National Day of Sri Lanka

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SRI Lanka celebrates its Independence Day today. Over a period of 2,500 years, the island has been known by a variety of names. The ancient Greeks and Romans knew Sri Lanka as ''Taprobane'' (Greek for copper colored). Arab writers and sailors in olden days knew Sri Lanka by the name ''Serendip.''

According to the Sri Lankan historical tradition, "Lanka" was the original name of the island. It was in use for centuries until the European invasions in the 15th century. During the British period (1815-1948), the island was popularly known as "Ceylon." This name was used even after the country gained independence in 1948. With the adoption of the New Constitution in 1972, the …