c. 250s BCE★★★★★
Buddhism arrives in Sri Lanka
According to tradition, the monk Mahinda, son of Ashoka, brings Buddhism to Anuradhapura and converts King Devanampiya Tissa.
Religion· Sri Lanka
Countries / South Asia
History of Sri Lanka
4 notable historical events in Sri Lanka, in chronological order.
3rd century BCE
20th century
- February 4, 1948★★★★★
Independence of Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
Ceylon becomes an independent dominion within the Commonwealth, ending British colonial rule.
Politics· Sri Lanka, United Kingdom - July 23, 1983 – May 18, 2009★★★★★
Sri Lankan Civil War
A 26-year armed conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ends in the LTTE's defeat.
War· Sri Lanka
21st century
- December 26, 2004★★★★★
Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
A magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra triggers tsunamis that kill around 230,000 people across many countries.
Disaster· Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand