Ceylon officially became the Republic of Sri Lanka.

On 22 May 1972, the island nation of Ceylon became the Republic of Sri Lanka through the adoption of a new constitution.

The country ended its status as a Dominion under the British Crown and established itself as a sovereign republic.

The new constitution officially changed the country’s name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka.

It also gave Buddhism the foremost place in the nation and marked a major step in shaping Sri Lanka’s independent national identity.