History of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island country located off the coast of India. It has a long history, stretching back more than 2,000 years. Sri Lanka was believed to have been home to people as early as the 10th century BC. During ancient and medieval times, Sri Lanka was known as Sinhale or Ceylon, and it was ruled by a variety of different kingdoms. The island was also an important part of trade between India and the Middle East, and Sri Lanka's location made it a strategic place for maritime power. Starting in 1505, the Portuguese came to Sri Lanka and began controlling some of the ports. During the 1600s, the Dutch took over control of Sri Lanka, and they held the island until they were defeated by the British in 1796. In 1815, the British Crown officially took over rule of Sri Lanka, making it a colony. There were times of unrest and rebellion against the British rulers during this period, but ultimately Sri Lanka remained under British rule until 1948, when the country was granted independence. Since then, the country has experienced civil war and continue to face political tensions, but progress has been made in developing the nation.