Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

Sri Lanka’s 75th Independen­ce Day

On February 4, 1948, Sri Lanka became an independen­t nation after over 100 years as a British colony. This year marks the 75th anniversar­y.

- Compiled by Cecilia Hewavithar­ana

Timeline

1505 – The Portuguese arrive and begin taking over parts of the

island.

1658 – The Dutch expel the Portuguese and take over parts of

the island.

1796 – The British begin taking over the island from the Dutch. 1815 – The entire island comes under British rule following the fall

of the Kandyan Kingdom.

1833 – 7KH ÀUVW OHJLVODWLY­H ERGLHV DUH VHW XS E\ *RYHUQRU 6LU Robert Horton, and united the island under British administra­tion.

1915 – A memorandum was carried by E. W. Perera in the soles of KLV VKRHV WR WKH 6HFUHWDU\ RI 6WDWH IRU WKH &RORQLHV

(in Britain), requesting martial law to be repealed, following the violent response of the authoritie­s to the 1915 riots. 1948 – &H\ORQ JDLQV ,QGHSHQGHQF­H DQG EHFRPHV WKH 'RPLQLRQ RI

&H\ORQ

1972 – 7KH 'RPLQLRQ RI &H\ORQ EHFRPHV WKH 5HSXEOLF RI 6UL /DQND

Known as the Father of WKH 1DWLRQ 'RQ 6WHSKHQ 6HQDQD\DNH ZDV WKH ÀUVW 3ULPH 0LQLVWHU RI &H\ORQ DQG D NH\ ÀJXUH LQ WKH ,QGHSHQGHQF­H 0RYHPHQW

For nearly 300 years before the British came WR WKH LVODQG 6UL /DQND ZDV SDUWO\ XQGHU WKH Portuguese and then the Dutch, none of whom were able to take over the Kandyan Kingdom

,Q KRZHYHU WKH .DQG\DQ FKLHIV ZKR ZHUH displeased with the cruel actions of the Kandyan .LQJ 6UL :LFNUDPD 5DMDVLQJKH VLJQHG WKH .DQG\DQ &RQYHQWLRQ DQG DFFHSWHG WKH %ULWLVK DV WKHLU sovereign.

,Q OHVV WKDQ WZR \HDUV KRZHYHU WKH\ UHDOLVHG WKHLU PLVWDNH )URP RQZDUGV WKHUH ZHUH a number of rebellions that were successful­ly suppressed by the British.

However, with the revival of Buddhism and the 6LQKDOD FXOWXUH DQG VSLULW E\ $QDJDULND 'KDUPDSDOD in particular, the more organised and peaceful ,QGHSHQGHQF­H

Movement gained momentum, which eventually led to the country gaining its

,QGHSHQGHQF­H

LQ

 ?? ??
 ?? ??
 ?? ?? The opening of the first Parliament at Independen­ce Square by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester in the presence of D.S. Senanayake as first Prime Minister of Ceylon.
The opening of the first Parliament at Independen­ce Square by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester in the presence of D.S. Senanayake as first Prime Minister of Ceylon.
 ?? ?? D.S. Senanayake
D.S. Senanayake

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