About Singapore > History of Singapore
Brief History of Singapore
Singapore Island was earlier known as island at the end of peninsula, and city was known as water town. Most interesting story about the country is that when Sang Nila Utama, the ruler of Palembang (presently Indonesia) landed at this place, he first encountered with a lion look-like animal. So he named the place as Singapura i.e. 'the lion city'.
Traditionally founded by a Shrivijayan prince, it was an important Malay city during the 13th century. Destroyed by the Javanese in the 14th century, it was again founded by Stamford Raffles of the British East India Company in 1819. In the year of 1963, it joined the Malaysian Federation but separated two years later and became independent.
Today Singapore has become the one of the worlds great commercial centres with strong international trading links, its port being one of the busiest ports. Though is a small country, its per capita GDO is equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe. Most interestingly, tourism itself contributes billions of dollars every year to the countrys economy.
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