Independence Day in Ceylon The island of Ceylon officially gained its independence on 4 February 1948 as a self-governing dominion within the British Commonwealth. Richard Cavendish | Published in History Today Volume 48 Issue 2 February 1998 To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive. Buy Online Access Buy Print & Archive Subscription If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.