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Artwork for The Story of Sri Lanka: Kingdoms, Colonies, and Civil War

The Story of Sri Lanka: Kingdoms, Colonies, and Civil War — Fexingo History

Fexingo
Dutch East India Company
Kandyan Kingdom
Portuguese Empire
Polonnaruwa
Anuradhapura
British Empire
Sri Lanka
LTTE
Sigiriya
Colombo
Kandy
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Parakramabahu I
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Buddhism
Chola Empire
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
1915 Sinhalese-Muslim Riots
Dutugamunu
Jaffna Kingdom

Sri Lanka's story is a microcosm of South Asian history: a teardrop-shaped island where Buddhism met Hinduism, colonialism collided with ancient kingdoms, and ethnic tensions erupted into a 26-year civil war. Lucas and Luna guide listeners from the arrival of Prince Vijaya in the 6th century BCE to the rise of the Anuradhapura kingdom, whose towering dagobas and monastic complexes rivaled any in I... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes140Founded2 months ago
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Society & CultureHistory

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Artwork for The Story of Sri Lanka: Kingdoms, Colonies, and Civil War

Latest Episodes

This episode of The Story of Sri Lanka dives into the engineering marvels of the island's ancient hydraulic civilization. Lucas and Luna explore the Digha Vapi, a massive reservoir built by King Vasabha in the 1st century CE, which transformed the ar... more

In 1915, British Ceylon erupted in a wave of communal violence between Sinhalese Buddhists and Muslims that left hundreds dead and reshaped the island's political landscape. This episode examines the immediate spark—a dispute at the Esala Perahera in... more

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the tragic final years of Sri Lanka's last native monarchy: the reign of Sri Wickrama Rajasinha, the Nayakkar king of Kandy who was deposed by the British in 1815. They explore his controversial rule, includi... more

In 1658, after decades of war, the Dutch East India Company finally captured Colombo from the Portuguese, ending over 150 years of Portuguese rule in coastal Ceylon. This episode follows the siege itself — the key Dutch commander Rijckloff van Goens,... more

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka under King Devanampiya Tissa, focusing on the pivotal role of the Bodhi Tree sapling brought from India by Sanghamitta. They discuss the Mahinda mission, the establishment o... more

After the fall of Polonnaruwa to Kalinga Magha's invading forces in 1215, Sri Lanka's Sinhalese kingdoms retreated to the southwest. This episode traces the rise of the Dambadeniya kingdom under King Vijayabahu III and his son Parakramabahu II. We ex... more

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka's second great kingdom, which flourished after the fall of Anuradhapura. They discuss how King Vijayabahu I liberated the island from Chola rule in 1070, ushering in a golden age under Pa... more

In 1971, Sri Lanka's newly independent government faced a sudden armed uprising from its own youth. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, or JVP, launched coordinated attacks on police stations across the island, aiming to topple Sirimavo Bandaranaike's gov... more

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Hosts

Lucas
Host of The Story of Sri Lanka: Kingdoms, Colonies, and Civil War — Fexingo History
Luna
Co-host of The Story of Sri Lanka: Kingdoms, Colonies, and Civil War — Fexingo History

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#226
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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The 1971 JVP Insurrection: Sri Lanka's Youth Uprising
Q: Was there a trial?
Wijeweera was sentenced to life in prison in 1973, and later released in 1977 after a change of government, illustrating the tumultuous political shifts in Sri Lanka following the uprising.
The Mahaweli Development Project: Sri Lanka's River of Change
Q: Was there any benefit to the Mahaweli project, given its costs?
Yes, the project did deliver tangible benefits, notably substantial electricity generation and large-scale irrigation that supported rice production and moved Sri Lanka toward greater self-sufficiency, though these gains came with environmental, social, and debt-related trade-offs.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This history-focused show weaves Sri Lanka's past from ancient kingdoms to modern conflict, blending political power, religion, and culture into a narrative about resilience and memory. Across episodes, listeners encounter insights into royal capitals, monumental engineering feats, colonial policies, and the long arc of the civil war, including the rise of the LTTE and watershed events like the 2009 endgame. The hosts tend to connect macro histories with personal and societal impacts, offering a curated lens on how heritage and identity shape contemporary Sri Lankan discourse. A notable strength is the way complex episodes pair archaeological and political storytelling with accessible context, making it appealing to both casual history buff... more

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this podcast launched 2 months ago and published 140 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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