Timeline

Portuguese arrive in Colombo, marking beginning of European interest.

1505

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

1658

Britain begins to take over island.

1796

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

1815

Whole island united under one British administration.

1833

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

1931

Ceylon gains full independence.

1948

Indian Tamil plantation workers disenfranchised and many deprived of citizenship.

1949

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.

1956

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

1958

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

1959

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

1965

Srimavo Bandaranaike returns to power and extends nationalisation programme.

1970

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.

1972

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

1976

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

1977

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".

1983

First attempt at peace talks between government and LTTE fails.

1985

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.

1987

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.

1990

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

1991

President Premadasa killed in LTTE bomb attack.

1993

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

1994

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

1995

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.

1995–2001

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.

Feb 2002

Tigers pull out of talks. Ceasefire holds.

2003

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

May 2003

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.

Mar 2004

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

Dec 2004

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

THIS IS WHERE THE PLAY ENDS.

Jun 2005

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

Aug 2005

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

Nov 2005