History of Sri Lanka

  Sri Lanka boasts of a documented history of over 2000 years with the first stone objects dating back to 500,000 BC mainly due to ancient historic scriptures like Mahawansa several centuries of intermittent foreign,influence,has transformed Sri Lankan culture to the present outlook.Nevertheless ancient traditions and festivals are celebrated by mostly conservative Sinhalese people of the island,together with other minorities that make up the Sri Lanka identity. The architecture of Sri Lanka displays a rich variety of architectural forms and styles.Buddhism had a significant influence on Sri Lankan architecture,since it was introduced to the island in 3rd century BCE. However techniques and styles developed in Europe and Asia have also played a major role in the architecture of Sri Lanka. Many forms of Sri Lankan arts and crafts take inspiration from the Island's long and lasting Buddhist culture which in turn has absorbed and adopted countless regional and local traditions.In most...

  Sri Lanka's history spans over 2,500 years,marked by ancient kingdoms (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa) known for Buddhist culture and advanced irrigation,followed by South Indian influences and invasions,culminating in unique Sinhalese kingdoms.European colonialism began with the Portuguese (16th C),then Dutch,and finally British rule (1815-1948) ,which unified the island and introduced plantation economies.Independence in 1948 led to a republic,but ethic tensions flared into a devastating civil war (1983-2009),shaping modern Sri Lanka's identity as a diverse nation with deep cultural roots in Indian subcontinent traditions.                                                                                                         ...

  The history of Sri Lanka is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions,comprising the areas of South Asia,Southeast Asia and Indian ocean.The early human remains found on the island of Sri Lanka date to about 38,000 years ago.(Balangoda Man) The historical period begins roughly in the 3rd century,based on Pali chronicles like the Mahavansa, Deepavansa,and Choolavansa. They describe the history since the arrival of Sinhalese from Northern India.The earliest documents of settlement in the island are found in these chronicles.These chronicles cover the period since the east establishment of the Kingdom of Tambapanni in the 6th century BCE by the earliest ancestors of the Sinhalese.The first Sri Lankan ruler of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, Pandukabhaya, is recorded for the 4th century BCE. Buddhism was introduced in the 3rd century BCE by Arhath Mahinda (son of the Indian emperor Ashoka) The island was divided into numerous kingdoms over ...

  Sri Lanka is considered to enter its historical period with the introduction of Buddhism to the island around 246 BC.At that time,the Indian emperor Asoka sent his son Mahinda  on a diplomatic mission to Sri Lanka.Asoka had converted to Buddhism and wanted his son to spread the religion in Sri Lanka. Mahinda succeeded in convincing the ruler of Sri Lanka to convert to Buddhism.Later,Asoka's daughter Sanghamitra brought a shoot of the Bodhi tree (the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment) from Bodh Gaya in Sri Lanka.The nun (bikshuni) Sanghamitra established an order of Buddhist nuns there.With the support of the Sri Lankan royal family, Buddhism became the dominant religion on the island.It is one of the few countries in the world where Buddhism has been practiced without interruption from its introduction to the present day.From the beginning of the historical period,Sri Lankan architecture was deeply influenced by Buddhism.Successive kings made it a point of honor...

  At the beginning of the British Colonial Era,coffee was the main crop that was grown in Sri Lanka.When the fungal disease,coffee rust,devastated the coffee cultivation in Sri Lanka,the British had to look for alternatives.Tea is one such alternative that was tested in the island nation in the colonial era. The first tea plant was introduced to the country in 1824 in the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya. By 1867 the Scotsman,James Taylor (called "the father of Ceylon Tea")produced the first commercial crop tea at the Loolecondera Estate in Kandy. That is considered as the beginning of the tea industry in Sri Lanka.As tea took off on the island it soon became the main commercial crop of the country,which today amounts to about 350 million kilograms exported each year! If you are visiting Kandy during your Sri Lanka holiday,visit the Ceylon Tea Museum in Hanthana to learn more about our rich tea history.Built on the premises of a once fully functioning tea factory,the mus...

Sri Lank's history and culture is extremely rich for it had developed with time over the centuries with much influences from other countries during their invasions and rule.The dawn of Buddhism in the country during the 3rd century BC encouraged  the development of civilizations since the teaching of Lord Buddha had to be written so the  people started learning to read and write hence the language of Sinhala was born. The historical culture of Sri Lanka evolved through many ancient kingdoms such as the Anuradhapura kingdom which still remains as an atmospheric ruin with its spectacular dagobas and monasteries;the fantastic rock fortress of Sigiriya which still fascinates with its engineering designs of ancient times;the colourful and artistic wall and ceiling paintings at Dambulla Cave Temple which is 2000 years old;the Dalada Maligawa.Temple of the Tooth in Kandy reflects the centre of Buddhist culture for it houses the 1,500 year old relic of Lord Buddha. Sri Lanka's culture...