Sri Lanka History

Sri Lanka has always been the "Pearl in the Indian Ocean" and now this island with its natural beauty has become one of the most popular vacation spots in the world today. Below we take a brief look at Sri Lanka history and just why it has been so important to so many people from around the world.

Through out ancient times and before European's even came to the area this island was an extremely important trading post and port. Originally the island was frequented by merchants from the Middle East, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Persia and other countries to be found in South East Asia.

However in 1505 the first group of missionaries around on the island from Portugal and was made up of three separate kingdoms at the time. They were the Kandy Kingdom which was located in the central hills of the island. The Kotte Kingdom which was to be found located on the Western Coast of the island and the Yarlpanam Kingdom which was found on the North part of the island.

After nearly 100 years of the Portuguese being on the island the Dutch arrived in the 17th Century and even though much of the island then came under European rule the kingdom to be found in the hilly area of the island remained independent and Kandy was its capital. But by 1796 the British East India Company had made its way to Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) and established control over it. However it was not until 1802 did the British formerly declare the island a Crown Colony even though it would not actually be connected officially to India which was also under British rule at this time. But by 1815 the island became unified under the rule of Britain when the last independent Kingdom of Kandy fell.

It was during their time of rule that the British brought workers from Tamil Nadu to work in their plantations and today their ancestors are now consist of a large population on the island. The plantations that the Europeans set up including the British produced not only tea and coffee but also cinnamon, rubber, sugar and indigo as well. Today some of the major exports that the island is still producing are tea, coffee and rubber.

Whilst ruling the island of Sri Lanka the British established the city of Colombo as its administrative headquarters. They also built roads and churches and schools to the island and so brought to them our western cultures and education methods.

Yet is was during the 1930's that Sri Lanka history began to change for the better for the islanders who began to see independence from the British but it did not actually gain this until the 4 February 1948. It was at this time retitled the Commonwealth of Ceylon. Then in 1972 the Island then became a republic and it was at this time its name was changed to that by which we know it today "Sri Lanka".

About the Author: P Abbey owns and operates http://www.helapeheliya.com Sri Lanka History

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