Ceylon

ලංකාව, ලංකා

Ceylon
British colony

Ceylon
British dominion

Quick reference

General issues: British colony 1857-1948, British dominion 1948-1972

Country name on general issues: Ceylon

Currency: 1 Shilling = 12 Pence 1857-1872, 1 Rupee = 100 Cents 1872-1972

Population: 3 912 000 in 1900, 12 861 000 in 1972

Political history Ceylon

Please click on the image to enlarge

Ceylon is located in southern Asia, off the coast of India. With the exception of the kingdom of Kandy, Ceylon has been colonized since the late 16th century, first by the Portuguese, then by the Dutch. When the Netherlands are invaded by the French during the Napoleonic wars, the control over Ceylon, in 1795, is transferred to the British. First ruled from British India Ceylon becomes a British colony in its own right in 1815. In 1817, the British add the, until then, independent kingdom of Kandy – located in the central and eastern parts of Ceylon – to the colony. Ceylon is a British colony until 1948 when it becomes an independent British dominion within the British Commonwealth. In 1972, Ceylon becomes a republic and adopts the name of Sri Lanka.

Postal history Ceylon

1938 – Adams Peak in central Ceylon

The first stamps for Ceylon were issued in 1857. The stamps of the colony of Ceylon were superseded by those of the dominion of Ceylon in 1948 and by those of Sri Lanka in 1972.