Tina Edward Gunawardhana, Deputy Editor at Hi!! Magazine and a journalist at Daily Mirror, gave an account of Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha’s latest book ‘Sri Lanka, Serendib & the Silk Road of the Sea‘ in the Daily Mirror newspaper.
‘Sri Lanka, Serendib and the Silk Road of the Sea‘ Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha’s new book explores the island’s forgotten maritime heritage
by Tina Edward Gunawardhana
For centuries, Sri Lanka has been celebrated for its rich culture, strategic location, and natural beauty. Yet one aspect of the island’s story remains surprisingly little known—its role as a major hub on the Maritime Silk Route. In his new book, Sri Lanka, Serendib and the Silk Road of the Sea, Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha uncovers this neglected history and reintroduces Sri Lankans to their seafaring past.
The Silk Roads were the great trade arteries that connected East and West. While the overland routes across Central Asia are well documented, scholars now acknowledge that a far greater volume of goods was transported by sea. The Maritime Silk Route linked bustling ports from China to the Middle East and Europe, and Sri Lanka, lying at the very centre of the Indian Ocean, was a vital stopover for ships.
Despite this, local chronicles record little about the island’s naval activity. As Dr. Wijesinha—himself a medical doctor, writer, and participant in UNESCO’s 1990 Maritime Silk Route expedition—points out, most of what we know comes from foreign sources. These references are both fascinating and revealing.
The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder, writing in 77 AD, described ships from Taprobane capable of carrying up to 75 tons of cargo. Sixteen centuries later, Portuguese writer Tome Pires noted that Ceylonese ships traded as far afield as Bengal. Egyptian historian Taki al-Din al Maqrizi even documented the arrival of a Ceylonese ambassador to the court of the Mameluke sultans, travelling on a vessel from our island that sailed into the port of Hormuz.
Such accounts prove that ancient Sri Lankans were not just passive islanders, but skilled sailors, traders, and diplomats who played an active role in Indian Ocean commerce. Yet, as maritime historian Somasiri Devendra once observed, “Yes, we are Sri Lankan. Yes, we sailed our ships. And yes, we are remembered. It is only we who have forgotten.”
By piecing together these scattered records, Wijesinha reminds readers of the island’s centrality to global exchange. Sri Lanka’s harbours offered safe anchorage and fresh provisions to visiting vessels, while local artisans built seaworthy ships and navigators guided them across the seas. Beyond the movement of gems, spices, and elephants, the island also facilitated the flow of ideas, religions, and recipes—making it not only a trading post but also a cultural crossroads.
Written in a lively, accessible style, Sri Lanka, Serendib and the Silk Road of the Sea is aimed at history enthusiasts, travellers, and members of the Sri Lankan diaspora eager to rediscover their heritage. Far from being a dry academic study, it is a captivating reminder that our small island once stood at the centre of the world’s greatest seafaring routes.
