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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.
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The riot leaves more than 200 people dead. Over Thousands of Indian Tamil people were displaced.
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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.
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Srimavo Bandaranaike returns to power and extends the nationalisation programme.
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Ceylon changes its name to Sri Lanka and Buddhism given primary place as the country's religion, further antagonising the Tamil minority.
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Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formed as tensions increase in Tamil-dominated areas of north and east.
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The Anti-Tamil Riot leaves more than 100 Tamils dead.
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The Separatist Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) party wins all seats in Tamil areas, gaining full support in many areas of Sri lanka
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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".
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The war between the Government and LTTE wages on for 26 years
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First attempt at peaceful negotiations between the government and LTTE fails.
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The government push LTTE back into northern city of Jaffna.
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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.
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Left-wing and nationalist Sinhalese JVP begins campaign against Indo-Sri Lankan agreement.
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"Second Eelam War" begins and thousands of Muslims are expelled from northern areas by the LTTE.
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Indian troops leave Sri Lanka after getting bogged down in fighting in northern regions.
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LTTE implicated in assassination of Indian premier Rajiv Gandhi in southern India.
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President Premadasa killed in LTTE bomb attack.
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President Kumaratunga comes to power pledging to end war and attempts to negotiate peacefully alternatives with LTTE.
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"Third Eelam War" begins when rebels sink naval craft.
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War rages across the north and east. Tigers bomb Sri Lanka's most major Buddhist site. President Kumaratunga was wounded in a bomb attack.
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Suicide attack on the international airport destroys half the Sri Lankan Airlines fleet.
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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.
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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.
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State of emergency after foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera is killed by a suspected Tiger assassin.
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LTTE Commanded was killed and the organization surrenders
