Dates |
Period |
Period |
Span (years) |
Subperiod |
Span (years) |
Main government
|
300,000 BP–~1000 BC
|
Prehistoric Sri Lanka
|
Stone Age
|
–
|
|
300,000
|
Unknown
|
Bronze Age
|
–
|
|
~1000 BC–543 BC
|
Iron Age
|
–
|
|
457
|
543 BC–437 BC
|
Ancient Sri Lanka
|
Pre-Anuradhapura
|
–
|
|
106
|
Monarchy
|
437 BC–463 AD
|
Anuradhapura
|
1454
|
Early Anuradhapura
|
900
|
463–691
|
Middle Anuradhapura
|
228
|
691–1017
|
Post-classical Sri Lanka
|
Late Anuradhapura
|
326
|
1017–1070
|
Polonnaruwa
|
215
|
Chola conquest
|
53
|
1055–1232
|
|
177
|
1232–1341
|
Transitional
|
365
|
Dambadeniya
|
109
|
1341–1412
|
Gampola
|
71
|
1412–1592
|
Early Modern Sri Lanka
|
Kotte
|
180
|
1592–1739
|
Kandyan
|
223
|
|
147
|
1739–1815
|
Nayakkar
|
76
|
1815–1833
|
Modern Sri Lanka
|
British Ceylon
|
133
|
Post-Kandyan
|
18
|
Colonial monarchy
|
1833–1948
|
|
115
|
1948–1972
|
Contemporary Sri Lanka
|
Sri Lanka since 1948
|
76
|
Dominion
|
24
|
Constitutional monarchy
|
1972–present
|
Republic
|
52
|
Unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic
|