Dominion of Ceylon

Modern state Level 2 ★ Major power

1948 – 1972

Independent dominion from 4 February 1948.

🗺 See on map in 1960

Capital: Colombo
Region: Sri Lanka
Duration: 24 years
Main period: Dominion of India

Approximate extent.

Rulers

D. S. Senanayake Prime Minister
1948 – 1952
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Prime Minister
1956 – 1959
Sirimavo Bandaranaike Prime Minister
World's first woman prime minister.
1960 – 1965

Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.

Key events

Year	Event	Place
1948	Ceylon becomes independent	Colombo
1956	Sinhala Only Act	Colombo

📚 Recommended reading on the Dominion of Ceylon

Reference

A History of Sri Lanka

K. M. de Silva · Penguin

The standard history of Sri Lanka from Anuradhapura to independence.

General reading

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Contemporaries

Powers that coexisted with the Dominion of Ceylon for a significant part of its history.

Sultanate of the Maldives ★

Islands · c. 1153 – 1968

Portuguese Estado da Índia ★

Coastal · 1505 – 1961

Kingdom of Nepal ★

Himalaya · 1816 – 2008

Kingdom of Bhutan ★

Himalaya · 1907 – present

Pakistan (West & East) ★

Northwest · 1947 – 1971

Republic of India ★

Pan-Indian · 1950 – present

Portuguese Diu

Coastal · 1535 – 1961

Portuguese Daman

Coastal · 1559 – 1961

French India

Coastal · 1668 – 1954

Pondichéry

Coastal · 1674 – 1954

Mahé

Coastal · 1721 – 1954

Yanam

Coastal · 1731 – 1954

Karaikal

Coastal · 1739 – 1954

Kingdom of Afghanistan

Northwest · 1926 – 1973