Sri Lanka
History
Tradition dates Prince Vijaya's arrival and the first Sinhala kingdom to this year.
Anuradhapura became the capital and remained so for over a thousand years.
Chola invasion moved the capital to Polonnaruwa.
Polonnaruwa was abandoned and the capital shifted repeatedly to the southwest.
Kandy became the seat of the last independent Sinhalese kingdom.
The Kandyan Convention gave Britain control of the whole island.
Sri Lanka became independent, marking the start of modern sovereign statehood.
Sri Lanka became a republic, replacing the previous constitutional arrangement.
Part ofAsiaMore countries, cities and routes.Short facts
RegionSouth Asia / Indian Ocean
LanguageSinhala, Tamil
Time zoneSLST (UTC+5:30)
Drives onLeft
Worth seeing
- Sigiriya: UNESCO-listed 5th-century rock fortress with frescoes and water gardens, the eighth wonder.
- Temple of the Tooth: Kandy's holiest Buddhist temple housing a relic of the Buddha's tooth.
- Ella: Scenic highland village of tea estates, Nine Arch Bridge, and Little Adam's Peak.
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Sri Jayawardenepura KottePlanning questions
What is Sri Lanka known for?Sigiriya, Temple of the Tooth, Ella.
What is the capital?Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
Which language is useful?Sinhala, Tamil.
When is the national day?4 February.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.
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Use Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte as the first planning anchor for Sri Lanka, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.
Food & drink
Street food
TeaKnown for
SigiriyaTemple of the ToothEllaSri Jayawardenepura KotteStreet foodTea
Music & Culture