Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a population of approximately 22 million and is home to several cultures, languages and ethnicities. The Sinhalese people form the majority of the population, followed by the Sri Lankan Tamils, who are the largest minority group and are concentrated in northern Sri Lanka; both groups have played an influential role in the island's history. Other long-established groups include the Moors, Indian Tamils, Burghers, Malays, Chinese, and Vedda.
Sri Lanka's documented history goes back 3,000 years, with evidence of prehistoric human settlements dating back 125,000 years. Many names have been used to refer to the island, with Ceylon being used post-independence and still in use in some cases. The earliest known Buddhist writings of Sri Lanka, known collectively as the Pali Canon, date to the fourth Buddhist council, which took place in 29 BCE. Also called the ''Pearl of the Indian Ocean'', or the ''Granary of the East'', Sri Lanka's geographic location and deep harbours have made it of great strategic importance, from the earliest days of the ancient Silk Road trade route to today's so-called maritime Silk Road. Because its location made it a major trading hub, it was already known to both East Asians and Europeans as long ago as the Anuradhapura period. During a period of great political crisis in the Kingdom of Kotte, the Portuguese arrived in Sri Lanka and sought to control its maritime trade, with a part of Sri Lanka subsequently becoming a Portuguese possession. After the Sinhalese–Portuguese War, the Dutch colonial empire and the Kingdom of Kandy took control of those areas. Dutch Ceylon was taken by the British Empire, which extended control over the whole island, colonising it as British Ceylon from 1815 to 1948. A national movement for political independence arose in the early 20th century, and in 1948, Ceylon became a dominion. It was succeeded by the republic of Sri Lanka in 1972. Sri Lanka's more recent history was marred by the 26-year Sri Lankan Civil War, which began in 1983 and ended in 2009, when the Sri Lanka Armed Forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Sri Lanka is a developing country, ranking 89th on the Human Development Index. It is the highest-ranked South Asian nation in terms of development and has the second-highest per capita income in South Asia. The country has had a long history of engagement with modern international groups; it is a founding member of the SAARC, the G77 and the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as a member of the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations. Provided by Wikipedia
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1by CEYLON### CRL customization ### ?> ### Add publisher and desc details ### ?>Colombo (pub. Feb., 1948-May 19, 1972)
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2by Ceylon. Tourist Bureau### CRL customization ### ?> ### Add publisher and desc details ### ?>
Published 1951Colombo [1951]178 p. illus. 19 cm. -
3### CRL customization ### ?> ### Add publisher and desc details ### ?>Colombo (pub. -Feb., 1948)
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4by Nârada Bhikkhu of Ceylon### CRL customization ### ?> ### Add publisher and desc details ### ?>
Published 1931Phnom-Penh : Impr. du gouvernement, 1931.52 p. : port. ; 25 cm. -
5by Nârada Bhikkhu of Ceylon### CRL customization ### ?> ### Add publisher and desc details ### ?>
Published 1928Phnom-Penh : Impr. du gouvernement, 1928.104 p. ; 17 cm. -
6by Carr, Ceylon Spencer, 1850-### CRL customization ### ?> ### Add publisher and desc details ### ?>
Published 1900Columbus, O., Light of Truth Pub. Co. [1900]304 p. -
7by Pereira, Ananda V, King of Ceylon, fl. 914-923### CRL customization ### ?> ### Add publisher and desc details ### ?>
Published 1974[s.l.] : Śrī Laṅkā Viśvavidyālayē Prakāśaka Maṇḍalaya, 1974.xcvi, 290 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. ; 22 cm. -
8by Abeysekera, W. E. M.### CRL customization ### ?> ### Add publisher and desc details ### ?>
Published 1970[Colombo] Distributors: Colombo Apothecaries, 1970.4 v. in 3. 22 cm.“...Ceylon...”
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9by Rustomjee, Noshir C. J.### CRL customization ### ?> ### Add publisher and desc details ### ?>
Published 1972Colombo [Ceylon, Printed at Kularatne] 1972.xxxi, 200 p. forms. 22 cm.“...Ceylon...”
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10[Colombo] : Govt. Press, Ceylon, [19--]-v. ; 26 cm.“...Ceylon...”
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11Colombo : Colonial Secretary's Office,v.“...Ceylon...”
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12by Tyagi, A. R.### CRL customization ### ?> ### Add publisher and desc details ### ?>
Published 1969Delhi, Sultan Chand [1969]223 p. 23 cm.“...Ceylon...”
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13[Colombo : Colonial Secretary's Office]v.“...Ceylon...”
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14Colombo.v. tables. 25 cm.“...Ceylon...”
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15Colombo.v. tables. 25 cm.“...Ceylon...”
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16Colombo.v. tables. 25 cm.“...Ceylon...”
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17[Colombo] : Govt. Press, Ceylon, [19--]-v. : ill., maps ; 25 cm.“...Ceylon...”
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18Published 1900### CRL customization ### ?> ### Add publisher and desc details ### ?>[London : Messrs. Wyman & Sons, Ltd., 190-?]3 p.“...Ceylon...”
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19Estimates of the revenue and expenditure of the Government of Ceylon for the financial year / CeylonPublished 1971### CRL customization ### ?> ### Add publisher and desc details ### ?>[s.l. : s.n.], -1971v. ; 25 cm.“...Ceylon...”
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20Colombo, Ceylon.v.“...Ceylon...”