History
The history of Sri Lanka goes back to prehistoric times. Archaeological findings indicate that the island was inhabited as early as 500,000 years ago.
Legend has it that the forefather of the Singhalese, the North Indian Prince Vijaya entered the island about 540 B.C. together with 700 followers. 180 generations of Ceylonese kings followed and governed the country during more than 2,000 years. Architecture and visual arts developed to their zenith during the bloom of Buddhism. Many of the dagobas and ruins which can still be seen today originate from this time. In 1592 Kandy was declared as the new capital.
The Period of Colonialism
1505 marks the beginning of 450 years of colonial powers with the arrival of the Portuguese. The small seafarer's nation expels the Arabian traders of the coastal regions and takes control of the trade with cinnamon and precious stones. They spread Christianity with a rather tough approach while their missionaries build schools, hospitals and churches.
In 1658 the Dutch defeat the Portuguese in a blood-filled battle and take over supremacy of the island. They are far less interested in Christian conversion than in economic success. The commercial monopoly with cinnamon is controlled by the VOC – the Dutch East India Company – which thereby also controls the coastal regions.
In 1796 the British repeat history and expel their predecessors, only this time without much bloodshed, and make Ceylon a British crown colony in 1802. They implement coffee plantations in the highland, which are destroyed by the coffee plague and consequently substituted with the more robust tea plants. Through the construction of roads, railway lines and schools they contribute considerably to improve the infrastructure and education of the population.
Newest History
In 1948 the island becomes an independent member of the British Commonwealth and ends 450 years of foreign rule.
December 26, 2004 marks a day that places Sri Lanka in the centre of media-attention and activates an unprecedented wave of solidarity and a donation boom: The destructive waves of a Tsunami kill 31,000 people and leave half a million Sri Lankans homeless. Reconstruction takes years, the country changes more radically than ever before.
On November 11, 2005, Mahinda Rajapakse wins the presidential elections. A few days later he takes oath of office and announces that he will suspend the Norwegian peace brokers, who have been trying to broker an end of the civil war against the terrorist organisation LTTE for many years. Supported by Chinese supply of arms Rajapakse begins a military offensive against the LTTE and finally declares the end of civil war in May, 2009 after more than 25 years of terror and bloodshed. The leader of the LTEE, Velupillai Prabhakaran, is killed during the last days of war. The long awaited peace has finally come to the island.