Book Description

This book is written for the benefit of you, the children of Sri Lanka, a land with a long history and a rich heritage. It is a country with a string of names reflecting its historical connections. It was the Tamraparni (Tambapanni) of the ancient Indians who later called it Simhala and Ilam. For the Graeco-Romans it was Taprobane. The Arabs knew it as Serandip. Sang-kia-lo was how the Chinese called it. The Malays of Indonesia used the name Singhala. To the Portuguese it was Ceilaõ. Zeilan was the name that the Dutch first used. Later the Dutch and the English preferred the name Ceylon. But right through the period when all these names were used - a period of more than 2500 years - it was known to its people by the name of Lanka (a name firmly entrenched in the memory of the Indians during this whole period because of the central place the island occupies in the Indian epic Ramayana). For most of its history, its rulers called themselves Lankesvara (Lord of Lanka), rendered in Old Sinhala as Lakisura and Lakindu, and in Medieval Tamil as Ilankecuvaran, Ilankaiyarkkiraivan and Tennilankaikkon. After the end of European rule, the name Lanka became official with the addition of the honorific prefix 'Sri'. Being an island meant Sri Lanka has developed a distinctive personality. The influence of this geographical feature on its history should not be underestimated. Being an island also meant being easily open to influences from outside. But it also helped to develop an insular attitude and to jealously guard the main traits of its character and culture. Though a tiny country compared with many other countries of the modern world, Sri Lanka has had an interesting history with remarkable achievements. The island has historical records and archaeological remains for a period of over 2200 years. Much has been discovered about its past. Much remains to be discovered. It is important for you to know the past. This helps you to understand the present. Some of you may go on to study the country's past in greater detail and to discover more to add to the knowledge we already have. This book is intended to give a peep into that past.