| Anyone who is about to embark on Sri Lanka | | | | from this. This is because irrigation works |
| travel is probably interested to know the | | | | were destroyed and mosquitoes developed and |
| history of the country. It has a very | | | | it was during this time that Jaffna emerged |
| interesting story behind it which began as | | | | as a sub - kingdom. |
| far back as the 6th Century BC with North | | | | |
| Indian settlers. Buddhism shaped the culture | | | | In 1505 the Portuguese were the first |
| which is very visible in the pyramid - like | | | | Europeans to embark on Sri Lanka travel. As |
| architecture which can still be seen today. | | | | the country was unable to fend off intruders |
| | | | the Portuguese established a fort in Colombo |
| It was formerly called Sinhale or Heladiva | | | | and gradually extended their control over the |
| and comprised of naga, yaksha, deva, raksha | | | | coastal areas. |
| and possibly other tribes as well. It is | | | | |
| thought that the island was colonised by the | | | | In 1638 the Dutch invaded the island and by |
| Balangoda people 34,000 years ago after their | | | | 1660 they controlled it all except for the |
| remains were discovered there. Many artefacts | | | | kingdom of Kandy. This wasn't a happy time |
| have been found in caves that suggest that | | | | for the island as the Catholics were |
| they were Mesolithic hunter gatherers. No | | | | persecuted and people were taxed a lot more |
| doubt anyone who is interested in Sri Lanka | | | | than they had been in the past. |
| travel will be keen to investigate these | | | | |
| theories. | | | | The only reason why the British became aware |
| | | | of Sri Lanka travel is because in 1659 a |
| It is thought that Sri Lanka had trading | | | | British sea captain was captured by the king |
| links with Ancient Egypt thousands and | | | | of Kandy after he landed there by mistake. He |
| thousands of years ago. This is because | | | | managed to escape 19 years later and wrote an |
| cinnamon, which is native to the island was | | | | account of what happened while he was |
| used in Egypt at that time. Even today | | | | imprisoned there. |
| cinnamon is still one of the main exports of | | | | |
| Sri Lanka which is something that those on | | | | Not only is the history of the island |
| Sri Lanka travel will discover. | | | | interesting and intriguing but so is the |
| | | | politics that go on today. This is something |
| A prince of Kalinga invaded the island from | | | | that anyone who is planning a Sri Lanka |
| 1215 - 1232 AD using the Tamil and Kerala | | | | travel experience should research to help |
| mercenaries and the country never recovered | | | | them get the most out of their time there. |