-
Solomon Bandaranaike elected as Sinhalese President.
Sinhala was made as the official language and other measures introduced to bolster Sinhalese and Buddhist feelings. More than 100 Tamils killed in widespread violence after Tamil parliamentarians protest at the new laws. -
Anti-Tamil riots
The riot leaves more than 200 people dead. Over Thousands of Indian Tamil people were displaced. -
Solomen Bandaranaike assassinated by a Buddhist monk.
Solomen Bandaranike was assasisinated by a Buddhist monk, after his death his wife, Srimavo, takes on the nationalisation programme. She becomes the first female prime minister in the world. -
Srimavo Bandaranaike returns to power
Srimavo Bandaranaike returns to power and extends the nationalisation programme. -
Ceylon changes its name to Sri Lanka
Ceylon changes its name to Sri Lanka and Buddhism given primary place as the country's religion, further antagonising the Tamil minority. -
the Creation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formed as tensions increase in Tamil-dominated areas of north and east. -
Anti-Tamil Riot
The Anti-Tamil Riot leaves more than 100 Tamils dead. -
Separatist Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) party wins all seats in Tamil areas.
The Separatist Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) party wins all seats in Tamil areas, gaining full support in many areas of Sri lanka -
13 Soldiers ambushed by LTTE
13 soldiers killed in LTTE ambush, sparking anti-Tamil riots leading to the deaths of several hundred Tamils. Starts of what the Tigers call "The First Eelam War". -
Period: to
Civil War
The war between the Government and LTTE wages on for 26 years -
First Negotiaions Fails
First attempt at peaceful negotiations between the government and LTTE fails. -
Government takes military measures
The government push LTTE back into northern city of Jaffna. -
Negotiations Between the Sri Lankan and Indian Government
Government signs accords creating new councils for Tamil areas in north and east as well as reaching agreement with India on the issue of deployment of Indian peace-keeping force. -
Anti Indo-Sri Lankan agreement campaign
Left-wing and nationalist Sinhalese JVP begins campaign against Indo-Sri Lankan agreement. -
Second Eelam War
"Second Eelam War" begins and thousands of Muslims are expelled from northern areas by the LTTE. -
Indian troops withdraw from Sri Lanka
Indian troops leave Sri Lanka after getting bogged down in fighting in northern regions. -
LTTE attempts to assassinate Indian Premier
LTTE implicated in assassination of Indian premier Rajiv Gandhi in southern India. -
President Premadasa assassinated
President Premadasa killed in LTTE bomb attack. -
President Kumaratunga comes to power
President Kumaratunga comes to power pledging to end war and attempts to negotiate peacefully alternatives with LTTE. -
the breakout of the Third Eelam War
"Third Eelam War" begins when rebels sink naval craft. -
Period: to
Third Eelam War
War rages across the north and east. Tigers bomb Sri Lanka's most major Buddhist site. President Kumaratunga was wounded in a bomb attack. -
Rebal Attack on Airport
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. -
LTTE commander and rebals goes into hiding
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. -
Foreign minister assassinated
State of emergency after foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera is killed by a suspected Tiger assassin. -
LTTE admit defeat to Sri Lankan Government
LTTE Commanded was killed and the organization surrenders
