As a British crown colony, the island was known as Ceylon; it achieved independence as the Dominion of Ceylon in 1948. The country is now known in Sinhala as Śrī Laṅkā (Sinhala: ශ්රී ලංකා) and in Tamil as Ilaṅkai (Tamil: இலங்கை, IPA: [iˈlaŋɡaɪ]).
Ancient Greek geographers called it Taprobane. Arabs referred to it as Serendib. Later European mapmakers called it Ceylon, a name still used occasionally for trade purposes. It officially became Sri Lanka in 1972.
Sri Lanka didn't become Ceylon overnight, and it didn't stop being Ceylon overnight either. Here's the history behind the name change and why Ceylon still lingers today.
Is the Name "Ceylon" Still Used? Yes. Although the country is now officially known as Sri Lanka, the term "Ceylon" is still used in several global contexts, particularly in: Ceylon Tea: Sri Lanka is a significant global tea exporter, and the "Ceylon Tea" brand is well-known around the world.
Explore the rich history of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) from ancient civilizations to modern times. Discover legendary kings, epic battles, cultural achievements, and the stories that shaped a nation over 2,500 years.
Ceylon was a British crown colony that existed from 1815 to 1948 when it was granted independence and became an independent country within the Commonwealth of nations from 1948 to 1972.
In 1919 the Ceylon National Congress (CNC) was founded to agitate for greater autonomy. The party soon split along ethnic and caste lines, however, and was unable to seek independence, its original purpose.
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