The book highlights the most important political and socio-economic changes that occurred in Ceylon in 1795-1965. The English conquest of the island of Sri Lanka, the methods of action of the colonialists are considered, the special role of the formation and development of plantation farming is revealed and its impact on the socio-economic structure of Ceylon society is shown. A significant place is given to the formation of the main driving forces of the national liberation movement, the emergence and formation of the ideology of this movement, the characteristic features of the struggle of the Ceylon people for the independence of their country. The work also analyzes the problems of strengthening the independence of Ceylon, the struggle of progressive forces against the remnants of colonialism, for strengthening sovereignty, for progressive socio-political development, which led to the creation of a free sovereign Republic of Sri Lanka.