History of our people in Sri Lanka stretches back to millenniums. Human remains of anatomically modern man found in caves, Fa Hien-lena, Batadomba-lena, Beli-lena, Bellan-bandi Palassa, is proof that the country was inhabited by man as long as one million years ago. These prehistoric humans in Sri Lanka are referred to as “Balangoda Man” in popular parlance (derived from his being responsible for the Mesolithic ’Balangoda Culture’ first defined in sites near Balangoda).

Nevertheless, the first entries in the chronicle Mahavamsa or “Great History”, and its sequel Chulavamsa, which contain details of a history that was rich and colourful, date back to 543 BC to the arrival of Prince Vijaya to the island that was then named Thambapanni. Early settlers simply began to cultivate the land they inhabited in the island’s dry zone. King Pandukabhaya (437-367 BC) built the first capital, Anuradhapura, which later developed in to a powerful and prosperous kingdom. It was during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa, Arahath Mahinda, son of Indian Emperor Ashoka, brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka in 247 BC, an event which marked the beginning of the classical period. Subsequently the sapling of the sacred Bo (fig) tree, known as the Sri Maha Bodhi, under which the Buddha attained enlightenment was brought to Sri Lanka by Sangamitta Therani. The Sri Maha Bodhi has existed Anuradhapura for 23 centuries and it is the oldest historically documented tree on earth. The great Anuradhapura period also witnessed great feats of hydraulic engineering and the construction of reservoirs, known as tanks. The ancient Sri Lankan civilization produced skills of hydraulic engineering capable of building some of the largest man made irrigation works in the world. As Brohier (1935) records in his monumental work, “Ancient Irrigation Works in Ceylon", ancient Sri Lankan engineers were even called upon to help in the solution of hydraulic problems of other neighbouring countries. The hydraulic structures which have survived to this day, such as long canals with imperceptible gradients, Bisokotuwas (valve-pits), Ralapanawas (wave-breakers) and cascades of village tank systems, bear ample testimony to the high achievements in irrigation technology and management in the ancient past. The water-sealed toilet systems (in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa), and ornamental fountains in exquisite landscape gardens (at Sigiriya) indicate high skill levels in the management of urban water supply and waste water disposal systems.

Our ancestors more than 3000 years ago have seriously considered the concept of water storing and delivery. It is evident from the gigantic reservoirs like “Parakrama Samudra”, “Kalawewa”, “Minneriya”…. etc and canal systems of Elahera, Yoda Ela…etc. The huge irrigation tanks that dammed rivers and also harnessed the rain are known as marvels of a unique hydraulic civilization and still provide the water for the rice field of today. Large-scale irrigation networks began crisscrossing the parched landscape which started as early as the 1st century A.D. Sri Lankan engineers utilized the waters of the Mahaweli ganga and other rivers that flowed down to the plains from the mountains of the wet zone. The construction of their canals and channels exhibited an amazing in depth knowledge of trigonometry ; and the design of their reservoirs or tanks revealed a thorough grasp of hydraulic principles. Their dams had broad bases able to withstand very heavy pressures outlets for the discharge of water were installed at suitable points in the embankment. The method of regulating the flow of water from these tanks, was ingenious. The increasing sophistication of irrigation technologies enabled Sri Lankas early settlers to extend the water networks throughout the dry zone by the 6th century A.D. Engineering milestones included the Kantalai Tank built by King Mahasena (274-302) It covered 4,560 acres was fed by a canal 25 miles long,and was contained by a dam 50 feet high. Even more superior in technology was the Kalawewa constructed by King Dhatusena (460-478).It encompassed seven square miles and had a dam 3,1/2 miles long and 36 to 58 feet high with a Spill of hammered granite. A canal 54 miles long and 40 feet wide linked it to the city of Anuradhapura and played an integral role in the development of that ancient capital. The first 17 miles of this canal had a gradient of only six inches slope per mile.

Unfortunately, due to the foreign invasions since the Anuradhapura Era up to British period and due to several epidemics, all the development and technical skills went in to wilderness. As a result Sri Lanka had to implement a new agriculture development program n the 19th century as a new enterprise. Even after centuries of colonial domination by Portuguese (1505-1658), Dutch (1658-1796) and the British (1796-1948), for more than 443 years, the Sri Lankan culture preserved its identity, notwithstanding the vicissitudes it was forced to face from time to time. The inroads made by such foreign powers, in addition the influence exerted by modernization and urbanization, were responsible for the changes that, either for good or bad, were taking place in the socio-cultural life of the people.the first entries in the chronicle Mahavamsa or “Great History”, and its sequel Chulavamsa, which contain details of a history that was rich and colourful, date back to 543 BC to the arrival of Prince Vijaya to the island that was then named Thambapanni. Early settlers simply began to cultivate the land they inhabited in the island’s dry zone. King Pandukabhaya (437-367 BC) built the first capital, Anuradhapura, which later developed in to a powerful and prosperous kingdom. It was during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa, Arahath Mahinda, son of Indian Emperor Ashoka, brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka in 247 BC, an event which marked the beginning of the classical period.

While the first great cities were located in the rice-growing north- central region of the country, by the 18th century the principal king held court in Kandy, a picturesque hill-bound valley, which fell to conquering British forces in 1815. By that time however, two other European nations had left their imprint- in culture, language and religion on the northern and western regions of Sri Lanka. The Portuguese came first, bringing with them the legacy of the Roman Catholic religion and its own culture, which was quickly adopted by the western coastal belt of the country. The Dutch followed, building fortress bound centers on the coastal belt. Many Dutch period buildings still remain along the southwest coast. Taking over the entire country in 1815, the British changed the course of history of Sri Lanka. The ambitious colonists set up large plantations, first coffee, then when it failed, tea, rubber and coconut. They built roads, railway, schools, hospitals and cities. By 1948, when the British finally granted Independence to Sri Lanka the country had a fully fledged import/ export economy and was tipped to be the fastest developing country in Asia. Christian faith and English language were two valuable gifts Sri Lankans received from European colonial powers.

However, in the years since independence, Sri Lanka unfortunately has experienced severe communal clashes between its Sinhalese majority-- approximately 74 percent of the population--and the country's largest minority group, the Sri Lankan Tamils, who comprise nearly 13 percent of the population. The communal violence that attracted the harsh scrutiny of the international media in the late 1980s can best be understood in the context of the island's complex historical development--its ancient and intricate relationship to India's civilization and its more than four centuries under colonial rule by European powers. Whatever the differences, by far the biggest attraction of Sri Lanka is its people. The Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims; Buddhists, Hindus and Christians are all friendly by nature and the country has an unsullied record of hospitality over the centuries. It is a land of smiles and a warm welcome.

In the modern day, Sri Lankans have scattered all over the world. Ever expanding opportunities for employment, availability to settle down in several host countries that welcome skilled migrants may have influenced Sri Lankans to come out of the motherland and try the taste of the out side world. Where ever they live, whether it is in a remotest village of a developing country or in the middle of an ultra modern urban city, they will always carry a precious gift from the motherland, a friendly smile. Comments of some people who have visited the Island sum up a few qualities of Sri Lankans that have made them one of the main attractions of Sri Lanka. “Sri Lanka is a nation of ever smiling people and the visitors find them adorable, hospitable and always willing to help. “ “When you travel in the little Island you will meet friendly people; the children will wave from their doorsteps at the passing vehicle or at the visitor trekking on foot. You will want to come again for that reason alone.”