Timeline

Portuguese arrive in Colombo, marking beginning of European interest.

Dutch force out Portuguese and establish control over whole island except central kingdom of Kandy.

Britain begins to take over island.

Kingdom of Kandy conquered. Britain starts bringing in Tamil labourers from southern India to work in tea, coffee and coconut plantations.

Whole island united under one British administration.

British grant the right to vote and introduce power sharing with Sinhalese-run cabinet.

Ceylon gains full independence.

Indian Tamil plantation workers disenfranchised and many deprived of citizenship.

Solomon Bandaranaike elected on wave of Sinhalese nationalism. Sinhala made sole official language and other measures introduced to bolster Sinhalese and Buddhist sentiment. More than 100 Tamils killed in widespread violence after parliamentarians protest at new laws.

Anti-Tamil riots leave more than 200 people dead. Thousands of Tamils displaced.

Prime Minister Bandaranaike assassinated by a Buddhist monk. Succeeded by widow, Srimavo, who continues socialist policies.

Opposition United National Party wins elections and attempts to reverse socialism.

Srimavo Bandaranaike returns to power and extends nationalisation programme.

Ceylon becomes a republic and changes its name to Sri Lanka. Buddhism is given primary place as the country's religion, further antagonising Tamil minority.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formed as tensions increase in Tamil-dominated areas of north and east.

Separatist Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) party wins all seats in Tamil areas. Anti-Tamil riots leave more than 100 dead.

13 soldiers killed in LTTE ambush, sparking anti-Tamil riots leading to the deaths of several hundred Tamils. Start of what Tigers call "First Eelam War".

First attempt at peace talks between government and LTTE fails.

Government forces push LTTE back into northern city of Jaffna. Government signs accords creating new councils for Tamil areas in north and east and reaches agreement with India on deployment of Indian peace-keeping force.

Indian troops leave after getting bogged down in fighting in north. Violence between Sri Lankan army and separatists escalates. "Second Eelam War" begins. Thousands of Muslims are expelled from northern areas by the LTTE.

LTTE implicated in assassination of Indian premier Rajiv Gandhi in southern India.

President Premadasa killed in LTTE bomb attack.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga comes to power pledging to end war. Peace talks opened with LTTE.

"Third Eelam War" begins when rebels sink naval craft.

War rages across north and east. Tigers bomb Sri Lanka's holiest Buddhist site. President Kumaratunga is wounded in a bomb attack. Suicide attack on the international airport destroys half the Sri Lankan Airlines fleet.

Government and Tamil Tiger rebels sign a Norwegian-mediated ceasefire. De-commissioning of weapons begins; the road linking the Jaffna peninsula with the rest of Sri Lanka reopens after 12 years; passenger flights to Jaffna resume. Government lifts ban on Tamil Tigers. Rebels drop demand for separate state.

Tigers pull out of talks. Ceasefire holds.

Country's worst-ever floods leave more than 200 people dead and drive some 4,000 people from their homes.

Renegade Tamil Tiger commander, known as Karuna, leads split in rebel movement and goes underground with his supporters. Tiger offensive regains control of the east.

More than 30,000 people are killed when a tsunami, massive waves generated by an undersea earthquake, devastate coastal communities.

Row over deal reached with Tamil Tiger rebels to share nearly $3bn in tsunami aid among Sinhalas, Tamils and Muslims.

State of emergency after foreign minister is killed by a suspected Tiger assassin.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, prime minister at the time, wins presidential elections. Most Tamils in areas controlled by the Tamil Tigers do not vote.