[sree lahng-kuh, lang-kuh, shree] 
| an island republic in the Indian Ocean, S of India: a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 18,762,075; 25,332 sq. mi. (65,610 sq. km). Capital: Colombo. |
Sri Lan·ka (srē läng'kə, shrē)  (click for larger image in new window) An island country in the Indian Ocean off southeast India. Inhabited originally by the Vedda, the island was later invaded by the Singhalese (6th century B.C.) and the Tamil (11th and 12th centuries A.D.). The lucrative spice trade on the island was controlled successively by Arab, Portuguese, Dutch, and British traders from the 12th century. It became a British colony in 1798 and achieved independence in 1948. In 1972 the island was declared a republic, and it adopted the Singhalese name of Sri Lanka. Colombo is the capital and the largest city. Population: 20,900,000. Sri Lan'kan adj. & n. |
Formerly Ceylon, now an island republic in the Indian Ocean just southeast of India.
Note: A British colony since 1796, the island became independent in 1948.
Note: Marked by hostility between its Buddhist Sinalese majority and Hindu Tamil minority (see Buddhism and Hinduism).
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