The Kandyan Wars were a series of conflicts in the early 19th century between the British Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy in present-day Sri Lanka. These wars aimed to bring the entire island under British control, as the British had already taken over the coastal regions. The main battles occurred between 1803 and 1818, with the British facing fierce resistance from the Kandyan forces. The first war began in 1803 but ended in a stalemate. The second war, which lasted from 1815 to 1818, ultimately led to the capture of Kandy and the fall of the kingdom. The conclusion of the Kandyan Wars marked the end of local rule and the full annexation of Sri Lanka by the British.