August 21

This is 21st of August. It is day 234 of the year. As of today, there are 132 days left until the end of the year. If you are curious about the historical footprint of Sri Lanka, let us delve into more On This Day events to uncover fascinating tidbits from the nation's history that covers for 365 days.

Today’s Highlight

• 1640 – Dutch governor Willem Jacobszoon Coster and his seven companions were killed near Nilgala, Kandy, while traveling to Batticaloa after meeting the Kandyan king Rajasinha II.
• 1891 – Dharmadutha College, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest schools, was founded in Badulla by the Buddhist Theosophical Society.
• 2015 – Ranil Wickremesinghe, leader of the United National Party, was sworn in as Prime Minister after the Sri Lanka Freedom Party agreed to form a national government with the UNP for two years.

International observance

• World Senior Citizen’s Day