History of Sri Lanka

The documented history of Sri Lanka begins with the arrival of Prince Vijaya from North India in the 5th century BC — the founding myth of the Sinhalese nation. Vijaya and his companions are said to have landed in western Sri Lanka and founded the first Sinhalese kingdom.

Anuradhapura Period (377 BC – 1017)

The capital Anuradhapura was the center of Sinhalese civilization for over 1,300 years — one of the longest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Monumental dagobas (stupas) were built here, among the largest structures of the ancient world, along with an intricate irrigation system with thousands of reservoirs and a highly developed Buddhist culture.

In 247 BC, the monk Mahinda (son of the Indian Emperor Ashoka) brought Theravada Buddhism to the island — a turning point that shapes Sri Lanka to this day. His sister Sangamitta brought a sapling of the sacred Bodhi tree, which still stands in Anuradhapura today.

Polonnaruwa Period (1017–1235)

After the conquest of Anuradhapura by the South Indian Chola Dynasty, the capital moved to Polonnaruwa. King Parakramabahu I. (1153–1186) led the kingdom to new heights: He unified the island, built the vast reservoir Parakrama Samudra, and commissioned the Gal Vihara — those rock-carved Buddha statues that are masterpieces of world art.

Wandering Capitals & Kandy (1235–1505)

After the fall of Polonnaruwa, the capital shifted multiple times: Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Gampola, and finally Kandy, the last Sinhalese kingdom, which survived until 1815.

Three European powers controlled Sri Lanka in succession — each left deep marks that are still visible today.

Portuguese (1505–1658)

The Portuguese arrived in 1505 in search of spices — especially cinnamon, Sri Lanka's "brown gold." They controlled the coastal areas, built fortresses (Colombo, Galle, Jaffna), and zealously proselytized: Thousands of Sri Lankans were converted to Catholicism. Portuguese family names (Silva, Fernando, Perera) remain the most common in Sri Lanka to this day.

Dutch (1658–1796)

The Dutch East India Company (VOC) ousted the Portuguese and controlled the coasts for almost 140 years. They expanded Galle Fort into the impressive fortress that is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, constructed canals (Dutch Canal in Negombo), and influenced the legal system. The Roman-Dutch law still applies in parts of Sri Lanka today.

British (1796–1948)

The British took over the coasts from the Dutch and achieved in 1815 what no European power had managed before: they conquered the Kingdom of Kandy, the last independent Sinhalese kingdom. The last king, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, was exiled to South India.

The British fundamentally transformed the island:

• Tea cultivation: From 1867, the Scotsman James Taylor transformed the highlands into vast tea plantations — "Ceylon Tea" became world-famous. For the harvest, the British brought Tamil workers from South India, who lived as cheap labor on the plantations — the ancestors of today's "Hill Country Tamils."
• Railway: The spectacular railway line from Colombo to the highlands was built to transport tea — and is now one of the most beautiful train routes in the world.
• Administration & Education: English as the administrative language, Christian missionary schools, Western legal system.

Sri Lanka's 26-year civil war between the Sinhalese government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, "Tamil Tigers") is the most painful wound in recent history. Over 100,000 people died, and hundreds of thousands were displaced.

Causes

After independence in 1948, Sinhalese governments increasingly marginalized the Tamil minority: Sinhala became the sole official language in 1956, Tamils were disadvantaged in university admissions, and systematic discrimination drove Tamil youth into the arms of radical groups.

The War

In 1983, violence escalated during the "Black July" — anti-Tamil pogroms in Colombo and other cities, where over 3,000 Tamils were killed and tens of thousands displaced. The LTTE under Velupillai Prabhakaran then waged a fierce guerrilla war for an independent Tamil state "Tamil Eelam" in the north and east.

The war was marked by atrocities on both sides: The LTTE used child soldiers and suicide bombers, while the government army was accused of severe human rights violations. The final months of 2009 were particularly brutal — thousands of civilians died in the crossfire as the army cornered the LTTE in a small zone in the northeast.

Reconciliation

Since the end of the war in 2009, Sri Lanka has remarkably recovered. The north is accessible again, Jaffna is flourishing, and infrastructure has been expanded. But the wounds heal slowly: Many Tamils miss their relatives, accountability has been scarce, and the military remains present in the north.

Two other disasters have shaken Sri Lanka in recent times — and both have left a lasting impact on the country.

Tsunami 2004

On December 26, 2004, one of the deadliest natural disasters in history hit Sri Lanka with full force. A wave up to 10 meters high struck the south and east coasts — over 35,000 people died, and 500,000 were left homeless. Entire coastal towns were wiped out. The most famous case: the "tsunami train" near Peraliya close to Hikkaduwa, where over 1,700 people drowned — the largest railway disaster of all time.

Sri Lanka has since rebuilt — early warning systems have been installed, buffer zones established along the coast. Memorials and museums along the south coast commemorate the victims.

Economic Crisis 2022

In April 2022, Sri Lanka's economy collapsed: state bankruptcy, inflation over 60%, fuel and food shortages, hours-long power outages. Mass protests led to the ousting of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The crisis was triggered by a combination of mismanagement, the COVID pandemic, and the controversial ban on chemical fertilizers.

For travelers, the economic crisis has created a paradox: The strong devaluation of the rupee has made Sri Lanka significantly cheaper for foreign visitors, while locals suffer from high prices. Tourism revenues are more important than ever for the country — every visitor directly helps in the economic recovery.