of early Sri Lankan history, King Asoka of India
sent his son, Arahat Mahinda, and daughter, Sangamitta Thero, to Sri Lanka from
India to establish Buddhism on the island during the first century B.C. His son
started the first order of monks, and his daughter the first order of nuns on
the island. Buddhism quickly became the established religion and the focus of a
strong nationalism. For almost 1500 years, Anuradhapura was the center of
Sinhalese kingdom. Buddhism had flourished the kingdom with cultural greatness
and civilization.
Anuradhapura was established as
the first capital of Sri Lanka in ancient times. In the 2nd, 3rd and 4th
centuries AD Sri Lanka became a rich kingdom. Great kings built large
reservoirs and irrigation canals to take water from one area to another. Sri
Lanka traded with India, China, Persia and Ethiopia. Anuradhapura also became
the first Buddhist centre of Sri Lanka, characterized by the massive
dome-shaped ‘stupas’ (also known as dagebas) which were built to contain sacred
relics.
The main threat to Anuradhapura
was from the Tamil rulers of south India, across the sea raiding the city.
Continuous struggle between south Indian kingdoms and Sinhalese kingdom went on
for over 1000 years. In the early 11th century, Tamils from South India invaded
Sri Lanka and conquered Anuradhapura, and the capital was shifted from
Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa. However, the Sinhalese continued to resist and, in
1070 the Sinhalese ruler Vijayabahu recaptured the north.
In 1153 Parakrama Bahu the
Great became the King and he reunited Sri Lanka and rebuilt the irrigation
system. In the 13th century there were repeated invasions from India which
began the political instability in Sri Lanka. The irrigation system broke-down
and the people drifted to the Southwest. In 1255 the capital Polonnaruwa was
abandoned.
In the end of 12th century the
Tamils settled in the north of Sri Lanka. By the 15th century Sri Lanka was
divided into 3 areas. In the north lived the Tamils and the other two were
related to Buddhist – Sinhalese kingdoms, one in Kotte (Southwest of Sri Lanka)
and the other in Kandy, the hill centre of the island.
Colonial era
The European domination began
in the 16th century with the arrival of the Portuguese and lasted more than 400
years. Portuguese controlled the coasted Sri Lanka for nearly 150 years and
were driven out by the Dutch arriving at the Island in 1658 who were succeeded
by the British invaders in 1796. The Island was under British control for the
next 152 years. During this period Sri Lanka’s agricultural industry was very
successful and the economy was based mainly on Tea, Rubber and Coconut.
Post Colonial History
During World War ll, Sri Lanka
was still under British power and the dominion status was negotiated with the
leader of the State Council D.S Senanayake who was also the Vice Chairman of
the Board of Ministers. In 1947 The Ceylon Independence Act was passed and the
transfer of power was formalized. At the same time the UNP (United National Party)
was formed by the D.S Senanyaka and won the 1947 election. On February 4, 1948
the new constitution came in to power making Sri Lanka a dominion and the
leader of UNP D.S.Senanayake became the first prime Minister.
Important mile stones
1948 – Ceylon gained
independence
1956 – S.W.R.D Bandaranayaka
elected as the Prime Minister
1959 – S.W.R.D. was
assassinated
1965 – UNP won the election
1970 – Sirimavo Bandaranayake
(wife of S.W.R.d Bandaranaake) elected to power
1972 – Constitution was amended
and Ceylon became Republic of Sri Lanka
1977 – J.R Jayawardene (UNP)
became the first executive president with effect from 1978
1983 – Beginning of the civil
war in the north and east
1993 – President Premasada was
killed by LTTE
1994 – Chandrika Kumaratunga
elected as the President
2004 – In December more than
30,000 people were killed when Tsunami hit the coastal area
2005 – Mahinda Rajapaksha won
the Presidential election
2009 – Government defeated
Tamil tigers ending the civil war
2010 – President Mahainda
Rajapaksha elected as the president for the second time
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