Which island country was officially known as Ceylon until 1972?

Sri Lanka is the island country officially known as Ceylon until 1972.

Sri Lanka lies in the Indian Ocean southeast of India. The country adopted the name Sri Lanka when it became a republic on 22 May 1972, replacing the colonial-era name Ceylon in official usage.

The island has a long recorded history, including ancient kingdoms based at Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Portuguese, Dutch, and British powers later controlled parts or all of the island before independence in 1948.

Sri Lanka’s legislative capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, while Colombo is its largest city and main commercial centre. The island is known for tea cultivation, Buddhist heritage, and wildlife including Asian elephants and leopards. It is separated from India by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.