History of Sri Lanka

Sri Lankas history is a source of great pride to both Sinhalese

and Tamils, the countrys two largest ethnic groups. The only
problem is, they have two completely different versions. Every
historical site, religious structure, even village name seems to
have conflicting stories about its origin, and those stories are, in
turn, blended over time with contrasting religious myths and local
legends. The end results are often used as evidence that the
island is one groups exclusive homeland; each claims first dibs.
In fact, the islands location its position along hundreds of
ancient trade routes and its proximity to India has resulted in a
potpourri of visitors, immigrants, invaders, missionaries, traders
and travellers, mostly from India, but also from East Asia and
theMiddle East. Many stayed on, and over the generations they
assimilated and intermarried, converted and converted back
again. The islands history, like that of its ethnicities, is one of
constant flux and shifting dominance. Nonetheless, the
contemporary Sri Lankan take on history is deeply political and
marked by deep ethnic divides divides that may be totally
artificial.