SRI LANKA
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History & Government
Ruins of ancient cities recall the once flourishing civilizations of Sri Lanka. Two centres of early Sinhalese civilization were Anuradhapura in the northern plain and Polonnaruwa near the Mahaweli River to the southeast. Both in succession became capitals of the Sinhalese kingdom.

The arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century marked the beginning of European domination, which lasted more than 400 years. The Portuguese, in control of coastal Sri Lanka for 150 years, established a trading settlement at Colombo. In 1658 they were driven out by the Dutch, and in 1796 the Dutch were supplanted by the British, who controlled the country for the next 152 years. By the mid-19th century the British had brought about a dramatic transformation of the economy with the introduction of coffee and tea. A British colony from 1802, Sri Lanka became independent and democratic in 1948.

Peace has been marred in the past by open hostility between the Tamils and Sinhalese. In the 1950s there was an upsurge of Sinhalese-Buddhist nationalism in an effort to gain supremacy over the Tamils. A major conflict resulted when the Tamils began to demand an independent state. Despite ongoing negotiations, the conflict remains unresolved, although there is currently a ceasefire between the parties.

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World's End, Horton Plains

Tea pickers, Bandarawela

Sigiriya

Lunchtime for elephants