Dominion of Ceylon

Dominion Of Ceylon

Ceylon, known today as Sri Lanka, was a Dominion in the Commonwealth of Nations between 1948 and 1972. In 1948, British Ceylon was granted independence as Ceylon. In 1972, Ceylon became a republic within the Commonwealth, and its name was changed to "Sri Lanka". Ceylon was an island country in South Asia, located about 31 kilometres (19.3 mi) off the southern coast of India.

The country has also been a centre of the Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times as well as having a strong Hindu presence. The Sinhalese community formed the majority of the population; Sri Lankan Tamils, who were concentrated in the north and east of the island, formed the largest ethnic minority. Other communities included Moors, Burghers, Kaffirs, Malays and the indigenous Vedda people.

The major export and mainstay of the economy was the production of tea, coffee, coconuts, rubber and cinnamon, which were native to the country. After over two thousand years of rule by local kingdoms, parts of Sri Lanka were colonized by Portugal and the Netherlands beginning in the 16th century, before control of the entire country was ceded to the British Empire in 1815.

During World War II, Ceylon served as an important base for the Allied forces in the fight against the Japanese Empire. A nationalist political movement arose in the country in the early 20th century with the aim of obtaining political independence, which was eventually achieved in 1948 following peaceful negotiations with the British.