Zheng He and the Galle Trilingual Inscription
15th Century Chinese Diplomacy in the Indian Ocean

In a quiet corner of the National Museum in Colombo sits an old stone slab. At first glance, it doesn’t look like much, just a worn surface with faded writing. But this humble rock, known as the Galle Trilingual Inscription, tells a remarkable story about Sri Lanka’s place in the world over 600 years ago.

Back in 1409, during his third voyage across the Indian Ocean, the famous Chinese Admiral Zheng He had this stone carved. It carries messages in three languages, Chinese, Tamil, and Persian, each calling on a different god: Buddha, Vishnu, and Allah. This book dives into the story behind the stone – a rare and powerful example of religious respect and international diplomacy – not just as a museum piece, but as a symbol of global connection.