Sri Lanka

6th Century BCE: The arrival of the Sinhalese people from northern India

2nd Century BCE: Introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka

1505 (March 14, Friday): Portuguese arrive in Sri Lanka, marking the beginning of European colonialism

1658 (April 27, Thursday): Dutch defeat Portuguese and establish control over coastal areas

1796 (July 19, Tuesday): British take control of Sri Lanka from the Dutch

1948 (February 4, Wednesday): Sri Lanka gains independence from Britain

1972 (May 22, Monday): Sri Lanka becomes a republic and adopts a new constitution

1983 (July 23, Saturday): Beginning of the Sri Lankan Civil War, lasting until 2009

2004 (December 26, Sunday): Sri Lanka is devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami; thousands of lives lost

2009 (May 18, Monday): End of the Sri Lankan Civil War after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers

2016 (May 20, Friday): Severe floods and landslides in southern Sri Lanka, causing major casualties

2019 (April 21, Sunday): Easter Sunday bombings by terrorist groups targeting churches and hotels

2020 (March 11, Wednesday): COVID-19 cases detected, leading to a national lockdown and travel restrictions

2022 (May 9, Monday): A major economic crisis triggers mass protests and political unrest, with food shortages and power cuts

2023 (July 27, Thursday): Flash floods caused by heavy monsoon rains disrupt several regions of the island

Continent: Asia
Location: South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean, off the southeastern coast of India
Capital: Colombo (commercial capital), Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (administrative capital)
Language: Sinhala (official), Tamil (official), English (link language)
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Population: ~22 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Sri Lanka Standard Time (SLST) / UTC +5:30

Borders: None (island nation)
Landscape: Coastal plain, mountains in the central region, rolling hills, and fertile valleys
Major Rivers: Mahaweli River, Kelani River, Gin River, Rajangane River
Major Mountains: Pidurutalagala (highest point), Knuckles Mountain Range, Horton Plains
Deserts: None
Lakes: Kandy Lake, Parakrama Samudra
Volcanoes: None
Highest Point: Pidurutalagala (2,524 m / 8,281 ft)
Lowest Point: Indian Ocean (0 m / 0 ft)
Climate: Tropical climate with distinct wet (monsoon) and dry seasons; coastal areas are hot and humid, while the central highlands are cooler
Geological Features: Coastal plains, central mountains, fertile river valleys, and numerous freshwater lakes

Ethnic Groups: Sinhalese (majority), Tamils, Moors, Burghers, Malays, and others
Religion: Buddhism (predominantly Theravada), Hinduism, Islam, Christianity
Urban Population: ~18% (last updated: 2023)
Aging Population: ~12% aged 65+ (last updated: 2024)

Famous For: Rich cultural heritage, tea production, historical sites, beaches
Cuisine: Rice and curry, hoppers, kottu roti, sambol, seafood
Arts: Traditional dance, music (baila), sculpture, painting
Sports: Cricket, rugby, volleyball, athletics

Economy Type: Mixed economy with a focus on agriculture, industry, and services
GDP: Approx. $85 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Textiles and garments, tea, rubber, tourism, agriculture, construction
Key Exports: Tea, clothing, spices, rubber, seafood
Unemployment Rate: ~4.8% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: Primarily in the Western and Southern Provinces; agricultural production in the central and southern regions

Government Type: Democratic Socialist Republic, with a presidential system
Head of State: President Ranil Wickremesinghe (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Unicameral (Parliament of Sri Lanka)
Constitution: In effect since 1978, amended multiple times

Sigiriya: Ancient rock fortress and UNESCO World Heritage site
Temple of the Tooth: Sacred Buddhist temple in Kandy
Galle Fort: Colonial-era fortification and UNESCO site
Yala National Park: Wildlife sanctuary, home to elephants, leopards, and diverse fauna
Anuradhapura: Ancient city, home to Buddhist ruins and sacred trees
Nuwara Eliya: Hill station known for tea plantations and cooler temperatures