The history of Sri Lanka spans to the pre-historic times, (125,000 - 10,000 BC) with “Homo sapiens Balangodensis” found in Belilena, kithulgala. The first Sinhala settlers arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200) in Sri Lankan. Sri Lankan rulers of this era constructed stupendous manmade reservoirs, canals and irrigation networks that astound the modern engineer, giant stupas aimed at the heavens, rock fortresses guarded by moats, ruins of many palaces are some on offer on a trip to Sri Lanka. Adams peak in the western hills is a sacred site since of ancient and texts of Persian poet Ashref say that Alexander the Great (356 – 323 BC) setup the steps and chains along this path before the advent of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, but Alexander didn’t become the great general he was until and after 336 BC by which time Arahat Mahinda had brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka.

Then the trade winds and waves brought Don Lourenço de Almeida to Galle Sri Lanka in 1505, lured by the “spicy breeze” of cinnamon. The coastal areas of Sri Lanka were controlled by the Portuguese in the 17th century and many of their architecture remains in Negombo and Galle in the form of fortresses along with their song and dance styles in Kafferinhoe, chikothi and baila calling for the spirit of jollity, with many a pleasant holiday spot to visit. Portuguese descendants still live in the East of Sri Lanka, who speaks Creole language, ideal place to see the charms of a by-gone era. The Dutch followed in the wake of the Portuguese in the 18th century and the remnants of the Dutch community can be still found in Sri Lanka as Dutch burghers. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, formally united under British rule by 1815. James Baker, a British colonial planter is credited for the introduction of Tea as an export crop to Sri Lanka in 1864, remnants of which are still visible at “Loolcondara estate” off Galaha in the District of Kandy, along with Major Thomas Skinner who is credited for the national railway line, completed to carry the upcountry produced tea to Colombo, and the network of roads during the colonial era, and many of their resting spots strewn throughout the central hills and in the sea side towns in the form of Forts and bungalows are preserved in a charismatic, old colonial manner.

In 1948 Sri Lanka gained independence from the British. Today Sri Lanka is governed as nine provinces united under a Democratic Socialist line of government with a parliament of elected members and a head of state. His Excellency Ranil Wickramasinghe is the current president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.