Which island nation was formerly known as Ceylon?

Sri Lanka was formerly known as Ceylon. The island country in the Indian Ocean adopted the name Sri Lanka when it became a republic on 22 May 1972. It had gained independence from the United Kingdom as Ceylon on 4 February 1948.

Sri Lanka lies southeast of India and is separated from the Indian mainland by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar. Its landscape includes tropical forests, beaches, dry plains and a mountainous central region. The country is known for tea production, ancient Buddhist sites and a long history of maritime trade.

Ceylon remains familiar in names such as Ceylon tea and the Ceylon cinnamon trade. Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital, while Colombo is the largest city and the main commercial centre. The modern name derives from the Sanskrit śrī, meaning resplendent, and laṃkā, meaning island.