The history of Sri Lanka is unique because the relevance and richness of it extends

beyond the areas of South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. The early
human remains which were found on the island of Sri Lanka date back to about 38,000
years ago (Balangoda Man).

The historical period roughly begins in the 3rd century CE, based on Pali
chronicles like the Mahavamsa, the Deepavamsa, and the Culavamsa. They describe the
history of Sri Lanka since the arrival of Prince Vijaya who was from Northern
India[1][2][3][4] The earliest documents of settlement in the Island are found in
these chronicles. These chronicles cover the period since the establishment of the
Kingdom of Tambapanni in the 6th century BCE by the earliest ancestors of the
Sinhalese. The first Sri Lankan ruler of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, Pandukabhaya, is
recorded for the 4th century BCE. Buddhism was introduced in the 3rd century BCE by
Arhath Mahinda (son of the Indian emperor Ashoka).

The island was divided into numerous kingdoms over the following centuries,
intermittently (between CE 993–1077) united under Chola rule. Sri Lanka was ruled
by 181 monarchs from the Anuradhapura to Kandy periods.[5][unreliable source?] From
the 16th century, some coastal areas of the country were also controlled by the
Portuguese, Dutch and British. Between 1597 and 1658, a substantial part of the
island was under Portuguese rule. The Portuguese lost their possessions in Ceylon
due to Dutch intervention in the Eighty Years' War. Following the Kandyan Wars, the
island was united under British rule in 1815. Armed uprisings against the British
took place in 1818 Uva Rebellion and 1848 Matale Rebellion. Independence was
finally granted in 1948 but the country remained a Dominion of the British Empire
until 1972.

In 1972, Sri Lanka assumed the status of a Republic. A constitution was introduced
in 1978 which made the Executive President the head of state. The Sri Lankan Civil
War began in 1983, including Insurrections in 1971 and 1987, with the 25-year-long
civil war ending in 2009. There was an attempted coup in 1962 against the
government under Sirimavo Bandaranaike.