List of wars involving Sri Lanka

.This is a list of wars involving the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and its predecessor states.

Legend: Victory; Defeat; Other result; Ongoing conflict

Anuradhapura Kingdom

Conflict	Sri Lanka and allies	Opponents	Results	Sri Lankan commanders		Sri Lankan losses
Conflict	Sri Lanka and allies	Opponents	Results	King	General	SL forces	Civilians
Battle of Vijithapura (162/161 BCE)	Anuradhapura Kingdom	Chola dynasty	Victory City of Vijithapura captured by Dutthagamani's army	Dutugamunu		Unknown	Unknown
Anuradhapura invasion of Chola (120)	Anuradhapura Kingdom	Chola Dynasty	Victory	Gajabahu I		Unknown	Unknown
Anuradhapura invasion of Pandya (862)	Anuradhapura Kingdom	Pandya dynasty	Victory	Sena II Sena II	General Kuttaka	Unknown	Unknown
Anuradhapura invasion of Pandya (917)	Anuradhapura Kingdom Pandya Nadu	Chola dynasty Pandya Nadu Madurai	Defeat Cholas defeated and slayed the Srilankan army ^[1]	Kassapa IV		Unknown	Unknown
(946)	Anuradhapura Kingdom	Pandya dynasty		Dappula V	General Viduragga	Unknown	Unknown
Chola invasion of Anuradhapura kingdom	Anuradhapura Kingdom	Chola dynasty	Victory The whole Chola force with the generals retreated.	Mahinda IV	General Sena	Unknown	Unknown
Invasion of Anuradhapura by Rashtrakuta empire	Anuradhapura Kingdom	Rashtrakuta dynasty	Victory Rashtrakuta forces were defeated in Kayts General sena and Rashtrakutas have an alliance after the defeat	Mahinda IV	General Sena	Unknown	Unknown
Chola conquest of Anuradhapura (992–1017)	Anuradhapura Kingdom Pandyan Allies	Chola Empire	Defeat Anuradhapura destroyed by the Chola forces.^[2] Plundering of Anuradhapura and the island's treasures.^[3] Polonnaruwa made Chola administrative capital in Sri Lanka Rajarata annexed as a Chola province in 993 A.D Maya Rata and parts of Ruhuna annexed as a Chola Province in 1017 A.D[^[4]	Mahinda V		Unknown	Unknown

Polonnaruwa kingdom

Conflict	Sri Lanka and allies	Opponents	Results	Sri Lankan commanders		Sri Lankan losses
Conflict	Sri Lanka and allies	Opponents	Results	King	General	SL forces	Civilians
Polonnaruwa–Pagan War (1165–1181)	Polonnaruwa kingdom Angkorian Empire	Pagan Kingdom Chola dynasty (in Pegu)	Polonnaruwa victory	Parakramabahu I		Unknown	Unknown
Pandyan Civil War (1169–1177)	Kingdom of Polonnaruwa Pandya dynasty	Chola dynasty Pandya dynasty	Defeat Pandyan civil conflict ends. Rival kingdoms abandon military intervention Sinhalese-Vira Pandya alliance lost the war against Cholas Polonnaruwa kingdom and Vira Pandya III kingdom Alliance control Rameshwaram until 1182 Chola backed-faction occupies the majority of Pandya Nadu. Pandya Nadu re-established	Parakramabahu I	Lankapura Dandanatha	Unknown	Unknown
1173 Polonnaruwa invasion of Chola (1173)	Polonnaruwa kingdom	Pandya dynasty Chola dynasty	Defeat The Entire force from Ceylon had sustained defeat. ^[5]	Parakramabahu I	Lankapura Dandanatha	Unknown	Unknown

Transitional period

Conflict	Sri Lanka and allies	Opponents	Results	Sri Lankan commanders		Sri Lankan losses
Conflict	Sri Lanka and allies	Opponents	Results	King	General	SL forces	Civilians
Ming–Kotte War (1410 or 1411)	Kingdom of Kotte	Ming China	Ming victory Overthrow of Alakeshvara Ascension of Parakramabahu VI	Parakramabahu VI	Zheng He	Unknown	Unknown
Kotte conquest of the Jaffna kingdom (1449–1454)	Kingdom of Kotte	Jaffna kingdom Vanni chieftaincies (until 1450) Supported by: Vijayanagar Empire	Kotte's victory Kotte captured the Jaffna kingdom Parakramabahu VI appointed Prince Sapumal as representative of Kotte, and he reigned about 17 years.	Parakramabahu VI	Prince Sapumal	Unknown	Unknown
Kotte invasion of Vijayanagar (1456)	Kingdom of Kotte	Vijayanagar Empire	Victory	Various	Various	Unknown	Unknown
Sinhalese–Portuguese War (1518–1658)	Kingdom of Sitawaka Kingdom of Kandy Principality of Raigama Kingdom of Jaffna Denmark-Norway (1619-22)^[6] Supported by: Zamorin of Calicut Kingdom of Tanjore Vanni chieftains	Portuguese Empire Kingdom of Kotte From 1638: Dutch East India Company	Victory End of the kingdoms of Kotte, Sitawaka, Jaffna and Raigama Establishment then destruction of Portuguese Ceylon Incorporation of parts of Kotte and Sitawaka into the Kingdom of Kandy Capture of Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Raigama and much of Sitawaka by the Dutch and the establishment of Dutch Ceylon	Various	Various	Unknown	Unknown
Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom (1560–1619)	Jaffna kingdom	Portugal Kandy	Portuguese victory Portuguese captured the capital King Cankili II became a POW, and then hanged Fall of Jaffna kingdom Repulsion of Kandyan attacks	Cankili I Puviraja Pandaram Periyapillai Puviraja Pandaram X Ethirimana Cinkam Cankili II		Unknown	Unknown
First Kandyan–Dutch War (1670–1675^[a])	Kingdom of Kandy France	Dutch Republic Dutch East India Company	Dutch Victory French expelled from all occupied territories Expansion of Dutch Ceylon, and Rajasinha's offensives repelled	Rajasinha II		Unknown	Unknown
Second Kandyan–Dutch War (1764–1766)	Kingdom of Kandy	Dutch Republic Dutch East India Company	Dutch victory^[7] Treaty of Batticaloa Dutch occupation of Kandy until Treaty of Batticaloa All coastal regions ceded to Dutch	Kirti Sri Rajasinha		Unknown	Unknown
Vanniyar Rebellion (1782)	Vanni chieftaincies Kingdom of Kandy	Dutch Republic	Victory Vanni region liberated from Dutch rule	Pandara Vanniyan		Unknown	Unknown
Kandyan Wars (1796–1818)	Kandy	Kingdom of Great Britain (1796–1800) United Kingdom (1800–1818) Kandyan opposition	British victory End of the Kandyan monarchy	Sri Vikrama Rajasinha		Unknown	Unknown

British Ceylon

Conflict	British Ceylon and allies	Opponents	Results	Governor(s)	British Ceylon losses
Conflict	British Ceylon and allies	Opponents	Results	Governor(s)	British Ceylon forces	Civilians
Matale Rebellion (1848)	United Kingdom British Ceylon	Kandyan rebels	British victory	The Viscount Torrington
Second Boer War (1899–1902)	United Kingdom and Empire Cape Colony Natal Colony Basutoland Bechuanaland Rhodesia India Ceylon Canada New Zealand Australia^[b]	South African Republic Orange Free State Cape Boers Foreign volunteers:^[c] Netherlands Germany Sweden–Norway Ireland Italy Poland France Australia Belgium Russian Empire Georgia United States Denmark Austria-Hungary Greece	British victory Conquest and dissolution of the South African Republic and Orange Free State^[8]^[9] Treaty of Vereeniging The Boer republics are absorbed into the British Empire in accordance with the Treaty of Vereeniging.	West Ridgeway
World War I (1914–1918)	Allied Powers: France United Kingdom and Empire: Australia Canada Ceylon Egypt Newfoundland New Zealand India South Africa Russia (until 1917)^[d] Italy (from 1915) United States (from 1917) Japan and others ...	Central Powers: Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria (from 1915) and others ...	Allied Powers victory (see Aftermath of World War I)	Robert Chalmers Reginald Edward Stubbs John Anderson Reginald Edward Stubbs William Manning
World War II (1939–1945^[e])	'Allies British Empire British Ceylon France Poland Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg Czechoslovakia Norway Kingdom of Greece Kingdom of Yugoslavia Soviet Union United States Nepal Union of South Africa Brazil China	Axis Nazi Germany Kingdom of Italy Hungary Empire of Japan Kingdom of Bulgaria Croatia Kingdom of Romania Manchukuo Mengjiang Finland Thailand Vichy France	Allied victory	Graeme Thomson Francis Graeme Tyrrell Reginald Edward Stubbs Maxwell MacLagan Wedderburn Andrew Caldecott Henry Monck-Mason Moore
Easter Sunday Raid (1942)	United Kingdom British Ceylon	Japan	Japanese victory	Andrew Caldecott
Cocos Islands mutiny (1942)	United Kingdom British Ceylon	Ceylonese mutineers	British victory	Andrew Caldecott

Dominion of Ceylon

Conflict	Ceylon and allies	Opponents	Results	Ceylon commanders		Ceylon losses
Conflict	Ceylon and allies	Opponents	Results	Head(s) of Government	Defence Minister(s)	Ceylonese forces	Civilians
1971 JVP insurrection (1971)	Ceylon Sri Lankan Coalition (from 15 May) SLFP CCP (Pro-Soviet) LSSP Military intervention: India Pakistan Soviet Union	JVP Supported by: North Korea^[10]^[11]^[12] Albania (arms support)^[13] China (alleged) ASBPI^[14]^[15] CCP (Maoist) (alleged) Diplomatic support: South Yemen^[16]	Ceylonese government victory Rebel leaders were captured and the remaining members surrendered Ceylonese government re-established control of the entire island Expulsion of North Korean diplomats The JVP controlled Ceylon's Southern Province and Sabaragamuwa Province for several weeks	Sirimavo Bandaranaike		53	1,200

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Conflict	Sri Lanka and allies	Opponents	Results	Sri Lankan commanders		Sri Lankan losses
Conflict	Sri Lanka and allies	Opponents	Results	Head(s) of Government	Defense Minister(s)	SL forces	Civilians
Sri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009^[17]^[18])	Sri Lanka India (1987–1990)	Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Other Tamil militant groups	Sri Lankan government victory Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam militarily defeated Sri Lankan government reestablishes control over entire island Collapse of the Tamil Eelam de facto Quasi-state Tamil National Alliance drops its demand for a separate Tamil state Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam established Government regains total control of former LTTE-controlled areas in the North and East of the country	J. R. Jayewardene Ranasinghe Premadasa X Dingiri Banda Wijetunga Chandrika Kumaratunga Mahinda Rajapaksa	Ranasinghe Premadasa Ranjan Wijeratne Dingiri Banda Wijetunga Tilak Marapana Mahinda Rajapaksa	28,708	60,000–100,000
1987–1989 JVP insurrection (1987–1989)	Sri Lanka India Pro-government paramilitaries: Eagles of the Central Hills Black Cats ...and at least 8 other minor groups Anti-JVP leftist militias: Peoples Revolutionary Red Army Vikalpa Kandayama^[19]	Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya Patriotic People's Armed Troops	Sri Lankan Government victory Emergency conditions in South-western and Central provinces lifted Insurgency declined following the fall of the Eastern Bloc	J. R. Jayewardene Ranasinghe Premadasa
Operation Prosperity Guardian (2023–present)	United States Navy^[20] Royal Navy Australian Navy Bahraini Naval Force Canadian Navy Danish Navy Finnish Navy Hellenic Navy Dutch Navy New Zealand Navy^[21] Norwegian Navy Singaporean Navy Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Navy^[22] Supported by: Seychelles Coast Guard	Supreme Political Council Houthi movement	Ongoing SLNS Gajabahu completes its maiden patrol of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and is set to return to the island.^[23]^[24] Government of Sri Lanka confirms that future patrols would take place.^[25]	Ranil Wickremesinghe Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Sri Lankan peacekeeping

Conflict	Sri Lanka and allies	Country	Results	Sri Lankan commanders		Sri Lankan losses
Conflict	Sri Lanka and allies	Country	Results	Head(s) of Government	Defense Minister(s)	Sri Lankan losses
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (1978–present)	Sri Lanka	Lebanon	Ongoing	Various
United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (2004–present)	Sri Lanka	Haiti	Ongoing	Various
United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (2007–2010)	Sri Lanka	Central African Republic Chad	Ended	Mahinda Rajapaksa
United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (2013–present)	Sri Lanka	Mali	Ongoing	Various		3^[26]^[27]

Footnotes

^ U can also say it started in 1665 because that what the Dutch started invading but 1670 is when it was officially war and the first major offensive by the Kandyans took place.
^
Before Federation in 1901, Australian involvement in the war consisted of forces from the following separate colonies:
^ Larger numbers of volunteers came from the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden-Norway. Smaller forces came from Ireland, Italy, Congress Poland, France, Australia, Belgium, Russia, the United States, Denmark, Austria-Hungary, and Greece.
^ The Russian Empire during 1914–1917, the Russian Republic during 1917. The Bolsheviks signed an armistice followed by a separate peace shortly after their armed seizure of power.
^ While various other dates have been proposed as the date on which World War II began or ended, this is the period most frequently cited.

References

^ Nilakanda Sastry,The Colas,1955, pg.122
^ Spencer 1976, p. 411
^ The Jungle Tide:“Collapse” in Early Mediaeval Sri Lanka STRICKLAND, KEIR ,MAGALIE (2011) The Jungle Tide: “Collapse” in Early Mediaeval Sri Lanka. Doctoral thesis, Durham University. P.331 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/893/
^ Sastri 2000, p. 199-200.
^ Nilakanda Sastry, The Colas,1955 p.368
^ Rindom, Jan (1995). OSTINDISK KOMPAGNI 1616-50 (PDF) (in Danish). DET KONGELIGE BIBLIOTEK. p. 24.
^ Emmer, Pieter C; Gommans, Jos J.L (2020). The Dutch Overseas Empire, 1600-1800 (Hardcover ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 294. ISBN 9781108428378.
^ Grattan, Robert (2009). "The Entente in World War I: a case study in strategy formulation in an alliance". Journal of Management History. 15 (2): 147–158. doi:10.1108/17511340910943796.
^ Haydon, A.P. (1964). "South Australia's first war". Australian Historical Studies. 11 (42).
^ "The story of a North Korea-backed rebellion in Sri Lanka – North Korea News". NKNews. 2017.
^ Farrel, Tom (12 March 2014). "North Korea's role in Sri Lanka's bloody insurgencies". NKNews.
^ Commission on the Organization of the Government. USA. 1975.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ Iqbal 1972, p. 9.
^ History of the JVP, 1965–1994 (1st ed.). Niyamuwa Publications. November 2014. ISBN 978-955-8696-39-2. .
^ Sri Lanka the years of Terror. p. 59
^ Gunaratna 1990, p. 8.
^ "LTTE defeated; Sri Lanka liberated from terror". Ministry of Defence. 18 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
^ "Sri Lankan president declares war 'victory'". CNN. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
^ Recolonisation: Foreign Funded NGOs in Sri Lanka. p. 233
^ "Statement from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Ensuring Freedom of Navigation in the Red Sea". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
^ "NZ to deploy six NZDF staff to Red Sea, PM announces". 1 News. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
^ Mallawarachi, Bharatha (9 January 2024). "Sri Lanka to join US-led naval operations against Houthi rebels in Red Sea". ABC News. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^ "Red Sea crisis: Navy OPV heads home after maiden patrol". The Morning. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
^ "SLNS Gajabahu returns from Red Sea". Ceylon Today. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
^ "Red Sea crisis: SLN prepped to continue patrols". The Morning. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
^ "Three Sri Lankan soldiers die in Mali attack | Daily FT".
^ "Sri Lanka's first combat deaths since 2009: Families mourn fallen UN peacekeepers". www.sundayobserver.lk. 2019-02-03.

[7] U can also say it started in 1665 because that what the Dutch started invading but 1670 is when it was officially war and the first major offensive by the Kandyans took place.

[9] Before Federation in 1901, Australian involvement in the war consisted of forces from the following separate colonies:
New South Wales

Western Australia

Tasmania

South Australia

Victoria

Queensland

[3] New South Wales

[4] Western Australia

[5] Tasmania

[6] South Australia

[7] Victoria

[8] Queensland

[10] Larger numbers of volunteers came from the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden-Norway. Smaller forces came from Ireland, Italy, Congress Poland, France, Australia, Belgium, Russia, the United States, Denmark, Austria-Hungary, and Greece.

[13] The Russian Empire during 1914–1917, the Russian Republic during 1917. The Bolsheviks signed an armistice followed by a separate peace shortly after their armed seizure of power.

[14] While various other dates have been proposed as the date on which World War II began or ended, this is the period most frequently cited.

[1] Nilakanda Sastry,The Colas,1955, pg.122

[2] Spencer 1976, p. 411

[3] The Jungle Tide:“Collapse” in Early Mediaeval Sri Lanka STRICKLAND, KEIR ,MAGALIE (2011) The Jungle Tide: “Collapse” in Early Mediaeval Sri Lanka. Doctoral thesis, Durham University. P.331 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/893/

[FOOTNOTESastri2000199-200-4] Sastri 2000, p. 199-200.

[5] Nilakanda Sastry, The Colas,1955 p.368

[:2-6] Rindom, Jan (1995). OSTINDISK KOMPAGNI 1616-50 (PDF) (in Danish). DET KONGELIGE BIBLIOTEK. p. 24.

[8] Emmer, Pieter C; Gommans, Jos J.L (2020). The Dutch Overseas Empire, 1600-1800 (Hardcover ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 294. ISBN 9781108428378.

[Grattan2009-11] Grattan, Robert (2009). "The Entente in World War I: a case study in strategy formulation in an alliance". Journal of Management History. 15 (2): 147–158. doi:10.1108/17511340910943796.

[Haydon1964-12] Haydon, A.P. (1964). "South Australia's first war". Australian Historical Studies. 11 (42).

[15] "The story of a North Korea-backed rebellion in Sri Lanka – North Korea News". NKNews. 2017.

[Farrel-16] Farrel, Tom (12 March 2014). "North Korea's role in Sri Lanka's bloody insurgencies". NKNews.

[USA-17] Commission on the Organization of the Government. USA. 1975.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[FOOTNOTEIqbal19729-18] Iqbal 1972, p. 9.

[19] History of the JVP, 1965–1994 (1st ed.). Niyamuwa Publications. November 2014. ISBN 978-955-8696-39-2. .

[20] Sri Lanka the years of Terror. p. 59

[FOOTNOTEGunaratna19908-21] Gunaratna 1990, p. 8.

[mod-defeat-22] "LTTE defeated; Sri Lanka liberated from terror". Ministry of Defence. 18 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.

[CNN_2009-05-19-23] "Sri Lankan president declares war 'victory'". CNN. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-28.

[24] Recolonisation: Foreign Funded NGOs in Sri Lanka. p. 233

[dod18dec-25] "Statement from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Ensuring Freedom of Navigation in the Red Sea". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.

[26] "NZ to deploy six NZDF staff to Red Sea, PM announces". 1 News. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.

[27] Mallawarachi, Bharatha (9 January 2024). "Sri Lanka to join US-led naval operations against Houthi rebels in Red Sea". ABC News. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

[28] "Red Sea crisis: Navy OPV heads home after maiden patrol". The Morning. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.

[29] "SLNS Gajabahu returns from Red Sea". Ceylon Today. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.

[30] "Red Sea crisis: SLN prepped to continue patrols". The Morning. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.

[31] "Three Sri Lankan soldiers die in Mali attack | Daily FT".

[32] "Sri Lanka's first combat deaths since 2009: Families mourn fallen UN peacekeepers". www.sundayobserver.lk. 2019-02-03.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[a]

[7]

[b]

[c]

[8]

[9]

[d]

[e]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

Major armed conflicts involving Sri Lanka
Domestic	Kotte conquest of the Jaffna kingdom 1971 JVP insurrection 1987–1989 JVP insurrection Sri Lankan civil war
Foreign	Battle of Vijithapura Anuradhapura invasion of Pandya Chola conquest of Anuradhapura Polonnaruwa–Pagan War Pandyan Civil War Malay invasions of Sri Lanka Ming–Kotte War Sinhalese–Portuguese conflicts Siege of Kotte Battle of Mulleriyawa Campaign of Danture Dutch–Portuguese War Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom 1560 1591 First Kandyan–Dutch War Second Kandyan–Dutch War Kandyan Wars Great Rebellion of 1817–1818 Matale rebellion Second Boer War World War I World War II Easter Sunday Raid Cocos Islands mutiny Operation Prosperity Guardian
Peacekeeping	United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
Related articles	Military history Ceylon in World War II

Lists of wars involving Asian countries
Sovereign states	Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia China Cyprus Egypt Georgia India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan North Korea South Korea Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Oman Palestine Pakistan Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore Sri Lanka Syria Tajikistan Thailand Timor-Leste (East Timor) Turkey Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen
States with limited recognition	Abkhazia Northern Cyprus South Ossetia Taiwan
Dependencies and other territories	British Indian Ocean Territory Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Hong Kong Macau
Category Asia portal