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External Compulsions That Fashioned Sri Lanka's Historical Mosaic

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External Compulsions That Fashioned Sri Lanka's Historical Mosaic 13th International Research Conference General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Defence and Strategic Studies Sessions ID 436 External Compulsions that Fashioned Sri Lanka’s Historical Mosaic PMP Aloka1, TAS Ranathunga and PR Meegahakumbura Faculty of Defence & Strategic Studies General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University [email protected] Abstract-The subject matter of this research The history of Sri Lanka is intertwined with the spans from the earliest times since independence. history of the wider Indian subcontinent and The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines that surrounding areas, including South Asia, History is often perceived as a mosaic of discrete Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka, occurrences. Sri Lanka’s historical mosaic has evolved as a result of internal and external events being an island located in the Indian Ocean, has that have taken place over the years. As an island, been influenced by several alien encounters. The Sri Lanka’s relationship with the global authors intend to discuss the main theme under community in land and by sea domains has been the following areas to argue that Sri Lanka’s particularly important in the evolution of Sri history is significantly impacted by the Lanka’s historical narrative. On the other hand, a international relations. key turning points such as King Vijaya’s arrival in Sri Lanka has mainly taken place due to Sri Lanka’s close proximity to India. Therefore, the ❖ Arrival of Prince Vijaya factor -strategic location and the close proximity ❖ Advent of Buddhism to Indian sub-continent- played a significant role ❖ South Indian Invasions in shaping Sri Lanka’s historical record. ❖ Shifting of Kingdoms Historically Mahawamsa portrays Vijaya as the ❖ Colonial Encounters first king to establish civilized rule in Sri Lanka. Then rule of King Dewanampiyatissa stands out A. The Early Period due to advent of Buddhism during his reign. Sri Lanka’s relations with the external world These events took place due to the fact that India is separated only by a narrow strait. Sri Lanka has around it -both by land and by sea- has been been invaded by South Indians at various times particularly important in the historical evolution. due to the same fact. It is almost the same as the The way in which historians have looked at what French regularly invading England and vice we may call these ‘external factors’ raises versa. Invasions -whether for trade or for important issues of approach, orientation and territory- have also changed the political, perspective in historical studies. The geography economic and social environment in Sri Lanka. of the country too bears an impact on the history Due to the favourable geographic location -being of the country. This factor is often proved in the situated in the hub of sea lanes in Indian Ocean- history of the island state. The external factors later in 1505, the Portuguese landed in Sri Lanka which influenced early history of Sri Lanka could purely by chance. Subsequently Dutch and the be discussed under three areas. British followed the Portuguese. This paper is an attempt at interpreting Sri Lanka’s major 1. Sri Lanka’s proximity to India. historical events through the lens of international 2. Sri Lanka’s strategic location in relations. the sea trade route. According to chronicles and legends, king Keywords: Sri Lanka, International Relations, Vijaya is considered the first king of Sri Lanka. Proximity, Strategic Location The earliest record of the Vijaya’s legend is found in the Dipawamsa, written around the fourth or the fifth century. Vijaya and seven hundred of his followers were put on a ship and banished from Introduction Lata Rata, North India. They embarked from the 191 13th International Research Conference General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Defence and Strategic Studies Sessions port of Supparak and landed in Lanka on the day Ashoka to obtain the guidance of female disciples of the Buddha’s demise. After ruling for several to enable the women of Lanka to obtain years since King Vijaya had no heir to the throne, ordination. For that Sangamitta, the sister of he was told to call his brother, Price Sumitta, to Mahinda Thera who had entered the order and succeed him at the throne before his death. But at had received ordination, was sent out to Lanka at that time Price Sumitta was ruling Sinhapura. the request of the king and the people and on the Because of that the youngest son of price Sumitta, recommendation of Mahinda Thera. Emperor prince Panduwasadewa was despatched to Sri Ashoka decided to send a sapling of the southern Lanka to fulfill the task. As the third wave of branch of the Maha Bodhi to Sri Lanka along with immigrants, Princess Bhaddakachchayana was Theri Sangamittha. King Devanampiyatissa brought from India after some time to be married created the Mahameuna garden to plant the to prince Panduwasadewa. Bodhi Plant and he also commenced the construction of the Pathamaka Chethiya, The The Mahawamsa narrative portrays the arrival of Jambukola Vihara and the Hattahallaka – Vihara – Vijaya as the landmark of civilizing early Sri and the refectory. Lankan society. However, the modern historians argue that civilizing of a society could not have If Sri Lanka was located far away from India, Sri taken place overnight. According to Somadeva Lanka would not have been an Island heavily (2018) the development of the society and influenced by Buddhism. It is a fact that culture of Sri Lanka was a gradual phenomenon Buddhism plays a pivotal role in all Societal, rather than an accelerated process. However, the Economic and political spheres in Sri Lanka. important point to highlight here is that the Therefore, living next door to India has arrival of Vijaya made a notable impact on the drastically shaped the identity of Sri Lanka as an ongoing social, economic and cultural continuity island nation. of Sri Lanka. This event was merely a result of the As a result of Sri Lanka’s proximity to India, Sri close proximity of Sri Lanka to the Indian Lanka was subjected to Indian hegemonic subcontinent. influences whenever the political power of Sri Advent of Buddhism Lanka declined. Sri Lankan kings have also made matrimonial alliances for the purpose of securing According to Mahawamsa the advent of political stability. Prince Vijaya fetched a princess Buddhism in Sri Lanka is the most important from Madurapura while King Vijayabahu I, queen event that had taken place in Sri Lankan history. Lilavati, and King Parakramabahu II also brought The main reasons for introducing Buddhism to virgins to their sons from Jampudveepa or Sri Lanka was also the close proximity. As a result present-day India. Some kings employed Indian of that, Sri Lanka was under hegemonic pressure officials for administrative services. It is recorded from India. The history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the chronicles that under queen Anula, an begins in the third century BCE during the reign ancestor named Niliya and a city carpenter of King Devanampiyatissa. One of the main named Vatuka worked. The Artshastra written by reasons for introducing Buddhism to Sri Lanka Indian strategist Kautilya was used by the Sri was the friendly relationship between King Lankan kings. Devanampiyatissa and Emperor Ashoka. There is no conclusive evidence to declare that Buddhism South Indian Invasions existed in Sri Lanka before the advent of Arahath Sena and Guttika, the earliest South Indians who Mahinda and the entourage. However, according occupied the throne of Anuradhapura in the third to folk lore Lord Buddha is said to have visited Sri century B.C, were sons of a horse dealer and it is Lanka three times. That shows even before the likely that they were supported by commercial Mahawamsa period, there existed some communities in South India. It is also possible relationships with the Subcontinent. that Elara who ruled Anuradhapura a few It is recorded in Mahawamsa that a minister decades later would have had commercial named Arittha was despatched to Emperor interests. South Indian literary works refer to a 192 13th International Research Conference General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Defence and Strategic Studies Sessions naval pilot named Elela Singham who belonged to 215 BC by two brothers named Sena and a royal family. It may be that Elara of the Sinhala Guththika, who were horse dealers. They have chronicles is the same person as Elela Singham of been killed by the Sinhala king Asela who ruled the South Indian tradition. the Anuradhapura kingdom. Then again, after 10 years a well known Chola invader called “Elara” The relationship between south India and Sri ousted the king Asela and ruled Rajarata for forty- Lanka has existed from ancient times. During the four years. The king Elara was defeated by the period of the imperial Cholas, the influence of great Buddhist warrior, king “Dutugamunu” and south India was felt in Sri Lanka. When the chola ruled the country in peaceful manner. dynasty formed an empire, Sri Lankan kings had maintained contacts with Cheras and Pandyans During the time of King Valagamba (89-77 against Cholas. BC) South Indians invaded Sri Lanka with Seven Tamil warriors and king Valagambahu was Sri Lanka had close contacts with Tamil Nadu, banished from his kingdom. The seven invaders than with the other parts of the South India were Pulahatta, Bahiya, Panaya Mara, because Tamil Nadu is situated near Sri Lanka. Pilayamara, Dathika. Subsequent to this event Sri According to the recorded history, during the past Lankan kings seem to have sought the assistance 2500 years, Sri Lanka was invaded seventeen of Pandyans in order to expell Chola invaders times by Tamil speaking Dravidians from from Sri Lanka. Southern India. These brutal Tamil armies and the merciless mercenaries disrupted the Holding sway over the Sinhala kingdom, the continuity of Sinhala kingdom.
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