Reference
A History of Sri Lanka
The standard history of Sri Lanka from Anuradhapura to independence.
Dominion of Ceylon
Modern state
Level 2
★ Major power
1948 – 1972
Independent dominion from 4 February 1948.
- Capital
- Colombo
- Region
- Sri Lanka
- Duration
- 24 years
- Main period
- Dominion of India
Approximate extent.
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- D. S. Senanayake Prime Minister1948 – 1952
- S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Prime Minister1956 – 1959
- Sirimavo Bandaranaike Prime Minister1960 – 1965World's first woman prime minister.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Ceylon becomes independent Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon, gained independence from British rule; it has kept a democratic system ever since. |
Colombo |
| 1956 | Sinhala Only Act | Colombo |
📚 Recommended reading on the Dominion of Ceylon
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🕸 Connections 15 links
Explore connections full screen ↗Everything on YugMap linked to this page — and why. Hover a dot in the graph, or pick from the list.
🗂 Era 1
- Modern IndiaPart of this era
⏳ Periods 1
- Dominion of IndiaBelongs to this period
🏛 Kingdoms & empires 6
- Sultanate of the Maldives 1153 – 1968Existed at the same time (20 years)
- Portuguese Estado da Índia 1505 – 1961Existed at the same time (13 years)
- Kingdom of Nepal 1816 – 2008Existed at the same time (24 years)
- Kingdom of Bhutan 1907 – presentExisted at the same time (24 years)
- Pakistan (West & East) 1947 – 1971Existed at the same time (23 years)
- Republic of India 1950 – presentExisted at the same time (22 years)
👑 Rulers 3
- D. S. Senanayake 1948 – 1952Ruled it
- S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike 1956 – 1959Ruled it
- Sirimavo Bandaranaike 1960 – 1965Ruled it
⚔ Events 2
- Ceylon becomes independent 1948Happened in it
- Sinhala Only Act 1956Happened in it
🔧 Technology 1
- TIFRAC: India's first working computer 1954–1960Made or discovered in this time
📚 Books 1
- A History of Sri Lanka K. M. de SilvaRecommended reading
Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Dominion of Ceylon for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 20 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 13 years
Kingdom of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1816 – 2008
Overlap: 24 years
Kingdom of Bhutan ★
Himalaya · 1907 – present
Overlap: 24 years
Pakistan (West & East) ★
Northwest · 1947 – 1971
Overlap: 23 years
Republic of India ★
Pan-Indian · 1950 – present
Overlap: 22 years
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Overlap: 13 years
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Overlap: 13 years
French India
Coastal · 1668 – 1954
Overlap: 6 years
Pondichéry
Coastal · 1674 – 1954
Overlap: 6 years
Mahé
Coastal · 1721 – 1954
Overlap: 6 years
Yanam
Coastal · 1731 – 1954
Overlap: 6 years
Karaikal
Coastal · 1739 – 1954
Overlap: 6 years
Kingdom of Afghanistan
Northwest · 1926 – 1973
Overlap: 24 years