* Battle of Gannoruwa (1765): The Dutch defeated the Kingdom of Kandy.
* Kandyan Wars (1803-1815): The British defeated the Kingdom of Kandy and established control over the island.
* Sinhalese-Tamil conflict (1983-2009): A civil war between the Sinhalese and Tamil ethnic groups.
* 2019 Easter bombings: A series of suicide bombings targeting Christian churches and hotels.
