September 05

This is 5th of September. It is day 249 of the year. As of today, there are 117 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

• 1803 – During the First Kandyan War, the forces of Kandyan King Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe were defeated by the British at Hanwella.
• 1832 – The British introduced cricket to Ceylon with the formation of the Colombo Cricket Club and matches began between the CCC and the 97th Regiment of Foot on the Rifle Green in Colombo.
• 1902 – A 14-mile railway line was opened between Chavakachcheri and Pallai in northern Sri Lanka.
• 1973 – Horagolla National Park was declared a wildlife sanctuary due to its rich biodiversity.
• 1990 – The Eastern University massacre in Batticaloa killed 158 refugees.
• 2002 – The government lifted the ban on the LTTE following the Ceasefire Agreement to start peace talks.
• 2006 – Yala East National Park was renamed Kumana National Park.
• 2018 – Sri Lanka hosted the 2018 Asian Men’s Volleyball Challenge Cup, the inaugural edition of the tournament.