In ancient times, Sri Lanka was known by a variety of names: ancient Greek geographers called it
Taprobane and Arabs referred to it as
Serendib (the origin of the word "serendipity").
Ceilão was the name given to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese when they arrived in 1505, which was transliterated into English as
Ceylon. In 1972, the official name of the country was changed to "Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic of Sri Lanka" (in Sinhala:
śrī laṃkā, in Tamil இலங்கை
ilaṅkai,
iˈlaŋɡai). In 1978 it was changed to "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka". The current name is derived from the Sanskrit word lanka, meaning "island", which was also the name of the island as described in the ancient Indian epics Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The word "Sri" is a Sanskrit title meaning sacred.
śrī laṃkā, in Tamil இலங்கை ilaṅkai, iˈlaŋɡai). In 1978 it was changed to "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka". The current name is derived from the Sanskrit word lanka, meaning "island", which was also the name of the island as described in the ancient Indian epics Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The word "Sri" is a Sanskrit title meaning sacred.
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