Economic Policies of Pre-colonial Period in Sri Lanka: International Trade

Economic policies of Pre-colonial period in Sri Lanka: International Trade

According to socio-economic history of Sri Lanka, basically three eras could be identified.

           

            1.  Pre-colonial period (before 1505)

            2.  Colonial period (1505-1947)

            3.  After independent (1948 onwards)

Sri Lanka has been engaged in international trade in all above eras. Under this topic, the focus will be on international trade in pre-colonial era. According to Sri Lankan literary sources, records of foreign writers, chronicles and inscriptions, Sri Lanka had been a major trade center in the world. In history, Sri Lanka had been identified as a profitable market by foreign traders. Also, the natural location and the coastal surrounding of Sri Lanka had been a great opportunity for international trade. Hence, it is worthwhile to analyze how ancient Sri Lanka had engaged in international trade in pre-colonial era; exported items, imported items, countries transact with, and transportation system.

According to Prof. Senarath Paranavitharana up to the first century AD, most of the international trade activities have been limited with India. The very first civilized people who settled in Sri Lanka are a group of Indian Aryans including prince Vijaya. “Divyavadana” has mentioned that Vijaya is a son of a great merchant; means from those days onwards, Sri Lanka had maintained trade relationships with India. Also Kautilyas has introduced Sri Lanka as an island of generating gems and pearls. Megastinis has written that elephants have been sent to India by Sri Lanka.

Considering Dravidian influences such as Sena, Guththika, and Elara, very probably there were trade relationships between them and Sri Lanka. In 145 BC Elara obtained the power in Anuradhapura and established their control over Anuradhapura kingdom. This appeared that they have been motivated by the overlook of dominating external trade. According to Fa-Hsein; a Chinese traveller who had lived in the island for some time, has wrote “originally merchants of various countries carried on a trade with the island”. Also a Chinese document has mentioned about a Sinhalese person even prior to first century AD. Hence we can reliably estimate that Sri Lanka had been some trade relationships with China too.

During the period of first century AD and sixth century AD, trade relationships have been extended to other countries. Trade activities conducted with India have been continuously carried out. According to “Rajataragani”, the queen of King Mihirikula (a Kashmir King), has worn cotton cloths which has been imported from Sri Lanka. The manuscript “Periplus of the Erythaen Sea” has mentioned that cotton cloths have exported from Sri Lanka.

Historical relationships between Sri Lanka and China has been basically highlighted the visits of guest time to time. One such arrival is the visit of Fa-Hsein in 412 AD.  Historical writings from both Sri Lanka and China have been highlighted the gifts exchanged between them. Basically they may have not identified the necessity of record keeping on normal trade activities and hence may have recorded only the guest arrivals and offer of gifts.  “Christian Topography of Cosmos” given that goods imported from India, China and Ethiopia to Sri Lanka have been loaded to vessels to export to other countries.

Sri Lanka has exported goods to Rome through India according to historical evidences. But a very limited number of roman coins have been found and hence, it is assumed that most of the time international trade has been conducted in Barter System. But still some roman coins have found from ports of Sri Lanka which are belong to era of Constantains to Macian. These coins were copper and gold.

During sixth century AD to eighth century AD, Ethiopians and Persians have been engaged in trade activities in Sri Lanka. According to Christian Topography, a Persian church have established in Sri Lanka. Also Vajrabodhi has seen that 35 Persians ships arrived to Sri Lankan ports to buy gems. A book (Hmi-Chao) written in 729 AD has given on trade relationships between Sri Lanka and Iraq.

During eighth century AD and tenth century AD, international trading activities of Sri Lanka had controlled by Arabians whereas Indian Ocean has dominated by Arabians. According to “Mahawansaya” King Pandukaabhaya has granted the right of foreign trading activities to Arabians. Trade activities with India and China has very limited in this period. Also, Arabians have expelled Parisians from foreign trading activities.

After the tenth century AD due to the rise of Chola emperor, trade activities between Sri Lanka and India had strengthened. According to Chulawansa, Sri Lanka have imported elephants from Burma and Cosmos has described that Sri Lankan kings brought Persian horses in this period. During Polonnaruwa period, gems, pearls, cinnamon and elephants were major exporting items. Custom duties levied on various import and export commodities in this period. During this period also, trade in Indian Ocean was dominated by Arabs. However, trade relationships with China and Persian Gulf were continued.

Export trade

According to Sri Lankan history, Sri Lanka had been a self-sufficient economy. Means, they had produced all most all the requirements by their own. And, also they were capable of producing excess in some products in fields which they were expert at. Hence, they exported those products to foreign countries.

According to archaeological evidences, Sri Lanka was exported number of items to foreign countries. Most of the time, Sri Lanka had been able to maintain a huge demand for its products rather than for other foreign producers. Specially, Sri Lanka had exported gems to other countries. Sri Lanka had been well-known as a place of generating gems as per Kautilyas. Sri Lanka was given the name “Rathna deepa” due to abundant of gems. Sri Lanka has had plenty of elephants which they were exported to India, Greek. But still Sri Lanka has imported elephants according to writings of Cosmos. According to “Periplus of the Erythaen Sea”, Sri Lanka exported textile too. Also they have exported pearls, wood, ivory, cinnamon, pepper, cardamoms, cloves and other spices.

Import trade

Even though Sri Lanka had been self-sufficient, due to unavailability of some natural resources, people couldn’t produce each and every product they needed. Hence, they had to engage in importing goods from other countries. In pre-colonial period, various commodities from other countries were imported to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka had imported luxury items which had a higher demand from royal families. Major import item was textiles such as silk and velvet. Most of textiles have been import from China and India. Chulawansaya says that King Parakramabhahu I used Chinese textiles to decorate Latha Mandhapa.  Sri Lanka has imported horses frequently from Persia and India. Sena and Guttika were trading horses and meanwhile they try to invade Sri Lanka also. Sri Lankan army was using horses as well.  Also Sri Lanka has imported ceramics, porcelain-wares, perfumes, wines and tobacco.

Modes of transportation

Sri Lanka is a small island in Indian Ocean. Hence, Sri Lanka had used sea routes and marine vessels in order to transport goods to/from foreign countries. Natural location and natural ports in this era had been very useful in transporting goods. Further, Sri Lanka had been in the middle of the trading route and hence grew as a major hub of trading. Information about Sri Lankan ports can be gathered from Sri Lankan literary sources, records of foreign writers, Paali chronicles and inscriptions.

In earliest days, Jambukola and Mahatitta were frequently used ports.  After the period of Devanampiya thissa, popularity of Jmbukola had reduced and hence attractiveness of Mahatitta has increased. Mahatitta is situated in Mannar recently. According to the coins found in Mahatitta such as Roman coins, Greek coins, Arabic coins and Chinese coins, it is evident that it had been a major trading center in those days.  Further, an Arabic book has given the importance of this port.

In seventh century, maritime silk route from China to Europe were formed. Ships were starting from Chinese port Heru, passed Philippines, Indonesia, and through Malacca, crossed the Bay of Bengal and stopped in Sri Lanka on their way to Europe. During the eighth century, there were 35 Persian ships in the harbor.

Few other important ports in Polonnaruwa period were Gokanna and Uratota. Gokanna is situated in Trincomalee and had become a major port in Sri Lanka. The port Uratota which is situated Jaffna had also effectively used for maritime activities.

Foreign countries traded with Sri Lanka

According to historical evidences such as some coins and other items found in different regions of the country and based on carbon tests conducted in order to estimate the time period, Sri Lanka had maintained trade relationships with South India, North India, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Greece, Rome, Afghanistan, Persia and Iraq in pre-colonial period.