by 
The Curious Bag
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Ceylon is the former name of the island of Sri Lanka, off the southeast coast of India in the Indian Ocean. The island is about 25,000 square miles, or about half the size of Alabama.
Name Origin
The Portuguese settled the island in 1505 and claimed sovereignty over the land. They called it "Ceilao," which was later anglicized to Ceylon.
Name Change
The nation changed its name to Sri Lanka, an ancient local term that means "resplendent island," on May 22, 1972.
History
Ceylon spent centuries under European rule. The Dutch took control from Portugal in 1658, and the British claimed the nation in 1796. It was an English colony from 1802 until 1948, when Ceylon became a self-governing dominion of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Tea
Under British control, the island developed tea plantations and began exporting tea. Several of today's most popular teas are grown in Sri Lanka; they are still identified as "Ceylon tea."
Related Fact
Sri Lanka was one of the island nations hit by the massive tsunami on December 26, 2004. About 30,000 were killed in the disaster.
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