<P> The name of Sri Lanka was introduced in the context of the Sri Lankan independence movement, pushing for the independence of British Ceylon during the first half of the 20th century . The name was used by the Marxist Lanka Sama Samaja Party, which was founded in 1935 . The Sanskrit honorific Sri was introduced in the name of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Sinhalese: ශ්‍රී ලංකා නිදහස් පක්ෂය Sri Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya), founded in 1952 . The Republic of Sri Lanka was officially adopted as the country's name with the new constitution of 1972, and changed to "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka" in the constitution of 1978 . </P> <P> The name Ceylon has a complicated history going back to antiquity . Deriving from the Old - Tamil word Cerentivu which means literally "Island of Cheras", a Tamil term for nagas meaning "hill", the island was known by the Romans as Serendivis and by Arabs as Serandib and the Persians as Serendip; the word serendipity is derived from this word . From this, the Greeks called the island Sielen Diva . From the word Sielen, many European forms were derived: Latin Seelan, Portuguese Ceilão, Spanish Ceilán, French Selon, Ceylan, Dutch Zeilan, Ceilan and Seylon, and of course the English Ceylon . Ptolemy called the Island Salike, and the inhabitants Salai . </P> <P> Sri Lanka has also been known as Helabima . Helabima means "Land of Helas", which is a name that Sinhalese were called . Siṃhāla is attested as a Sanskrit name of the island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in the Bhagavata Purana and Rajatarangini . The name is sometimes glossed as "abode of lions", and attributed to a supposed former abundance of lions on the island . </P> <P> The Tamil name is Eelam (Tamil: ஈழம், īḻam; also spelled Eezham, Ilam or Izham). </P>

What is the oldest name of sri lanka