History

Pre History

The pre-history of Sri Lanka goes back 125,000 years and possibly even as far back as 500,000 years. The era spans the Palaeolithic; Mesolithic and early Iron Ages. Among the Paleolithic human settlements discovered in Sri Lanka, Pahiyangala (named after the Chinese traveller monk Faxian), which dates back to 37,000 BP, Batadombalena (28,500 BP) and Belilena (12,000 BP) are the most important. In these caves, archaeologists have found the remains of anatomically modern humans which they have named Balangoda Man, and other evidence suggesting that they may have engaged in agriculture and kept domestic dogs for driving game.

One of the first written references to the island is found in the Indian epic Ramayana, which provides details of a kingdom named Lanka that was created by the divine sculptor Vishwakarma for Kubera, the Lord of wealth. It is said that Kubera was overthrown by his demon step brother Ravana, the powerful emperor who built a mythical flying machine named Dandu Monara. The modem city of Wariyapola is described as Ravana's airport.

Early inhabitants of Sri Lanka were probably ancestors of the Vedda people, an indigenous people numbering approximately 2,500 living in modern-day Sri Lanka. The 19^thcentury Irish historian James Emerson Tennent theorized that Galle, a city in southern Sri Lanka, was the ancient seaport of Tarshish from which King Solomon is said to have drawn ivory, peacocks, and other valuables.

Click Following links to see Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the kindom vice History

Buddhism in Sri Lanka	Part I Part II
Anuradhapura Kingdom	Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V Part VI Part VII Part VIII Part IX Part XI Part XII Part XIII Part XIV Part XV Part XVI Part XVII Part XVIII Part XIX Part XX
Polonnaruwa Kingdom	Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V Part VI Part VII
Kandy Kingdom	Part I Part II Part III Part IV