Editing Sri Lanka (section)

== History ==
{{Main|History of Sri Lanka}}

=== Prehistory ===
{{Main|Prehistory of Sri Lanka}}
The pre-history of Sri Lanka goes back 125,000 years and possibly even as far back as 500,000 years.<ref name="pps">{{cite web |author=Deraniyagala, Siran U. |title=Pre and Protohistoric settlement in Sri Lanka |series=XIII U. I. S. P. P. Congress Proceedings – Forli, 8–14 September 1996 |work=International Union of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences |url=http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/dera1.html |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=20 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820080625/http://lankalibrary.com/geo/dera1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The era spans the [[Palaeolithic]], [[Mesolithic]], and early [[Iron Age]]s. Among the [[Paleolithic]] human settlements discovered in Sri Lanka, [[Fa Hien Cave|Pahiyangala]] (37,000 BP), named after the [[Chinese people|Chinese]] traveller [[Bhikkhu|monk]] [[Faxian]];<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.angelfire.com/in4/visitsl/prehistoric/pahiyagala/pahiyangala.htm |title=Pahiyangala (Fa-Hiengala) Caves |work=[[Angelfire]] |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=2 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902171134/http://www.angelfire.com/in4/visitsl/prehistoric/pahiyagala/pahiyangala.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Batadombalena]] (28,500 BP);<ref name="btd">{{Cite book |author=Kennedy, Kenneth A.R., Disotell, T.W., Roertgen, J., Chiment, J., Sherry, J. |title=Ancient Ceylon 6: Biological anthropology of upper Pleistocene hominids from Sri Lanka: Batadomba Lena and Beli Lena caves |pages=165–265}}</ref> and [[Belilena]] (12,000 BP) are the most important. In these caves, archaeologists have found the remains of [[anatomy|anatomically]] modern [[humans]] which they have named [[Balangoda Man]], and other evidence<ref>{{Harvnb|De Silva|1981|pp=6–7}}</ref> suggesting that they may have engaged in [[agriculture]] and kept domestic dogs for driving game.<ref>{{cite book |author=Deraniyagal, Siran |title=The Prehistory of Sri Lanka |publisher=[[Department of Archaeological Survey]] |year=1992 |place=[[Colombo]] | page=454 |isbn=978-955-9159-00-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZihuAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>

The earliest inhabitants of Sri Lanka were probably ancestors of the [[Vedda people]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/dera2.html |title=Early Man and the Rise of Civilisation in Sri Lanka: the Archaeological Evidence |author=Deraniyagala, S.U. |work=lankalibrary.com |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=5 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105134736/http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/dera2.html |url-status=live }}</ref> an indigenous people numbering approximately 2,500 living in modern-day Sri Lanka.

During the protohistoric period (1000–500 BCE) Sri Lanka was culturally united with southern India,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30208096.ece |title=Reading the past in a more inclusive way – Interview with Dr. Sudharshan Seneviratne |work=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]] (2006) |date=26 January 2006 |access-date=18 September 2020 |archive-date=26 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126024531/https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30208096.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> and shared the same megalithic burials, [[Black and red ware culture|pottery]], iron technology, farming techniques and [[megalithic graffiti symbols|megalithic graffiti]].<ref name="Seneviratne">{{cite book |last=Seneviratne |first=Sudharshan |title=Social base of early Buddhism in south east India and Sri Lanka |date=1984}}</ref><ref name="Karunaratne">{{cite book |last=Karunaratne |first=Priyantha |title=Secondary state formation during the early iron age on the island of Sri Lanka : the evolution of a periphery |date=2010}}</ref> This cultural complex spread from southern India along with Dravidian clans such as the [[Velir]], prior to the migration of [[Prakrit]] speakers.<ref>Robin Conningham – Anuradhapura – The British-Sri Lankan Excavations at Anuradhapura Salgaha Watta
Volumes 1 and 2 (1999/2006)</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Seneviratne |first=Sudarshan |year=1989 |title=Pre-state chieftains and servants of the state: a case study of Parumaka |url=http://dlib.pdn.ac.lk/archive/handle/123456789/2078 |language=en |journal=The Sri Lanka Journal of the Humanities |access-date=19 February 2021 |archive-date=15 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815201049/http://dlib.pdn.ac.lk/archive/handle/123456789/2078 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Seneviratne" />

One of the first written references to the island is found in the Indian [[Epic poetry|epic]] [[Ramayana]], which provides details of a kingdom named ''[[Lanka]]'' that was created by the divine sculptor [[Vishwakarma|Vishvakarma]] for [[Kubera]], the God of Wealth.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Keshavadas, Sant |title=Ramayana at a Glance |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-208-0545-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3XIatVGyjmQC}}</ref> It is said that Kubera was overthrown by his [[rakshasa]] stepbrother, [[Ravana]].<ref name="parkrsl">{{Cite book |author=Parker, H. |title=Ancient Ceylon |publisher=[[Asian Educational Services]] |year=1992 |page=7 |isbn=978-81-206-0208-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nk8xpkY0bqEC}}</ref>

=== Ancient history ===
{{Main|Pre-Anuradhapura period|Anuradhapura period}}
[[File:Ptolemy's Taprobana.jpg|thumb|left|[[Ptolemy's world map]] of Ceylon, first century CE, in a 1535 publication]]

According to the ''[[Mahāvaṃsa]]'', a [[Pali|Pāḷi]] chronicle written in the 5th century CE, the original inhabitants of Sri Lanka are said to be the [[Yaksha]]s and [[Naga people (Lanka)|Nagas]]. Sinhalese history traditionally starts in 543 BCE with the arrival of [[Prince Vijaya]], a semi-legendary prince who sailed with 700 followers to Sri Lanka, after being expelled from [[Vanga kingdom]] (present-day [[Bengal]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mahavamsa.org/mahavamsa/original-version/06-coming-vijaya/ |title=The Coming of Vijaya |work=The Mahavamsa |date=8 October 2011 |access-date=16 October 2015 |archive-date=30 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030084837/http://mahavamsa.org/mahavamsa/original-version/06-coming-vijaya/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He established the [[Kingdom of Tambapanni]], near modern-day [[Mannar, Sri Lanka|Mannar]]. Vijaya (Singha) is the first of the approximately [[List of Sri Lankan monarchs|189 monarchs of Sri Lanka]] described in chronicles such as the ''[[Dīpavaṃsa]]'', ''Mahāvaṃsa'', ''[[Cūḷavaṃsa]]'', and ''Rājāvaliya''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/gen3000.html |title=Vijaya (Singha) and the Lankan Monarchs – Family #3000 |work=[[Ancestry.com]] |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=5 August 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805174143/http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/gen3000.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Once [[Prakrit]] speakers had attained dominance on the island, the ''[[Mahāvaṃsa]]'' further recounts the later migration of royal brides and service castes from the Tamil [[Pandya kingdom]] to the [[Anuradhapura kingdom]] in the early historic period.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mahavamsa.org/mahavamsa/original-version/07-consecrating-vijaya/ |title=The Consecrating of Vijaya |work=Mahavamsa |date=8 October 2011 |access-date=27 January 2021 |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620071000/https://mahavamsa.org/mahavamsa/original-version/07-consecrating-vijaya/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Buda de Avukana - 01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The [[Avukana Buddha statue]], a {{convert|12|m|ft|adj=mid|-tall}} standing Buddha statue from the reign of [[Dhatusena of Anuradhapura]], 5th century]]

The [[Anuradhapura period]] (377 BCE{{snd}}1017 CE) began with the establishment of the [[Anuradhapura kingdom]] in 380 BCE during the reign of [[Pandukabhaya]]. Thereafter, Anuradhapura served as the capital city of the country for nearly 1,400 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/anuradhapura.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040107085324/http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/anuradhapura.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 January 2004 |title=World Heritage site: Anuradhapura |work=worldheritagesite.org |access-date=15 July 2014 }}</ref> Ancient Sri Lankans excelled at building certain types of [[Ancient constructions of Sri Lanka|structures]] such as [[Sri Lankan irrigation network|tanks]], [[Stupa|dagobas]] and palaces.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mysrilankaholidays.com/ancient-sinhalese-irrigation.html |title=Waterworld: Ancient Sinhalese Irrigation |work=mysrilankaholidays.com |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=26 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626105945/http://www.mysrilankaholidays.com/ancient-sinhalese-irrigation.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Society underwent a major transformation during the reign of [[Devanampiya Tissa]], with the arrival of Buddhism from India. In 250 BCE,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/perera/wheel100.html#preface |title=Buddhism in Sri Lanka: A Short History |author=Perera H. R. |work=accesstoinsight.org |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=22 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070422013525/http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/perera/wheel100.html#preface |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Mahinda (Buddhist monk)|Mahinda]], a [[bhikkhu]] and the son of the [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan]] Emperor [[Ashoka]] arrived in [[Mihintale]] carrying the message of Buddhism.<ref name="Macmillan1">{{cite book |author=Holt, John Clifford |contribution=Sri Lanka |year=2004 |title=Macmillan Encyclopedia of Buddhism |editor=Buswell, Robert E. Jr. |pages=795–799 |publisher=Macmillan Reference |isbn=978-0-8160-5459-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5dxCHAAACAAJ}}</ref> His mission won over the monarch, who embraced the faith and propagated it throughout the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese population]].<ref name="mahav1">{{cite web |url=http://mahavamsa.org/2008/05/king-devanampiya-tissa-306-bc/ |title=King Devanampiya Tissa (306 BC – 266 BC) |work=[[Mahāvaṃsa]] |date=28 May 2008 |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=14 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814102643/http://mahavamsa.org/2008/05/king-devanampiya-tissa-306-bc/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Succeeding kingdoms of Sri Lanka would maintain many [[schools of Buddhism|Buddhist schools]] and monasteries and support the propagation of Buddhism into other countries in Southeast Asia. Sri Lankan Bhikkhus studied in India's famous ancient Buddhist University of [[Nalanda]], which was destroyed by [[Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji|Bakhtiyar Khalji]]. It is probable that many of the scriptures from Nalanda are preserved in Sri Lanka's many monasteries and that the written form of the [[Tripiṭaka]], including Sinhalese Buddhist literature, were part of the University of Nalanda.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/lanka-txt.htm |title=Buddhism in Sri Lanka |work=buddhanet.net |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=21 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221072955/http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/lanka-txt.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 245 BCE, [[bhikkhunī]] [[Sanghamitta]] arrived with the [[Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi]] tree, which is considered to be a sapling from the historical [[Bodhi Tree]] under which [[Gautama Buddha]] became enlightened.<ref>{{Harvnb|Paw|p=6}}</ref> It is considered the oldest human-planted tree (with a continuous historical record) in the world. ([[Bodhivaṃsa]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://print.dailymirror.lk/features/139-feature/38344.html |title=Historical trees: Overlooked aspect of heritage that needs a revival of interest |author=Gunawardana, Jagath |work=Daily Mirror |access-date=15 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715154617/http://print.dailymirror.lk/features/139-feature/38344.html |archive-date=15 July 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Evans |first1=Julian |title=Plantation Forestry in the Tropics: Tree Planting for Industrial, Social, Environmental, and Agroforestry Purposes |date=1992 |publisher=Clarendon Press |isbn=9780198542575 |page=26 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h1oF-88qKRsC |access-date=11 May 2022}}</ref>

Sri Lanka experienced the first of many foreign invasions during the reign of [[Suratissa of Anuradhapura|Suratissa]], who was defeated by two horse traders named [[Sena and Guttika]] from South India.<ref name="mahav1" /> The next invasion came immediately in 205 BCE by a [[Chola]] named [[Elara (monarch)|Elara]], who overthrew [[Asela of Anuradhapura|Asela]] and ruled the country for 44 years. [[Dutugamunu]], the eldest son of the southern regional sub-king, [[Kavan Tissa, Prince of Ruhuna|Kavan Tissa]], defeated Elara in the [[Battle of Vijithapura]]. During its two and a half millennia of existence, the [[Sinhala kingdom]] was invaded at least eight times by neighbouring South Indian dynasties such as the [[Chola dynasty|Chola]], [[Pandya dynasty|Pandya]], and [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]].{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} There also were incursions by the kingdoms of [[Kalinga (region)|Kalinga]] (modern [[Odisha]]) and from the [[Malay Peninsula]] as well.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

[[File:Sigiriya.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Sigiriya]] ("Lion Rock"), a rock fortress and city, built by King [[Kashyapa I of Anuradhapura|Kashyapa]] (477–495 CE) as a new more defensible capital. It was also used as a Buddhist monastery after the capital was moved back to [[Anuradhapura]].]]

The [[Fourth Theravāda Council]] was held at the [[Anuradhapura Maha Viharaya]] in Sri Lanka under the patronage of [[Valagamba]] in 25 BCE. The council was held in response to a year in which the harvests in Sri Lanka were particularly poor and many [[bhikkhu|Buddhist monks]] subsequently died of starvation. Because the [[Pali Canon]] was at that time [[oral literature]] maintained in several recensions by ''dhammabhāṇaka''s ([[dharma]] reciters), the surviving monks recognised the danger of not writing it down so that even if some of the monks whose duty it was to study and remember parts of the Canon for later generations died, the teachings would not be lost.{{sfn | Buswell | Lopez | 2013 | p=200}} After the council, [[palm-leaf manuscript]]s containing the completed Canon were taken to other countries such as [[Burma]], [[Thailand]], [[Cambodia]] and [[Laos]].

Sri Lanka was the first Asian country known to have a female ruler: [[Anula of Anuradhapura]] (r. 47–42 BCE).<ref name="sigiriya12">{{cite web |title=The History of Ceylon |work=sltda.gov.lk |url=http://www.sltda.gov.lk/history |access-date=15 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808014733/http://www.sltda.gov.lk/history |archive-date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> Sri Lankan monarchs undertook some remarkable construction projects such as [[Sigiriya]], the so-called "Fortress in the Sky", built during the reign of [[Kashyapa I]], who ruled between 477 and 495. The Sigiriya rock fortress is surrounded by an extensive network of ramparts and moats. Inside this protective enclosure were gardens, ponds, pavilions, palaces and other structures.<ref name="Ponnamperuma 2013">{{cite book |last=Ponnamperuma |first=Senani |title=Story of Sigiriya |year=2013 |publisher=Panique Pty Ltd |location=Melbourne |isbn=978-0-9873451-1-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=25zxmgEACAAJ}}</ref><ref name="Bandaranayake 1999">{{cite book |last=Bandaranayake |first=Senake |title=Sigiriya: City, Palace, and Royal Gardens |year=1999 |publisher=Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural Affairs |location=Colombo |isbn=978-955-613-111-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vw9uAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>

In 993 CE, the invasion of [[Chola dynasty|Chola emperor]] [[Rajaraja I]] forced the then Sinhalese ruler [[Mahinda V]] to flee to the southern part of Sri Lanka. Taking advantage of this situation, [[Rajendra I]], son of Rajaraja I, launched a large invasion in 1017. Mahinda V was captured and taken to India, and the Cholas [[Chola conquest of Anuradhapura|sacked the city of Anuradhapura]] causing the fall of [[Anuradhapura kingdom]]. Subsequently, they moved the capital to [[Polonnaruwa]].<ref name="Siriweera 2004, p. 44">{{cite book |last=Siriweera |first=W. I. |title=A Study of the Economic History of Pre Modern Sri Lanka |publisher=Vikas Publishing House |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-7069-7621-2 |pages=44–45 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OubsAAAAMAAJ |access-date=24 July 2018 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105344/https://books.google.com/books?id=OubsAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Post-classical period ===
{{Main|Polonnaruwa period|Transitional period of Sri Lanka}}
Following a 17-year-long campaign, [[Vijayabahu I of Polonnaruwa|Vijayabahu I]] successfully drove the Chola out of Sri Lanka in 1070, reuniting the country for the first time in over a century.<ref>Codrington, [http://lakdiva.org/codrington/chap04.html Ch. 4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807212106/http://lakdiva.org/codrington/chap04.html |date=7 August 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistories.org/srilanka.html |title=A Brief History of Sri Lanka |author=Lambert, Tim |work=localhistories.org |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=23 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723124255/http://www.localhistories.org/srilanka.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon his request, ordained monks were sent from [[Burma]] to Sri Lanka to re-establish Buddhism, which had almost disappeared from the country during the Chola reign.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Relations between Ceylon and Burma in the 11th Century AD |volume=23 |pages=93–95 |author=Bokay, Mon |journal=Artibus Asiae. Supplementum |year=1966 |publisher=Artibus Asiae Publishers |jstor=1522637 |doi=10.2307/1522637  |issn = 1423-0526 }}</ref> During the medieval period, Sri Lanka was divided into three sub-territories, namely, [[Principality of Ruhuna|Ruhunu]], Pihiti and [[Maya Rata|Maya]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lakdiva.org/coins/medievallanka/1153_1186_parakramabahu~i_Em.html |title=Ancient Irrigation Works |work=lakdiva.org |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=2 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102152939/http://lakdiva.org/coins/medievallanka/1153_1186_parakramabahu~i_Em.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Gal Viharaya 02.jpg|thumb|The seated image of [[Gal Vihara]] in [[Polonnaruwa]], 12th century, which depicts the [[List of mudras (yoga)|dhyana mudra]], shows signs of [[Mahayana]] influence.]]
Sri Lanka's [[Sri Lankan irrigation network|irrigation system]] was extensively expanded during the reign of [[Parakramabahu I of Polonnaruwa|Parākramabāhu the Great]] (1153–1186).<ref name="ethniccr">{{cite book |title=Sri Lankan Ethnic Crisis: Towards a Resolution |author=Herath, R. B. |year=2002 |publisher=Trafford Publishing |isbn=978-1-55369-793-0 |quote=Parakramabahu 1 further extended the system to the highest resplendent peak of hydraulic civilization of the country's history. |page=19 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jzMCzJxJBpsC |access-date=24 July 2018 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105345/https://books.google.com/books?id=jzMCzJxJBpsC |url-status=live }}</ref> This period is considered as a time when Sri Lanka was at the height of its power.<ref>{{cite book |title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland: Volume 7 |year=1875 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] for the Royal Asiatic Society |place=[[Cambridge]] |quote=...&nbsp;and when at the height of its prosperity, during the long and glorious reign of Parakramabahu the Great&nbsp;... |page=152 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rPo78i8KrlEC |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105344/https://books.google.com/books?id=rPo78i8KrlEC |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Beveridge |first=H. |year=1894 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VRngAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA324 |title=The Site of Karna Suvarna |journal=Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal |volume=62 |quote=His [Parakramabahu's] reign is described by Tumour as having been the most martial, enterprising, and glorious in Singhalese history. |page=324 |via=Google Books |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105344/https://books.google.com/books?id=VRngAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA324#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> He built 1,470 reservoirs – the highest number by any ruler in Sri Lanka's history – repaired 165 dams, 3,910 canals, 163 major reservoirs, and 2,376 mini-reservoirs.<ref name="ethniccr1" /> His most famous construction is the [[Parakrama Samudra]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/asi/asi-45.html |title=Parakrama Samudra |publisher=International Lake Environment Committee |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605083015/http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/asi/asi-45.html |archive-date=5 June 2011}}</ref> the largest irrigation project of medieval Sri Lanka. Parākramabāhu's reign is memorable for two major campaigns – in the south of India as part of a Pandyan war of succession, and a punitive strike against the kings of Ramanna ([[Myanmar|Burma]]) for various perceived insults to Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://srilankanheritage.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28&Itemid=32&lang=en |title=ParakramaBahu I: 1153–1186 |work=lakdiva.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204034638/http://srilankanheritage.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28&Itemid=32&lang=en |archive-date=4 February 2014}}</ref>

After his demise, Sri Lanka gradually decayed in power. In 1215, [[Kalinga Magha]], an invader with uncertain origins, identified as the founder of the Jaffna kingdom, invaded and captured the [[Kingdom of Polonnaruwa]]. He sailed from [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]]<ref name="ethniccr1">{{cite book |title=Sri Lankan Ethnic Crisis: Towards a Resolution |author=Herath, R.B. |year=2002 |publisher=Trafford Publishing |isbn=978-1-55369-793-0 |pages=18–21 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jzMCzJxJBpsC |access-date=24 July 2018 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105345/https://books.google.com/books?id=jzMCzJxJBpsC |url-status=live }}</ref> 690 nautical miles on 100 large ships with a 24,000 strong army. Unlike previous invaders, he [[Looting|looted]], ransacked and destroyed everything in the ancient Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Kingdoms beyond recovery.<ref>{{cite book |title=Security dilemma of a small state, Part 1 |author=Jayasekera, P.V.J. |year=1992 |publisher=Institute for International Studies [[University of Peradeniya]], Sri Lanka |place=[[Peradeniya]] |isbn=978-81-7003-148-2 |quote=..His invasion in 1215 was more or less a looting expedition.. |page=25 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VRngAAAAMAAJ |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105345/https://books.google.com/books?id=VRngAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> His priorities in ruling were to extract as much as possible from the land and overturn as many of the traditions of [[Rajarata]] as possible. His reign saw the massive migration of native [[Sinhalese people]] to the south and west of Sri Lanka, and into the mountainous interior, in a bid to escape his power.<ref name="Nadarajan, V p. 72">Nadarajan, V ''History of Ceylon Tamils'', p. 72</ref><ref name="Indrapala, K p. 16">Indrapala, K ''Early Tamil Settlements in Ceylon'', p. 16</ref>

Sri Lanka never really recovered from the effects of Kalinga Magha's invasion. King Vijayabâhu III, who led the resistance, brought the kingdom to [[Kingdom of Dambadeniya|Dambadeniya]]. The north, in the meanwhile, eventually evolved into the [[Jaffna kingdom]].<ref name="Nadarajan, V p. 72" /><ref name="Indrapala, K p. 16" /> The Jaffna kingdom never came under the rule of any kingdom of the south except on one occasion; in 1450, following the conquest led by king [[Parakramabahu VI of Kotte|Parâkramabâhu VI]]'s adopted son, [[Bhuvanaikabahu VI of Kotte|Prince Sapumal]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Gnanaprakasar, Swamy |title=A Critical History of Jaffna |publisher=Asian Educational Services |year=2003 |place=[[New Delhi]] |page=122 |isbn=978-81-206-1686-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o9H53Sldfv8C |access-date=24 July 2018 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105345/https://books.google.com/books?id=o9H53Sldfv8C |url-status=live }}</ref> He ruled the North from 1450 to 1467 CE.<ref>{{cite book |author=Holt, John Clifford |title=Buddha in the Crown: Avalokitesvara in the Buddhist Traditions of Sri Lanka |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=1991 |page=304 |isbn=978-0-19-506418-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eDbnCwAAQBAJ |access-date=24 July 2018 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105345/https://books.google.com/books?id=eDbnCwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The next three centuries starting from 1215 were marked by kaleidoscopically shifting collections of capitals in south and central Sri Lanka, including Dambadeniya, [[Yapahuwa]], [[Gampola]], [[Raigama]], [[Kingdom of Kotte|Kotte]],<ref name="HC">Codrington, [http://lakdiva.org/codrington/chap06.html Ch. 6] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210180428/http://lakdiva.org/codrington/chap06.html |date=10 December 2007 }}</ref> [[Kingdom of Sitawaka|Sitawaka]], and finally, [[Kingdom of Kandy|Kandy]]. In 1247, the Malay kingdom of [[Tambralinga]] which was a vassal of [[Sri Vijaya]] led by their king [[Chandrabhanu]]<ref>India's interaction with Southeast Asia, by Govind Chandra Pande p.286</ref> briefly invaded Sri Lanka from [[Insular Southeast Asia]]. They were then expelled by the South Indian Pandyan dynasty.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Craig J. Reynolds |title=Power, Protection and Magic in Thailand: The Cosmos of a Southern Policeman |publisher=ANU Press |year=2019 |pages=74–75}}</ref> However, this temporary invasion reinforced the steady flow of the presence of various [[Austronesian people|Austronesian]] merchant ethnic groups, from [[Sri Lankan Malays|Sumatrans]] (Indonesia) to [[Philippines–Sri Lanka relations|Lucoes]] (Philippines) into Sri Lanka which occurred since 200 BCE.<ref>[https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p69411/pdf/book.pdf "Astronesians Historical and Comparative Perspectives" Page 146] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524202017/https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p69411/pdf/book.pdf |date=24 May 2022 }} "Annual trade between China and India through the Malacca Straits had opened by about 200 BCE. Perhaps by that time Austronesian sailors were regularly carrying cloves and cinnamon to India and Sri Lanka, and perhaps even as far as the coast of Africa in boats with outriggers. Certainly they have left numerous traces in canoe design, rigs, outriggers and fishing techniques, and a mention in Greek literature (Christie 1957)."</ref> Chinese admiral [[Zheng He]] and his naval expeditionary force landed at Galle, Sri Lanka in 1409 and got into [[Ming-Kotte War|battle]] with the local king [[Vira Alakesvara of Gampola]]. Zheng He captured King Vira Alakesvara and later released him.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Geoff Wade, 2005 |url=http://www.epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/entry/1778?hl=%22Zheng+He%22 |title=South East Aisa in Ming Shi-lu |access-date=13 April 2015 |archive-date=23 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623012455/http://epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/entry/1778?hl=%22Zheng+He%22 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=National Geographic |url=http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0507/feature2/map.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218063244/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0507/feature2/map.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 December 2007 |title=Voyages of Zheng He 1405–1433 |access-date=13 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=Columbia University |url=http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1000ce_mingvoyages.htm |title=Ming Voyages |access-date=13 April 2015 |archive-date=6 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306203037/http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1000ce_mingvoyages.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=aramco world |url=https://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200504/the.admiral.zheng.he.htm |title=Admiral Zheng He |access-date=13 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031051234/https://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200504/the.admiral.zheng.he.htm |archive-date=31 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Zheng He erected the [[Galle Trilingual Inscription]], a stone tablet at [[Galle]] written in three [[languages]] ([[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and [[Persian language|Persian]]), to commemorate his visit.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=lankalibrary forum |url=http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1022 |title=The trilingual inscription of Admiral Zheng He |access-date=13 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620165307/http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1022 |archive-date=20 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=world heritage site |url=http://www.worldheritagesite.org/tags/tag622.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412063521/http://www.worldheritagesite.org/tags/tag622.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2010 |title=Zheng He |access-date=13 April 2015 }}</ref> The [[stele]] was discovered by S. H. Thomlin at Galle in 1911 and is now preserved in the [[National Museum of Colombo|Colombo National Museum]].

=== Early modern period ===
{{Main|Kandyan period}}
{{See also|Portuguese Ceylon|Dutch Ceylon|British Ceylon}}
[[File:SpilbergenVimala.jpg|thumb|left|A 17th-century engraving of [[Dutch colonial empire|Dutch]] explorer [[Joris van Spilbergen]] meeting with King Vimaladharmasuriya in 1602]]
[[File:Laor Sri Lanka Map (Cropped).jpg|thumb|left|alt=A 1595 map of Sri Lanka created by Dutch cartographer [[Petrus Plancius]]|A 1595 map of Sri Lanka created by [[Dutch colonial empire|Dutch]] cartographer [[Petrus Plancius]]]]
The early modern period of Sri Lanka begins with the arrival of Portuguese soldier and explorer [[Lourenço de Almeida]], the son of [[Francisco de Almeida]], in 1505.<ref name="francal">{{cite web |url=http://www.thondaman.org/srilankanhistory.html |title=Sri Lanka History |publisher=Thondaman Foundation |access-date=22 August 2011 |archive-date=11 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111082707/http://www.thondaman.org/srilankanhistory.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1517, the Portuguese built a fort at the port city of [[Colombo]] and gradually extended their control over the coastal areas. In 1592, after decades of intermittent warfare with the Portuguese, [[Vimaladharmasuriya I]] moved his kingdom to the inland city of [[Kingdom of Kandy|Kandy]], a location he thought more secure from attack.<ref name="isl23">{{cite web |url=http://www.island.lk/2005/08/27/satmag1.html |title=King Wimaladharmasuriya |work=S.B. Karalliyadde – The Island |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=26 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126054442/http://www.island.lk/2005/08/27/satmag1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1619, succumbing to attacks by the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]], the independent existence of the [[Jaffna kingdom]] came to an end.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Knox, Robert |author-link=Robert Knox (sailor) |year=1681 |title=An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon |pages=19–47 |publisher=Reprint. Asian Educational Services |place=London |title-link=An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon}}</ref>

During the reign of the [[Rajasinha II]], Dutch explorers arrived on the island. In 1638, the king signed a [[Kandyan Treaty of 1638|treaty]] with the [[Dutch East India Company]] to get rid of the Portuguese who ruled most of the coastal areas.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Dutch in Ceylon: an account of their early visits to the island, their conquests, and their rule over the maritime regions during a century and a half |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h2mkUharg6AC |author=Anthonisz, Richard Gerald |publisher=Asian Educational Services |year=2003 |isbn=978-81-206-1845-9 |pages=37–43}}</ref> The following [[Dutch–Portuguese War]] resulted in a Dutch victory, with Colombo falling into Dutch hands by 1656. The Dutch remained in the areas they had captured, thereby violating the treaty they had signed in 1638. The [[Burgher people]], a distinct ethnic group, emerged as a result of intermingling between the Dutch and native Sri Lankans in this period.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=47wCTCJX9X4C |title=Being "Dutch" in the Indies: a history of creolisation and empire, 1500–1920 |author=Bosma, U. |publisher=University of Michigan |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-89680-261-2 |chapter=1 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105859/https://books.google.com/books?id=47wCTCJX9X4C |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Kingdom of Kandy was the last independent monarchy of Sri Lanka.<ref name="kandyk">{{cite web |url=http://sundaytimes.lk/070304/KandyTimes/514_kt1.html |title=A kingdom is born, a kingdom is lost |work=The Sunday Times |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=24 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724004438/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070304/KandyTimes/514_kt1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1595, Vimaladharmasurya brought the sacred [[Relic of the tooth of the Buddha|Tooth Relic]]—the traditional symbol of royal and religious authority amongst the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]]—to Kandy and built the [[Temple of the Tooth]].<ref name="kandyk" /> In spite of on-going intermittent warfare with Europeans, the kingdom survived. Later, a crisis of succession emerged in Kandy upon king [[Vira Narendra Sinha ]]'s death in 1739. He was married to a [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-speaking [[Nayaks of Madurai|Nayakkar]] princess from South India ([[Madurai]]) and was childless by her.<ref name="kandyk" />

Eventually, with the support of [[bhikkhu]] Weliwita Sarankara and ignoring the right of ''"Unambuwe Bandara"'', the crown passed to the brother of one of Narendrasinha's princesses, overlooking Narendrasinha's own son by a Sinhalese [[Concubinage|concubine]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Language, Religion, and Ethnic Assertiveness: The Growth of Sinhalese Nationalism in Sri Lanka |author=Dharmadasa, K.N.O. |publisher=University of Michigan Press |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-472-10288-4 |pages=8–12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x8NQrTmjpRcC |access-date=24 July 2018 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105900/https://books.google.com/books?id=x8NQrTmjpRcC |url-status=live }}</ref> The new king was crowned [[Sri Vijaya Rajasinha]] later that year. Kings of the Nayakkar dynasty launched several attacks on Dutch controlled areas, which proved to be unsuccessful.<ref>Codrington, [http://lakdiva.org/codrington/chap09.html Ch. 9] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613031731/http://lakdiva.org/codrington/chap09.html |date=13 June 2015 }}</ref>
[[File:Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.jpg|thumb|[[Sri Vikrama Rajasinha]] of Kandy, the last ruling native Sri Lankan monarch]]

During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], fearing that French control of the Netherlands might deliver Sri Lanka to the French, the [[British Empire]] occupied the coastal areas of the island (which they called the colony of [[British Ceylon]]) with little difficulty in 1796.<ref name="colvoyg">{{cite web |url=http://www.colonialvoyage.com/trincomalee-first-british-occupation-definitive-dutch-surrender/ |title=The first British occupation and the definitive Dutch surrender |work=colonialvoyage.com |date=18 February 2014 |access-date=17 October 2015 |archive-date=11 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011023258/http://www.colonialvoyage.com/trincomalee-first-british-occupation-definitive-dutch-surrender/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Two years later, in 1798, [[Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha]], third of the four Nayakkar kings of Sri Lanka, died of a fever. Following his death, a nephew of Rajadhi Rajasinha, eighteen-year-old Kannasamy, was crowned.<ref name="scnsl">{{cite web |url=http://www.scenicsrilanka.com/history-of-sri-lanka-1948.html |title=History of Sri Lanka and significant World events from 1796 AD to 1948 |work=scenicsrilanka.com |access-date=15 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102055412/http://www.scenicsrilanka.com/history-of-sri-lanka-1948.html |archive-date=2 November 2013}}</ref> The young king, now named [[Sri Vikrama Rajasinha]], faced a [[British Empire|British]] invasion in 1803 but successfully retaliated. The First Kandyan War ended in a stalemate.<ref name="scnsl" />

By then the entire coastal area was under the [[British East India Company]] as a result of the [[Treaty of Amiens]]. On 14 February 1815, [[Kingdom of Kandy|Kandy]] was occupied by the British in the [[Second Kandyan War]], ending Sri Lanka's independence.<ref name="scnsl" /> Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, the last native monarch of Sri Lanka, was exiled to India.<ref>Codrington, [http://lakdiva.org/codrington/chap11.html Ch. 11] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621214254/http://lakdiva.org/codrington/chap11.html |date=21 June 2015 }}</ref> The [[Kandyan Convention]] formally ceded the entire country to the British Empire. Attempts by Sri Lankan noblemen to undermine British power in 1818 during the [[Great Rebellion of 1817–1818|Uva Rebellion]] were thwarted by [[governors of British Ceylon|Governor]] [[Robert Brownrigg]].<ref name="keppetipola">{{cite web |url=http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/keppetipola2.htm |title=Keppetipola and the Uva Rebellion |work=lankalibrary.com |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=26 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126125830/http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/keppetipola2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The beginning of the modern period of Sri Lanka is marked by the [[Colebrooke–Cameron Commission|Colebrooke–Cameron reforms]] of 1833.<ref name="corankel" /> They introduced a [[Utilitarianism|utilitarian]] and [[Liberalism|liberal]] political culture to the country based on the [[rule of law]] and amalgamated the Kandyan and maritime provinces as a single unit of government.<ref name="corankel" /> An [[Executive Council of Ceylon|executive council]] and a [[Legislative Council of Ceylon|legislative council]] were established, later becoming the foundation of a representative legislature. By this time, experiments with [[coffee]] plantations were largely successful.<ref name="Nubin 2002 115">{{Harvnb|Nubin|2002|p=115}}</ref>

Soon, coffee became the primary commodity export of Sri Lanka. Falling coffee prices as a result of the [[Panic of 1847|depression of 1847]] stalled economic development and prompted the governor to introduce a series of taxes on firearms, dogs, shops, boats, etc., and to reintroduce a form of ''rajakariya'', requiring six days free labour on roads or payment of a cash equivalent.<ref name="Nubin 2002 115" /> These harsh measures antagonised the locals, and [[Matale rebellion|another rebellion]] broke out in 1848.<ref name="matale1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/gongalegoda.htm |title=Gongale Goda Banda (1809–1849) : The leader of the 1848 rebellion |work=Wimalaratne, K.D.G. |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=26 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126130118/http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/gongalegoda.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> A devastating leaf disease, ''[[Hemileia vastatrix]]'', struck the coffee plantations in 1869, destroying the entire industry within fifteen years.<ref>{{cite book |author=Lennox A. Mills |title=Ceylon Under British Rule, 1795–1932 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YyHG9ZKl3bwC&pg=PA246 |year=1964 |publisher=Psychology Press |page=246 |isbn=978-0-7146-2019-0 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105900/https://books.google.com/books?id=YyHG9ZKl3bwC&pg=PA246 |url-status=live }}</ref> The British quickly found a replacement: abandoning coffee, they began cultivating tea instead. [[Tea production in Sri Lanka]] thrived in the following decades. Large-scale rubber plantations began in the early 20th century.

[[File:Kandyan Chiefs in 1905.JPG|upright=1.4|thumb|left|British appointed [[Native headmen of Ceylon|Kandyan chief headmen]] in 1905.]]
By the end of the 19th century, a new educated [[social class]] transcending race and [[caste]] arose through British attempts to staff the [[Ceylon Civil Service]] and the legal, educational, engineering, and medical professions with natives.<ref>{{Harvnb|Nubin|2002|pp=116–117}}</ref> New leaders represented the various ethnic groups of the population in the [[Legislative Council of Ceylon|Ceylon Legislative Council]] on a communal basis. Buddhist and Hindu revivalists reacted against [[Christian missionary]] activities.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q11ID2xfqD8C |author=Bond, George D. |title=The Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka: Religious tradition, reinterpretation and response |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publications |year=1992 |pages=11–22 |isbn=978-81-208-1047-1 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105900/https://books.google.com/books?id=Q11ID2xfqD8C |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="tamlwk">{{cite web |url=http://www.tamilweek.com/Cutting_edge_hindu_revivalism_0625.html |title=Cutting edge of Hindu revivalism in Jaffna |date=25 June 2006 |work=Balachandran, P.K. |access-date=18 September 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304134643/http://www.tamilweek.com/Cutting_edge_hindu_revivalism_0625.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first two decades in the 20th century are noted by the unique harmony among Sinhalese and [[Tamils|Tamil]] political leadership, which has since been lost.<ref>{{Harvnb|De Silva|1981|p=387}}</ref>

The [[1906 malaria outbreak in Ceylon]] actually started in the early 1900s, but the first case was documented in 1906.

In 1919, major Sinhalese and Tamil political organisations united to form the Ceylon National Congress, under the leadership of [[Ponnambalam Arunachalam]],<ref>{{Harvnb|De Silva|1981|p=386}}</ref> pressing colonial masters for more constitutional reforms. But without massive popular support, and with the governor's encouragement for "communal representation" by creating a "Colombo seat" that dangled between Sinhalese and Tamils, the Congress lost momentum towards the mid-1920s.<ref>{{Harvnb|De Silva|1981|pp=389–395}}</ref>

The [[Donoughmore Constitution|Donoughmore reforms]] of 1931 repudiated the communal representation and introduced [[Universal suffrage|universal adult franchise]] (the franchise stood at 4% before the reforms). This step was strongly criticised by the Tamil political leadership, who realised that they would be reduced to a minority in the newly created [[State Council of Ceylon]], which succeeded the legislative council.<ref name="tamllib">{{cite web |url=http://tamilelibrary.org/teli/slhist.html |title=Chronology of events related to Tamils in Sri Lanka (1500–1948) |work=Hellmann-Rajanayagam, Dagmar |publisher=[[National University of Malaysia]] |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194411/http://www.tamilelibrary.org/teli/slhist.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|De Silva|1981|p=423}}</ref> In 1937, Tamil leader [[G. G. Ponnambalam]] demanded a 50–50 representation (50% for the Sinhalese and 50% for other ethnic groups) in the State Council. However, this demand was not met by the [[Soulbury Commission|Soulbury reforms]] of 1944–45.

=== Contemporary history ===
{{Main|History of Sri Lanka (1948–present)}}
{{See also|Sri Lankan independence movement|Sri Lankan Civil War}}
[[File:SL Independence.jpg|thumb|The formal ceremony marking the start of self-rule, with the opening of the first parliament at [[Independence Square, Colombo|Independence Square]]]]
[[File:J. R. Jayawardene, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on June 20, 1984.jpg|thumb|197x197px|J. R. Jayewardene was the most influential political figure of Sri Lanka in the 1970s and 1980s.]]
The Soulbury constitution ushered in [[Dominion of Ceylon|dominion status]], with independence proclaimed on 4 February 1948.<ref name="countrst68">{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/21.htm |title=Sinhalese Parties |work=[[Library of Congress Country Studies]] |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=1 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401001002/http://countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/21.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Don Stephen Senanayake|D. S. Senanayake]] became the first [[Prime Minister of Sri Lanka|Prime Minister of Ceylon]].<ref name="DS">{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/68.htm |title=Sinhalese Parties |work=[[Library of Congress Country Studies]] |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=21 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821135521/http://countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/68.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Prominent [[Tamils|Tamil]] leaders including Ponnambalam and [[Arunachalam Mahadeva]] joined his cabinet.<ref name="tamllib" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Nubin|2002|pp=121–122}}</ref> The [[Royal Navy|British Royal Navy]] remained stationed at [[Trincomalee]] until 1956. A countrywide [[1953 Ceylonese Hartal|popular demonstration]] against withdrawal of the rice rations resulted in the resignation of prime minister [[Dudley Senanayake]].<ref name="islnksd">{{cite web |url=http://www.island.lk/2008/08/16/satmag1.html |title=Bandaranaike and Hartal of 1953 |author=Weerakoon, Batty |work=The Island |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=26 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126054816/http://www.island.lk/2008/08/16/satmag1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike]] was elected prime minister in 1956. His three-year rule had a profound influence through his self-proclaimed role of "defender of the besieged Sinhalese culture".<ref>{{Harvnb|Nubin|2002|p=123}}</ref> He introduced the controversial [[Sinhala Only Act]], recognising [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]] as the only official language of the government. Although partially reversed in 1958, the bill posed a grave concern for the Tamil community, which perceived in it a threat to their language and culture.<ref name="FW">{{Cite book |author=Ganguly, Šumit |editor=Brown, Michael E. |title=Fighting Words: language policy and ethnic relations in Asia |publisher=The MIT Press |year=2003 |pages=136–138 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fcoDezu1ABoC |isbn=978-0-262-52333-2 |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105901/https://books.google.com/books?id=fcoDezu1ABoC |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="AV">{{Cite book |editor1=Schmid, Bettina |editor2=Schroeder, Ingo |title=Anthropology of Violence and Conflict |publisher=Routledge |year=2001 |page=185 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rx-1MdUlzaUC |isbn=978-0-415-22905-0 |access-date=15 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="a1">{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka Profile |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12004081 |work=BBC News |date=5 November 2013 |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-date=14 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614231749/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12004081 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi|Federal Party]] (FP) launched a movement of non-violent resistance ([[satyagraha]]) against the bill, which prompted Bandaranaike to reach an agreement ([[Bandaranaike–Chelvanayakam Pact]]) with [[S. J. V. Chelvanayakam]], leader of the FP, to resolve the looming ethnic conflict.<ref>{{cite book |author=Peebles, Patrick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SxO0eISluqEC |title=The History of Sri Lanka |publisher=Greenwood Press |date=2006 |pages=109–111 |isbn=978-0-313-33205-0 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105903/https://books.google.com/books?id=SxO0eISluqEC |url-status=live }}</ref> The pact proved ineffective in the face of ongoing protests by opposition and the Buddhist clergy. The bill, together with various government [[Sri Lankan state-sponsored colonisation schemes|colonisation schemes]], contributed much towards the political rancour between Sinhalese and Tamil political leaders.<ref>{{cite web |title=Staff profile: Jonathan Spencer |publisher=University of Edinburgh |url=http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/staff/social_anthropology/spencer_jonathan |access-date=15 July 2014 |author-link=University of Edinburgh |archive-date=8 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808052143/http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/staff/social_anthropology/spencer_jonathan |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bandaranaike was [[S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike#Assassination|assassinated]] by an extremist Buddhist monk in 1959.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/Cl01Df05.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011220212820/http://atimes.com/ind-pak/Cl01Df05.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=20 December 2001 |title=Sri Lanka: The untold story – Assassination of Bandaranaike |work=Rajasingham, K. T. |year=2002 |access-date=15 July 2014}}</ref>

{{multiple image |total_width=220
|title = Leaders in 1960
| align = left
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Her Majesty The Queen (1959).jpg
|caption1=[[Elizabeth II]]<br /><small>[[Monarchy of Ceylon (1948–1972)|Queen of Ceylon]]</small>
|image2= Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Ceylon 1960 (cropped).PNG
|caption2=[[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]]<br /><small>Prime Minister</small>
|footer=1960 saw the election of Sirimavo Bandaranaike as Ceylon's Prime Minister and the first time in world history that the heads of both state and government in a country were female.
}}

[[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]], the widow of Bandaranaike, took office as prime minister in 1960, and withstood an [[1962 Ceylonese coup d'état attempt|attempted coup d'état]] in 1962. During her second term as prime minister, the government instituted socialist economic policies, strengthening ties with the [[Soviet Union]] and China, while promoting a policy of non-alignment. In 1971, Ceylon experienced a [[1971 JVP insurrection|Marxist insurrection]], which was quickly suppressed. In 1972, the country became a [[republic]] named Sri Lanka, repudiating its dominion status. Prolonged minority grievances and the use of communal emotionalism as an election campaign weapon by both Sinhalese and Tamil leaders abetted a fledgling Tamil militancy in the north during the 1970s.<ref>{{Harvnb|Nubin|2002|pp=128–129}}</ref> The [[policy of standardisation]] by the Sirimavo government to rectify disparities created in university enrolment, which was in essence an [[affirmative action]] to assist geographically disadvantaged students to obtain tertiary education,<ref name="affrmact">{{cite web |url=http://www.ices.lk/publications/esr/articles_jul97/Esr-kmdesilva.PDF |pages=248–254 |title=Affirmative Action Policies: The Sri Lankan Experience |author1=De Silva |author2=K. M. |date=July 1997 |publisher=International Centre for Ethnic Studies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930154652/http://www.ices.lk/publications/esr/articles_jul97/Esr-kmdesilva.PDF |archive-date=30 September 2011}}</ref> resulted in reducing the proportion of Tamil students at university level and acted as the immediate catalyst for the rise of militancy.<ref>{{cite book |author=Jayasuriya, J.E. |title=Education in the Third World |publisher=Indian Institute of Education |year=1981 |place=[[Pune]] | oclc=7925123}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tamilnation.co/forum/sivaram/940508eelam_history.htm |title=The Exclusive Right to Write Eelam History |author=Taraki Sivaram |date=May 1994 |publisher=Tamil Nation |author-link=Taraki Sivaram |access-date=20 August 2011 |archive-date=19 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119055553/http://tamilnation.co/forum/sivaram/940508eelam_history.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The assassination of [[Jaffna]] [[Mayor]] [[Alfred Duraiyappah]] in 1975 by the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] (LTTE) marked a crisis point.<ref name="Hoffman139">{{Cite book |author=Hoffman, Bruce |title=Inside Terrorism |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |place=New York |year=2006 |page=139 |isbn=978-0-231-12699-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ayrAgAAQBAJ |access-date=24 July 2018 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105902/https://books.google.com/books?id=_ayrAgAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="rohang">{{cite web |url=http://www.padippakam.com/document/srilankan_gov/gov002.pdf |title=International and Regional Implications of the Sri Lankan Tamil Insurgency |author=Rohan Gunaratna |date=December 1998 |author-link=Rohan Gunaratna |access-date=17 October 2015 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101122924/http://www.padippakam.com/document/srilankan_gov/gov002.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The government of [[J. R. Jayawardene]] swept to power in 1977, defeating the [[United Front (Sri Lanka)|United Front]] government.<ref name="attms">{{cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DA26Df04.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020213090010/http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DA26Df04.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=13 February 2002 |title=Tamil militancy – a manifestation |author=Rajasingham, K.T. |year=2002 |access-date=15 July 2014}}</ref> Jayawardene introduced a [[Constitution of Sri Lanka|new constitution]], together with a [[free-market economy]] and a powerful [[Executive president|executive presidency]] modelled after that of France. It made Sri Lanka the first [[South Asia]]n country to [[Liberalism|liberalise]] its economy.<ref name="filbrn" /> Beginning in [[Four Four Bravo|1983]], ethnic tensions were manifested in an [[Sri Lankan civil war|on-and-off insurgency]] against the government by the LTTE. An [[Four Four Bravo|LTTE attack on 13 soldiers]] resulted in the start of a civil war, and in response anti-Tamil [[Black July|race riots]] took place, allegedly backed by [[Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism|Sinhalese hard-line]] ministers, which resulted in more than 150,000 Tamil civilians fleeing the island, seeking asylum in other countries.<ref name="Remembering">{{cite news |title=Remembering Sri Lanka's Black July – BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-23402727 |website=BBC News |access-date=20 October 2015 |date=23 July 2013 |archive-date=22 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322023421/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-23402727 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="lkwbblk">{{cite web |url=http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2010/04/27/the-black-july-1983-that-created-a-collective-trauma/ |title=The Black July 1983 that Created a Collective Trauma |work=Jayatunge, Ruwan M. |publisher=LankaWeb |year=2010 |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=3 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703213952/http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2010/04/27/the-black-july-1983-that-created-a-collective-trauma/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lapses in foreign policy resulted in India strengthening the Tigers by providing arms and training.<ref name="sndaytst">{{cite news |url=http://sundaytimes.lk/970119/plus4.html |title=LTTE: the Indian connection |newspaper=Sunday Times |year=1997 |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=15 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915053716/http://sundaytimes.lk/970119/plus4.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19971212/34650923.html |title=Uppermost in our minds was to save the Gandhis' name |newspaper=Express India |year=1997 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811204127/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19971212/34650923.html |archive-date=11 August 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/07/for-firmer-and-finer-international.html |title=For firmer and finer International Relations |work=Wijesinghe, Sarath |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201181154/http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/07/for-firmer-and-finer-international.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1987, the [[Indo-Sri Lanka Accord]] was signed and the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]] (IPKF) was deployed in northern Sri Lanka to stabilise the region by neutralising the LTTE.<ref name="Stokke2000a">{{Cite journal |author=Stokke, K. |author2=Ryntveit, A.K. |year=2000 |title=The Struggle for Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka |journal=Growth and Change: A Journal of Urban and Regional Policy |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=285–304 |doi=10.1111/0017-4815.00129|bibcode=2000GroCh..31..285S }}</ref> The same year, the [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna|JVP]] launched its [[1987–89 JVP Insurrection|second insurrection]] in Southern Sri Lanka,<ref name="secninsr">{{Cite book |author=Gunaratna, Rohan |title=Sri Lanka's Ethnic Crisis and National Security |publisher=South Asian Network on Conflict Research |place=[[Colombo]] |year=1998 |page=353 |isbn=978-955-8093-00-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YpnhAAAACAAJ |author-link=Rohan Gunaratna |access-date=24 July 2018 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106105902/https://books.google.com/books?id=YpnhAAAACAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> necessitating redeployment of the IPKF in 1990.<ref name="atimes">{{cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DC09Df04.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020416181258/http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DC09Df04.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=16 April 2002 |title=Chapter 30: Whirlpool of violence, Sri Lanka: The Untold Story |work=Asia Times |year=2002 |access-date=15 July 2014}}</ref> In October 1990, the LTTE [[Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern province by LTTE|expelled Sri Lankan Moors]] (Muslims by religion) from northern Sri Lanka.<ref name="slnp">{{cite web |url=http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/11/35271_space.html |title=1990, The War Year if Ethnic Cleansing of the Muslims From North and the East of Sri Lanka |publisher=lankanewspapers.com |year=2008 |access-date=21 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012159/http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/11/35271_space.html |archive-date=5 March 2016 }}</ref> In 2002, the Sri Lankan government and LTTE signed a Norwegian-mediated ceasefire agreement.<ref name="a1" />

The [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Asian tsunami]] killed over 30,000 and displaced over 500,000 people in Sri Lanka.<ref name="BBC News 2005">{{cite web | title=US presidents in tsunami aid plea | website=BBC News | date=3 January 2005 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4143459.stm#map | access-date=20 December 2021 | archive-date=20 December 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220175054/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4143459.stm#map | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wsws1">{{cite web|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/dec2005/sri2-d29.shtml|title=One year after the tsunami, Sri Lankan survivors still live in squalour|publisher=World Socialist Web Site|date=29 December 2005|access-date=24 December 2012|archive-date=23 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123063125/http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/dec2005/sri2-d29.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1985 to 2006, the Sri Lankan government and Tamil insurgents held four rounds of peace talks without success. Both LTTE and the government resumed fighting in 2006, and the government officially backed out of the ceasefire in 2008.<ref name="a1" /> In 2009, under the [[President of Sri Lanka|Presidency]] of [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]], the [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces]] defeated the LTTE, bringing an end to the 26 year long civil war on 19 May 2009,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/18/tamil-tigers-killed-sri-lanka |title=Sri Lanka declares end to war with Tamil Tigers |work=The Guardian |date=19 May 2009 |access-date=18 August 2011 |location=London |first1=Matthew |last1=Weaver |first2=Gethin |last2=Chamberlain |archive-date=6 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906141729/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/18/tamil-tigers-killed-sri-lanka |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McDonald |first1=Mark |title=Tamil Tigers Confirm Death of Their Leader |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/world/asia/26lanka.html |access-date=11 April 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=25 May 2009 |archive-date=11 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411014251/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/world/asia/26lanka.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=24 May 2009|title=Tamil Tigers confirm leader's death|work=[[Al Jazeera English]]|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/05/2009524124042406562.html|access-date=2009-05-24|archive-date=25 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525011712/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/05/2009524124042406562.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2009-05-24|title=Tamil Tigers admit leader is dead|work=[[BBC News]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8066129.stm|access-date=2009-05-24|archive-date=25 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525011643/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8066129.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and re-established control of the entire country by the Sri Lankan Government.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/18/tamil-tigers-killed-sri-lanka |title=Sri Lanka declares end to war with Tamil Tigers |work=The Guardian |date=19 May 2009 |place=London |first1=Matthew |last1=Weaver |first2=Gethin |last2=Chamberlain |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-date=6 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906141729/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/18/tamil-tigers-killed-sri-lanka |url-status=live }}</ref> Overall, between 60,000 and 100,000 people were killed during the course of the 26 year long conflict.<ref name="ABC200509">{{cite news |title=Up to 100,000 killed in Sri Lanka's civil war: UN |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-05-20/up-to-100000-killed-in-sri-lankas-civil-war-un/1689524 |newspaper=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC Australia]] |date=20 May 2009 |access-date=17 October 2015 |archive-date=23 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923153656/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-05-20/up-to-100000-killed-in-sri-lankas-civil-war-un/1689524 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka |url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/srilanka/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=sri%20lanka&st=cse |work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Erik |last=Olsen |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-date=4 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804092738/http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/srilanka/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=sri%20lanka&st=cse |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings]] carried out by the terrorist group [[National Thowheeth Jama'ath]] on 21 April 2019 resulted in the brutal death of 261 innocent people.<ref name="timeline">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190428/columns/easter-sunday-massacres-where-do-we-go-from-here-347090.html|title=Easter Sunday massacres: Where do we go from here?|access-date=12 March 2023|archive-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428182021/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190428/columns/easter-sunday-massacres-where-do-we-go-from-here-347090.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 26 April 2019 an anti [[Sainthamaruthu shootout|terrorist operation]] was carried out against the National Thowheeth Jama'ath by the [[Sri Lanka Army]] with the operation being successful and National Thowheeth Jama'ath's insurgency ending.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-blasts-hospital-idUSKCN1S5113|title=Wife, daughter of Sri Lanka bombings mastermind will survive blast:...|newspaper=Reuters|date=29 April 2019|access-date=24 May 2019|via=www.reuters.com|archive-date=21 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521204214/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-blasts-hospital-idUSKCN1S5113|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/54693/15-bodies-including-children-found-at-blast-site-in-sainthamaruthu|title=15 bodies including children found at blast site in Sainthamaruthu|website=adaderana.lk|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428081702/http://www.adaderana.lk/news/54693/15-bodies-including-children-found-at-blast-site-in-sainthamaruthu|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hirunews.lk/215282/15-bodies-found-from-site-of-shootout-and-explosions-in-saindamaradu6-suicide-bombers-among-them|title=15 bodies found from site of shootout and explosions in Saindamaradu;6 Suicide bombers among them|website=Hiru News|access-date=29 April 2019|archive-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428081706/http://www.hirunews.lk/215282/15-bodies-found-from-site-of-shootout-and-explosions-in-saindamaradu6-suicide-bombers-among-them|url-status=live}}</ref>

Economic troubles in Sri Lanka began in 2019, when a [[2019–present Sri Lankan economic crisis|severe economic crisis]] occurred caused by rapidly increasing foreign debt, massive government budget deficits due to tax cuts, falling foreign remittances, a food crisis caused by mandatory organic farming along with a ban on chemical fertilizers, and a multitude of other factors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-23 |title=Everything to Know About Sri Lanka's Economic Crisis |url=https://www.borgenmagazine.com/sri-lankas-economic-crisis/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=BORGEN |language=en-US |archive-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519130407/https://www.borgenmagazine.com/sri-lankas-economic-crisis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Sri Lankan Government officially declared the ongoing crisis to be the worst [[Economy of Sri Lanka|economic crisis in the country]] in 73 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-30 |title=Sri Lanka declares worst economic downturn in 73 years |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210430-sri-lanka-declares-worst-economic-downturn-in-73-years |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015180503/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210430-sri-lanka-declares-worst-economic-downturn-in-73-years |archive-date=2021-10-15 |access-date=2021-06-27 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> In August 2021, a food emergency was declared.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 August 2021 |others=Agence France-Presse |title=Sri Lanka declares food emergency as forex crisis worsens |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/sri-lanka-declares-food-emergency-forex-crisis-1847478-2021-08-31 |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=6 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406094041/https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/sri-lanka-declares-food-emergency-forex-crisis-1847478-2021-08-31 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2022, Prime Minister [[Ranil Wickremesinghe]] declared the collapse of the Sri Lankan economy in parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka's PM says its debt-laden economy has 'collapsed' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/sri-lankas-pm-says-its-debt-laden-economy-has-collapsed-12638329 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622094829/https://news.sky.com/story/sri-lankas-pm-says-its-debt-laden-economy-has-collapsed-12638329 |archive-date=22 June 2022 |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref> The crisis resulted in Sri Lanka defaulting on its $51 billion sovereign debt for the first time in its history, along with double-digit inflation, a crippling energy crisis that led to approximately 15 hour power cuts, severe fuel shortages leading to the suspension of fuel to all non-essential vehicles, and more such economic disorder.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka becomes first Asia-Pacific country in decades to default on foreign debt |url=https://www.newswire.lk/2022/05/19/sri-lanka-becomes-first-asia-pacific-country-in-decades-to-default-on-foreign-debt/ |access-date=19 May 2022 |work=NewsWire |date=19 May 2022 |archive-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519121627/https://www.newswire.lk/2022/05/19/sri-lanka-becomes-first-asia-pacific-country-in-decades-to-default-on-foreign-debt/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-11 |title=Sri Lanka to reduce power cut duration from April 18 as rains start – PUCSL |url=https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-to-reduce-power-cut-duration-from-april-18-as-rains-start-pucsl-92927 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=EconomyNext |language=en |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706194528/https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-to-reduce-power-cut-duration-from-april-18-as-rains-start-pucsl-92927/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to the crisis, massive [[2022 Sri Lankan protests|street protests]] erupted all over the country, with protesters demanding the resignation of the President [[Gotabaya Rajapaksa]]. The protests culminated with the storming and siege of the [[President's House, Colombo|President's House]] on July 9, 2022, and resulted in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fleeing to Singapore<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 July 2022|title=Sri Lanka protesters break into President's House as thousands rally|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/09/asia/sri-lanka-protest-president-saturday-intl-hnk/index.html|access-date=9 July 2022|website=CNN|archive-date=15 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715132642/https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/09/asia/sri-lanka-protest-president-saturday-intl-hnk/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and later emailing his resignation to parliament, formally announcing his resignation and making him the first Sri Lankan president to resign in the middle of his term.<ref>{{cite news |title=President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Resigns – letter sent to Speaker of Parliament |url=https://www.hirunews.lk/english/309987/president-gotabaya-rajapaksa-resigns-letter-sent-to-speaker-of-parliament |access-date=14 July 2022 |work=Hiru News |date=14 July 2022 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714134628/https://www.hirunews.lk/english/309987/president-gotabaya-rajapaksa-resigns-letter-sent-to-speaker-of-parliament |url-status=live }}</ref> On the same day the President's House was stormed, protesters besieged and stormed the [[115 Fifth Lane|private residence of the prime minister]] and burnt it down.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 July 2022 |title=Sri Lankan crisis: Protesters set PM Ranil Wickremesinghe's residence on fire |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/protesters-set-sri-lankan-pm-ranil-wickremesinghe-s-residence-on-fire-101657381849320.html |access-date=9 July 2022 |website=Hindustan Times News |language=en |archive-date=13 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713064308/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/protesters-set-sri-lankan-pm-ranil-wickremesinghe-s-residence-on-fire-101657381849320.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

After [[Parliament of Sri Lanka|Parliament]] elected the new president as [[Ranil Wickremesinghe]] on [[2022 Sri Lankan presidential election|20 July 2022]], Wickremesinghe took oath as the ninth President of Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/ranil-wickremesinghe-takes-oath-as-sri-lankan-president-video-1978092-2022-07-21|title=Ranil Wickremesinghe takes oath as President of Sri Lanka|website=indiatoday.in|date=2022-07-21|access-date=29 July 2023|archive-date=25 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325190951/https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/ranil-wickremesinghe-takes-oath-as-sri-lankan-president-video-1978092-2022-07-21|url-status=live}}</ref> He implemented various economic reforms in efforts to stabilize Sri Lanka's economy, which has shown slight improvement since.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lanka-cuts-policy-rates-to-reduce-inflation-and-boost-economic-recovery/article66919025.ece | title=Sri Lanka cuts policy rates to reduce inflation and boost economic recovery | newspaper=The Hindu | date=June 2023 | access-date=6 October 2023 | archive-date=27 September 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927194156/https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lanka-cuts-policy-rates-to-reduce-inflation-and-boost-economic-recovery/article66919025.ece | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/03/01/022224oped-srilanka-economic-reform-program-is-starting-to-work|title=Sri Lanka's Economic Reform Program is Starting to Work—Keep at It for a Full Recovery|website=IMF}}</ref> On 23 September 2024, [[Anura Kumara Dissanayake]] was sworn in as Sri Lanka's new president after winning the presidential [[2024 Sri Lankan presidential election|election]] as a left-wing candidate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anura Kumara Dissanayake sworn in as Sri Lanka's president |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqxr03x4dvzo |work=www.bbc.com}}</ref> On 14 November 2024, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's [[National People's Power]] (NPP), a left-leaning alliance, received a two-thirds majority in parliament in Sri Lankan [[2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|parliamentary election.]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka: Left-leaning leader's coalition secures landslide victory |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crr9n2w0lyzo |work=www.bbc.com}}</ref>