Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean southeast of India. It was known as Ceylon until 1972.
Anuradhapura Kingdom: An ancient Sri Lankan kingdom whose capital, Anuradhapura, was a major center of Buddhist civilization. Its long reign shaped early political institutions and Buddhist culture on the island.
Anagarika Dharmapala: A Sri Lankan Buddhist revivalist and reformer who helped promote Buddhism in Asia and the West. His activism connected Buddhist reform with modern Sri Lankan national identity.
Indian Ocean: The ocean basin between Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Southern Ocean. Sri Lanka's location in this ocean has shaped trade and strategic importance.
Sri Lankan Civil War: An armed conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam from 1983 to 2009. The war profoundly affected communities, politics, and postwar life across the country.
Ceylon tea: Tea grown in Sri Lanka, historically marketed under the name Ceylon tea. Tea became a signature export and a defining feature of the island's plantation economy.
Polonnaruwa Kingdom: A medieval Sri Lankan kingdom whose capital flourished after Anuradhapura declined. Its irrigation works and monumental architecture mark a major phase of island history.
D. S. Senanayake: The first prime minister of independent Ceylon, serving from 1947 until 1952. He led the transition from colonial government to independence.
Sinhala language: An Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly by the Sinhala people of Sri Lanka. Sinhala is a major language of government, education, and everyday life.
Black July: Anti-Tamil violence in Sri Lanka in July 1983 that helped trigger the civil war. The pogrom marked a turning point in relations between Tamil communities and the state.
Sri Lankan cinnamon: Ceylon cinnamon, the dried inner bark of Cinnamomum verum, native to Sri Lanka. Cinnamon helped draw foreign traders and remains a distinctive agricultural product.