<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The Sri Lankan independence movement was a peaceful political movement which aimed at achieving independence and self - rule for Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, from the British Empire . It was initiated around the turn of the 20th century and led mostly by the educated middle class . It succeeded when, on February 4, 1948, Ceylon was granted independence as the Dominion of Ceylon . Dominion status within the British Commonwealth was retained for the next 24 years until May 22, 1972 when it became a republic and was renamed the Republic of Sri Lanka . </P> <P> The British Raj was dominant in Asia after the Battle of Assaye; following the Battle of Waterloo, the British Empire became more influential . Its prestige was only briefly dented by setbacks in India, Afghanistan and South Africa . It was virtually unchallenged until 1914 . </P>

When did sri lanka leave the british empire