Reference
A History of Sri Lanka
The standard history of Sri Lanka from Anuradhapura to independence.
British Ceylon
Colonial power
Level 2
1796 – 1948
British Crown colony — the coast from 1796, the whole island after 1815.
- Capital
- Colombo
- Region
- Sri Lanka
- Duration
- 152 years
- Main period
- British Crown Rule (Raj)
Approximate extent.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1796 | British take coastal Ceylon from the Dutch Coastal Sri Lanka passed to Britain, confirmed by the Treaty of Amiens. |
Colombo |
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the British 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: 152 years
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Overlap: 30 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 152 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 152 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 152 years
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
Overlap: 61 years
British East India Company ★
Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858
Overlap: 62 years
Hyderabad State (Nizams) ★
Deccan · 1724 – 1948
Overlap: 152 years
Sikh Empire ★
North · 1799 – 1849
Overlap: 50 years
Kingdom of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1816 – 2008
Overlap: 132 years
British Raj (Crown Rule) ★
Pan-Indian · 1858 – 1947
Overlap: 89 years
Kingdom of Bhutan ★
Himalaya · 1907 – present
Overlap: 41 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 152 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 152 years
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Overlap: 152 years
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Overlap: 152 years
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Overlap: 152 years
Dutch East India Company (VOC) in India
Coastal · 1605 – 1825
Overlap: 29 years
Dutch Coromandel (Pulicat)
Coastal · 1610 – 1825
Overlap: 29 years
Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi)
Himalaya · 1616 – 1907
Overlap: 111 years
Danish India
Coastal · 1620 – 1869
Overlap: 73 years
Danish Tranquebar
Coastal · 1620 – 1845
Overlap: 49 years
Fort St George, Madras
Coastal · 1639 – 1858
Overlap: 62 years
Dutch Chinsurah
Coastal · 1656 – 1825
Overlap: 29 years
French India
Coastal · 1668 – 1954
Overlap: 152 years
Bombay (English East India Company)
Coastal · 1668 – 1858
Overlap: 62 years
Chandernagore
Coastal · 1673 – 1950
Overlap: 152 years
Pondichéry
Coastal · 1674 – 1954
Overlap: 152 years
Carnatic (Nawabs of Arcot)
South · 1692 – 1855
Overlap: 59 years
Gaekwad State (Baroda)
West · 1721 – 1949
Overlap: 152 years
Mahé
Coastal · 1721 – 1954
Overlap: 152 years
Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur
North · 1722 – 1947
Overlap: 151 years
Awadh (Nawabs of Oudh)
Gangetic Plain · 1722 – 1856
Overlap: 60 years
Travancore
South · 1729 – 1949
Overlap: 152 years
Holkar State (Indore)
Central · 1731 – 1948
Overlap: 152 years
Scindia State (Gwalior)
Central · 1731 – 1948
Overlap: 152 years
Yanam
Coastal · 1731 – 1954
Overlap: 152 years
Bhonsles of Nagpur
Central · 1739 – 1853
Overlap: 57 years
Karaikal
Coastal · 1739 – 1954
Overlap: 152 years
Durrani Empire
Northwest · 1747 – 1823
Overlap: 27 years