{"slug": "sri-lanka", "label": "Sri Lanka", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q854", "qid": "Q854", "description": "island country in South Asia", "entries": 60, "years": 56, "span": [-473, 2025], "span_label": ["474 BCE", "2025 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 19}, {"title": "Exploration & Expansion", "count": 12}, {"title": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "count": 7}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 6}, {"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 5}, {"title": "Climate & Environment", "count": 3}, {"title": "Births", "count": 2}, {"title": "Culture & Society", "count": 2}, {"title": "Health & Medicine", "count": 2}, {"title": "Economy & Finance", "count": 1}, {"title": "Disasters & Accidents", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "colombo", "label": "Colombo", "shared": 7}, {"slug": "india", "label": "India", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "buddhism", "label": "Buddhism", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "zheng-he", "label": "Zheng He", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "portuguese-empire", "label": "Portuguese Empire", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "sri-lankan-civil-war", "label": "Sri Lankan civil war", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "nepal", "label": "Nepal", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "faxian", "label": "Faxian", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "myanmar", "label": "Myanmar", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "thailand", "label": "Thailand", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "malaysia", "label": "Malaysia", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "sumatra", "label": "Sumatra", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": -473, "year_label": "474 BCE", "section": "Births", "date": null, "text": "Pandukabhaya of Anuradhapura, ruler of Sri Lanka", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360598367#Births", "title": "474 BC", "revid": 1360598367, "section": "Births"}}, {"year": -287, "year_label": "288 BCE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Sacred Fig tree is planted at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. This is the earliest known planting date for any planted tree still surviving.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373136664#Sri_Lanka", "title": "288 BC", "revid": 1373136664, "section": "Events › By place › Sri Lanka"}}, {"year": -266, "year_label": "267 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Devanampiya Tissa, ruler of Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370481835#Deaths", "title": "267 BC", "revid": 1370481835, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": -235, "year_label": "236 BCE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Buddhism is introduced to Sri Lanka by Mahinda, a monk acting on behalf of the late Ashoka.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368088891#Sri_Lanka", "title": "236 BC", "revid": 1368088891, "section": "Events › By place › Sri Lanka"}}, {"year": -76, "year_label": "77 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Vattagamani Abhaya, king of Sri Lanka", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364740529#Deaths", "title": "77 BC", "revid": 1364740529, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": 113, "year_label": "113 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "\"Pattini dheivam\" worship is inaugurated in Kannagi Temple in the Chera Kingdom in India, by Emperor Cenkuttuvan; the function is attended by GajaBahu, king of Central Sri Lanka (Mahavamso).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371189035#Asia", "title": "AD 113", "revid": 1371189035, "section": "Events › By place › Asia"}}, {"year": 136, "year_label": "136 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Gajabahu I, king of Raja Rata (modern Sri Lanka)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1335665818#Deaths", "title": "AD 136", "revid": 1335665818, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": 399, "year_label": "399 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Fa-Hien, Chinese Buddhist monk, travels to India, Sri Lanka and Kapilavastu (modern Nepal).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364933714#Asia", "title": "399", "revid": 1364933714, "section": "Events › By place › Asia"}}, {"year": 459, "year_label": "459 CE", "section": "Climate & Environment", "date": null, "text": "King Dhatusena of Anuradhapura of the Moriyan dynasty rules over Sri Lanka. During his reign the Avukana Buddha statue is built.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1267077454#Asia", "title": "459", "revid": 1267077454, "section": "Events › By place › Asia"}}, {"year": 525, "year_label": "525 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Cosmas Indicopleustes, Alexandrian explorer-geographer, travels up the Nile. He will venture as far to the east as Ceylon, become a monk, and write \"Topographia Christiana\" to vindicate the biblical account of the world (see 550).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340792024#Exploration_and_colonization", "title": "525", "revid": 1340792024, "section": "Events › By topic › Exploration and colonization"}}, {"year": 548, "year_label": "548 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Cosmas Indicopleustes, Alexandrian merchant, writes his work Christian Topography. He describes the importance of the spice trade (especially in cloves and sweet aloes) in Ceylon, and the harvesting of pepper in India (approximate date).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368141112#Commerce", "title": "548", "revid": 1368141112, "section": "Events › By topic › Commerce"}}, {"year": 684, "year_label": "684 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Summer – The Pallava Empire (modern India) invades the kingdom of Ceylon. A Pallavan naval expedition employing Tamil mercenaries ends the Moriya dynasty.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340805928#Asia", "title": "684", "revid": 1340805928, "section": "Events › By place › Asia"}}, {"year": 807, "year_label": "807 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Dappula II becomes king of Sri Lanka, and makes Anuradhapura the capital city.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1342124762#Asia", "title": "807", "revid": 1342124762, "section": "Events › By place › Asia"}}, {"year": 948, "year_label": "948 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "The Nallur Kandaswamy temple, one of the most significant Hindu temples in the Jaffna District (modern Sri Lanka), is built.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341512591#Religion", "title": "948", "revid": 1341512591, "section": "Events › By topic › Religion"}}, {"year": 1017, "year_label": "1017 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Rajendra I, ruler of the Chola dynasty (in modern India), conquers Sri Lanka and annexes the island.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1342212758#Asia", "title": "1017", "revid": 1342212758, "section": "Events › Asia"}}, {"year": 1017, "year_label": "1017 CE", "section": "Births", "date": null, "text": "Vikramabahu (Kassapa VI), king of Sri Lanka (d. 1041)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1342212758#Births", "title": "1017", "revid": 1342212758, "section": "Births"}}, {"year": 1041, "year_label": "1041 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Vikramabahu, Prince of Ruhuna (or Kassapa), ruler of Sri Lanka (b. 1017)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365267586#Deaths", "title": "1041", "revid": 1365267586, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": 1215, "year_label": "1215 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "King Kalinga Magha, from Kalinga Province in India, lands in Sri Lanka with a force of 24,000 men, to capture the city of Polonnaruwa and depose its king, Parakrama Pandya.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359458031#Asia", "title": "1215", "revid": 1359458031, "section": "Events › By continent › Asia"}}, {"year": 1223, "year_label": "1223 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": "April 14", "text": "April 14 – On the island of Sri Lanka, King Chodaganga Deva lands at Trincomalee on the Tamil New Year's Day (the 1st of Chittirai of Shaka era year 1145) and makes a large donation to fund the Hindu Koneswaram Temple. The event is commemorated in an inscription in the Sanskrit language in the temple.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1336497375#April–June", "title": "1223", "revid": 1336497375, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1236, "year_label": "1236 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "King Kalinga Magha (\"the Tyrant\") is expelled from Polonnaruwa to Jaffna, capital of the Jaffna Kingdom (located in modern Sri Lanka).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1361428601#Asia", "title": "1236", "revid": 1361428601, "section": "Events › By place › Asia"}}, {"year": 1409, "year_label": "1409 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Cheng Ho (or Zheng He), admiral of the Ming empire fleet, deposes the king of Sri Lanka.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1361998092#Date_unknown", "title": "1409", "revid": 1361998092, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1409, "year_label": "1409 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "February 15", "text": "February 15 – The Galle Trilingual Inscription, with inscriptions in three languages (Chinese, Tamil and Persian) is installed by the Chinese admiral Zheng He at Galle in Sri Lanka, where he has stopped while on his way home during the second of his treasure voyages.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1361998092#January–March", "title": "1409", "revid": 1361998092, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1432, "year_label": "1432 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "November 28", "text": "November 28 – The Ming Chinese expedition lands at the island of Sri Lanka, coming ashore at Beruwala at the Kingdom of Kotte, ruled by Parakramabahu VI, but departs for India four days later.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1361998124#October–December", "title": "1432", "revid": 1361998124, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1505, "year_label": "1505 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "November 15", "text": "November 15 – Portuguese explorer Lourenço de Almeida and his fleet encounter a storm and are driven to the island of Sri Lanka and travels to Colombo. The King of Kotte, Dharma Parakramabahu IX, allows Almeida to build a trade station and a Roman Catholic chapel.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360582113#October–December", "title": "1505", "revid": 1360582113, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1550, "year_label": "1550 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "December 29", "text": "December 29 – Bhuvanaikabahu VII, King of Kotte on most of the island of Sri Lanka, is assassinated by a gunman hired by the government of Portuguese India.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369571608#October–December", "title": "1550", "revid": 1369571608, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1588, "year_label": "1588 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "February 18", "text": "February 18 – In modern-day Sri Lanka, the siege of Colombo by King Rajasinha I of Sitawaka ends when Portuguese Admiral Pedro Teixeira arrives with a fleet of 80 ships and frees the capital of Portuguese Ceylon. King Rajasinha and his troops flee back to his capital at Seethawakapura.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362479687#January–March", "title": "1588", "revid": 1362479687, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1589, "year_label": "1589 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "March 6", "text": "March 6 – Ralph Fitch becomes the first known person from England to set foot on the island of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and stays five days.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359971295#January–March", "title": "1589", "revid": 1359971295, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1591, "year_label": "1591 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "October 26", "text": "October 26 – The Portuguese invasion of the Jaffna Kingdom begins on the north side of the island of Sri Lanka.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1358075583#October–December", "title": "1591", "revid": 1358075583, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1594, "year_label": "1594 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "October 9", "text": "October 9 – Sinhalese–Portuguese War – Campaign of Danture: Forces of the Kingdom of Kandy gain a decisive victory over the Portuguese Empire, reversing near-total control of Sri Lanka by Portugal. Pedro Lopes de Sousa, the Governor of Portuguese Ceylon, is killed in the battle, and replaced on December 24 by Jerónimo de Azevedo.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1319812312#October–December", "title": "1594", "revid": 1319812312, "section": "Events › October–December"}}, {"year": 1597, "year_label": "1597 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "May 27", "text": "May 27 – The Kingdom of Kotte, on most of the western side of the island of Sri Lanka, upon the death of King Dharmapala. With no heirs, Dharmapala had made a will bequeathing the entire kingdom to the European nation of Portugal, creating the territory of Portuguese Ceylon (Puruthugisi Lankawa or Porthueka Ilankai).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362801855#April–June", "title": "1597", "revid": 1362801855, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1601, "year_label": "1601 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "May 5", "text": "May 5 – Dutch explorer Joris van Spilbergen, leading three ships of the Compagnie van De Moucheron, departs on his first expedition to Asia, departing from Veere with the ships Ram, Schaap, and Lam (Ram, Sheep and Lamb). After establishing trade in Sri Lanka, Spilbergen and his crew return to the Dutch Republic in 1604.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369165918#April–June", "title": "1601", "revid": 1369165918, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1602, "year_label": "1602 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "June 2", "text": "June 2 – Dutch explorer Joris van Spilbergen lands on the eastern side of the island of Sri Lanka, at Santhamuruthu, and begins the process of attempting to establish a relationship with the rulers of the Kingdom of Kandy.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1351972919#April–June", "title": "1602", "revid": 1351972919, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1619, "year_label": "1619 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "An expedition in Sri Lanka, led by Filipe de Oliveira, deposes and executes the last Jaffna king (Cankili II), putting an end to the Jaffna Kingdom.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369562130#Date_unknown", "title": "1619", "revid": 1369562130, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1630, "year_label": "1630 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "August 25", "text": "August 25 – Sinhalese–Portuguese War: In the Battle of Randeniwela on the island of Sri Lanka, King Senarat of Kandy leads more than 35,000 troops in killing most of an attack force led by Portuguese Ceylon governor Constantino de Sá de Noronha.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1351974391#July–September", "title": "1630", "revid": 1351974391, "section": "Events › July–September"}}, {"year": 1639, "year_label": "1639 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "May 2", "text": "May 2 – After a 40-day siege, the Dutch East India Company Army captures the Trincomalee Fort on the island of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from the Portuguese Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360051116#April–June", "title": "1639", "revid": 1360051116, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1640, "year_label": "1640 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "March 8", "text": "March 8–13 – Siege of Galle: Dutch troops take the strategic fortress at Galle, Sri Lanka from the Portuguese.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1361323300#January–March", "title": "1640", "revid": 1361323300, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1650, "year_label": "1650 CE", "section": "Health & Medicine", "date": "February 26", "text": "February 26 – Jacob van Kittensteyn succeeds Joan Maetsuycker as the Dutch Governor of Zeylan (now the nation of Sri Lanka).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373388330#January–March", "title": "1650", "revid": 1373388330, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1656, "year_label": "1656 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "May 12", "text": "May 12 – The Dutch capture the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka, marking the start of Netherlands colonial rule of Dutch Ceylon.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372048661#April–June", "title": "1656", "revid": 1372048661, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1707, "year_label": "1707 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "June 4", "text": "June 4 – On the island later known as Sri Lanka, Narendra Sinha becomes the monarch of most of the area as the new Kandyan king, succeeding to the throne upon the death of his father, King Vimaladharmasuriya II. Narendra Sinha reigns for almost 32 years until his death on May 13, 1739.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1346936133#April–June", "title": "1707", "revid": 1346936133, "section": "Events › April–June"}}, {"year": 1718, "year_label": "1718 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "March 13", "text": "March 13 – Daniel Overbeek becomes the new Dutch Governor of Ceylon (the modern-day nation of Sri Lanka), arriving after a 10-month sea voyage from the Netherlands.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1350255401#January_–_March", "title": "1718", "revid": 1350255401, "section": "Events › January – March"}}, {"year": 1795, "year_label": "1795 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "August 25", "text": "August 25 – British forces capture Trincomalee, Ceylon.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1352627752#July–December", "title": "1795", "revid": 1352627752, "section": "Events › July–December"}}, {"year": 1799, "year_label": "1799 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "September 23", "text": "September 23 – Frederick North, 5th Earl of Guilford, the Governor of British Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka), issues a proclamation declaring that the laws of the Netherlands for the conquered Dutch Ceylon shall be enforced until superseded by new laws.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370057226#July–September", "title": "1799", "revid": 1370057226, "section": "Events › July–September"}}, {"year": 1817, "year_label": "1817 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "September 11", "text": "September 11 – The Great Rebellion of 1817-18 begins in Sri Lanka.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360260504#July–September", "title": "1817", "revid": 1360260504, "section": "Events › July–September"}}, {"year": 1848, "year_label": "1848 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "July 26", "text": "July 26 – The Matale Rebellion breaks out against British rule in Sri Lanka.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370038858#July–September", "title": "1848", "revid": 1370038858, "section": "Events › July–September"}}, {"year": 1935, "year_label": "1935 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "December 18", "text": "December 18 – The socialist party of Sri Lanka, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, is founded.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370722923#December", "title": "1935", "revid": 1370722923, "section": "Events › December"}}, {"year": 1942, "year_label": "1942 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "April 5", "text": "April 5 – WWII: Easter Sunday Raid – Aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy attack Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Royal Navy cruisers and are sunk southwest of the island.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372873908#April", "title": "1942", "revid": 1372873908, "section": "Events › April"}}, {"year": 1948, "year_label": "1948 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "February 4", "text": "February 4 – Ceylon (later known as Sri Lanka) becomes an independent country, within the British Commonwealth adopting King George VI as the King of Ceylon.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371784888#February", "title": "1948", "revid": 1371784888, "section": "Events › February"}}, {"year": 1966, "year_label": "1966 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "The World Buddhist Sangha Council is convened by Theravadins in Sri Lanka, with the hope of bridging differences and working together.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370246126#Date_unknown", "title": "1966", "revid": 1370246126, "section": "Events › Date unknown"}}, {"year": 1972, "year_label": "1972 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "May 22", "text": "May 22 – The Dominion of Ceylon becomes the republic of Sri Lanka under prime minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, when its new constitution is ratified.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371514417#May", "title": "1972", "revid": 1371514417, "section": "Events › May"}}, {"year": 1983, "year_label": "1983 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "July 24", "text": "July 24 – The Black July anti-Tamil riots begin in Sri Lanka, killing between 400 and 3,000 Sri Lankan Tamils and Hill-country Tamils.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366392977#July", "title": "1983", "revid": 1366392977, "section": "Events › July"}}, {"year": 1984, "year_label": "1984 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "November 30", "text": "November 30 – Sri Lankan Civil War, Kent and Dollar Farm massacres: the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam begin their first massacres of the Sinhalese people, in North and East Sri Lanka. 127 are killed.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371242779#November", "title": "1984", "revid": 1371242779, "section": "Events › November"}}, {"year": 1987, "year_label": "1987 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "April 15", "text": "April 15 – An insurrection in Sri Lanka by the Marxist–Leninist group, JVP, begins.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372769014#April", "title": "1987", "revid": 1372769014, "section": "Events › April"}}, {"year": 1987, "year_label": "1987 CE", "section": "Health & Medicine", "date": "April 21", "text": "April 21 – In Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Central Bus Station Bombing kills 113 civilians.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372769014#April", "title": "1987", "revid": 1372769014, "section": "Events › April"}}, {"year": 1993, "year_label": "1993 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "May 1", "text": "May 1 – Assassination of Ranasinghe Premadasa: During a May Day rally, President of Sri Lanka Ranasinghe Premadasa is assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam suicide bomber. Prime Minister Dingiri Banda Wijetunga succeeds Premadasa as the 3rd executive president of Sri Lanka.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1366430372#May", "title": "1993", "revid": 1366430372, "section": "Events › May"}}, {"year": 1996, "year_label": "1996 CE", "section": "Economy & Finance", "date": "January 31", "text": "January 31 – Colombo Central Bank bombing: an explosives-filled truck rams into the gates of the Central Bank in Colombo, Sri Lanka, killing at least 86 people and injuring 1,400.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371596794#January", "title": "1996", "revid": 1371596794, "section": "Events › January"}}, {"year": 1996, "year_label": "1996 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": "March 17", "text": "March 17 – Sri Lanka wins the Cricket World Cup by beating Australia in the final.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371596794#March", "title": "1996", "revid": 1371596794, "section": "Events › March"}}, {"year": 1997, "year_label": "1997 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "March 7", "text": "March 7 – In Sri Lanka, the Tamil Tigers overrun a military base and kill over 100 Sri Lankan troops.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367978156#March", "title": "1997", "revid": 1367978156, "section": "Events › March"}}, {"year": 2004, "year_label": "2004 CE", "section": "Climate & Environment", "date": "December 26", "text": "December 26 – The 9.1–9.3 Indian Ocean earthquake shakes northern Sumatra with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). One of the largest observed tsunamis follows, affecting coastal areas of Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Somalia, the Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, killing 227,000 people.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373088592#December", "title": "2004", "revid": 1373088592, "section": "Events › December"}}, {"year": 2019, "year_label": "2019 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "April 21", "text": "April 21 – A series of Islamist bomb attacks occur at eight locations in Sri Lanka, including three churches, four hotels and one housing complex in Colombo, on Easter Sunday, leaving 259 people dead and over 500 injured. It is the deadliest terrorist attack in the country since the Sri Lankan Civil War ended in 2009.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373255188#April", "title": "2019", "revid": 1373255188, "section": "Events › April"}}, {"year": 2025, "year_label": "2025 CE", "section": "Climate & Environment", "date": "November 28", "text": "November 28 – Flooding and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah leave at least 647 dead and 183 missing across Sri Lanka and South India.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372865033#November", "title": "2025", "revid": 1372865033, "section": "Events › November"}}]}