Sri Lanka’s Maritime Legacy: Trade, Ships, and Cultural Synthesis

 Introduction

Known as ‘Ceylon’ or 'the Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, Sri Lanka inherits a rich maritime history spanning several millennia. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight a new conceptual framework by analyzing the existing sources on aspects seaborne trade, ship building and seafaring of the maritime history of Sri Lanka, which is an important node of the sea routes connecting East and West.

Seaborne trade

Sri Lanka's strategic location has made it a central node in ancient and medieval networks connecting East and West. Historical records and archeological evidence prove that Sri Lanka was a country that exported spices, gems, pearls, ivory etc. (Siriwardana,S., et al.,2024). As well as that we imported luxury items, ceramics & etc. while displaying the wealth of the island. China, Roman Empire, India, and Persia have been prominent as major trading partners.  Also, Sri Lankan ports played a crucial role in facilitating trade from 5th to 10th century AD. (Munasinghe,D.S.A.,et al.,2021)

Since Sri Lanka has long been an ambitious maritime heart from past to present, seaborne trade is a segment of its economic & cultural history. The ancient excavations of shipwrecks such as the Godawaya wreck provide examples of early trade with neighboring areas in addition to long distance trade, including bulk shipping of raw materials like glass ingots from South India to Sri Lanka. This exchange resulted in both riches and greater levels of cultural specifics and technological details encountered on the shipwrecks found relating to Ceylon. (Billé et al.,2017)

Mastery of marine trade the medieval port of Galle is another demonstration of Sri Lanka's influence in the world oceans-based trading system. The research has found a large number of artefacts from Chinese ceramic to Mediterranean anchorages that show extensive trade relations. This suggest that the connection between maritime routes and Sri Lanka was no less valid; Sri Lanka was directly shaping those networks. (Devendra et al.,2015)

After summarizing Sri Lanka's past seaborne trade into historical context, trade networks and foreign influences, my opinion is that Sri Lanka’s seaborne trade is not only a trade but it is a broad field that has a direct impact on all human fields such as culture, religion, politics and technology.

Ship Building

The local shipbuilding practices were carried out by incorporating the unique features appropriate to the marine environment of the island. For example, they have given the traditional outrigger canoe, known as the 'oruwa'. This is a design that can handle the various coastal conditions of the island. (Devendra et al.,2015) This proves that the skill, adaptability & innovativeness of ship designers was high.

Focusing on historical data, I realized that Sri Lanka’s shipbuilding tradition goes back centuries. Chronicles mention a type of large sea-going vessel called “yaathra” that was used for more than 2 millennia.

As the same way evidence indicates that Sri Lankan ships were highly valued for their dimensions and capacity, attracting foreign merchants looking for shipbuilding materials. In addition to this, another important point is that a wooden ship discovered off the southern coast of the 2^nd century BCE, which is considered to be a Godawaya wreck, shows the whole world a valuable insight into the ship construction techniques of Sri Lanka. It also confirms that modern shipbuilding methods influenced by South Indian traditions were used. The archaeological findings related to the Pak Khlong Kluay shipwreck show a synthesis of different cultural practices, using mortise and tenon joints, a technique associated with Mediterranean shipbuilding. Asian Borderlands research notes that there were shipbuilding techniques that evolved to meet the demand of regional & long-distance trade. (Parkin et al.,2002) Therefore, it is possible to think that there was a need to build ships that could navigate both on the coast & in the open ocean routes. Based on the above-mentioned local shipbuilding techniques, archaeological evidence, and technological evolution, it is clear that the evolution of Sri Lankan shipbuilding reflects the interaction of the island with various maritime cultures.

 Seafaring

The success of Sri Lanka’s maritime trade, as well as the shipbuilding technology mentioned above, would not have been possible without skilled seafarers. They were capable of handling long sea voyages, even overcoming the effect of monsoon winds. (Parkin et al.,2002) These mariners' traditional nautical knowledge and skills have been studied in a number of studies, demonstrating their talent for maneuvering and controlling intricate sailing ships like "Yathra Dhoni" and outrigger craft. They were part of a sophisticated global network of sailors and merchants. (Devendra et al.,2015)

There is a detailed list of all voyages from 483BC onwards. So, it explains that seafarers played a crucial role in cultural exchange in the Indian Ocean trade network. That is, the responsibility of seafarers is not limited only to the transportation of goods.  Transporting religious persons, tourists, dignitaries and scholars, they have also been entrusted with a great responsibility and task in falsifying Buddhism and other traditions throughout the regions. (Balachandran et al.,2017)

Furthermore, when centralism waned and colonial powers started to rise, Sri Lanka's naval dominance slowly eroded, yet the legacy of its maritime traditions survived. It affected local maritime practices and enriched island culture as well. Thus, in relation to multinational networks, cultural exchange, decline and inheritance, it is highlighted that seafaring is rooted in the emergence of new cultural characteristics.

Conclusion

In this review, the roles of maritime trade, shipbuilding and seafaring are brought to the forefront in Sri Lanka's maritime history. A new angle that becomes clear from these interrelations is what I call "Maritime Cultural Synthesis". The gist of the idea is that maritime activities in Sri Lanka will promote interactions that are not mere exchange but a big transformation, leading to a technologically and culturally significant connectivity. For example, South Indian glass ingots found in shipwrecks in Sri Lanka indicate not only trade but also the exchange of technology and possibly the migration of craftsmen and shipwrights. Similarly, many exhibitions in ports such as Galle show traditional cultural processes where locals and foreigners live together to create a unique culture at sea.

In Sri Lanka's maritime history, one can easily find the strategic significance of this island and the cleverness of its people. This literature review discusses seaborne trade, shipbuilding and seafaring, which stress the position of the island in ancient trading networks. By applying to the concept of maritime culture synthesis one may get new insights on how technology and culture interact in Sri Lanka as well as elsewhere. Closer investigation of these connected regions could give us a better understanding of oceanic history of Indian Ocean world.

What other maritime histories should we explore? Comment below!