6th Lecture Note

Internal and External trade

Internal Trade
The merchant was very important character in ancient society. At Anuradhapura period, they were
elite among the social in pre Christianity time in Sri Lanka. Early Brahmian Inscription reflected
that evidence. Brahmians Inscription found at Mandagala in the Hambanthota and
Bambaragastalawa in Ampara District. This inscriptions show merchants in Vanija or Vanica.
Some of the merchants were from Tamil community as indicated by the term Damida Vanija in
two inscriptions, found at Periyapuliyankulama in the VAuniya district. All these inscriptions
indicate that information in pre Christian era. Also later Brahmian inscription found from Sigiriya
supports for trading which indicates that some traders were specialized for certain commodities at
the earliest time. As example: This inscription refers to a dealer in tamarind (Abala – vabara)
Not only Anuradhapura, but also Polonnaruwa period merchant had higher social positions.
Example, NikayaSangrhay and inscription of Nissanka malla – Show in Polonnaruwa period
trader had become show important that the head of the mercantile corporation or (Chief of the
Settis) was the member of the King council. Literature sources indicate that many of Sri Lanka’s
export items, including Pearls, Tortoise shells, Spices such as cloves, pepper and cinnamon
available valuable woods (ebony, satin) and textile. At that time Elephants and tusks were very
important items.
Village and Trade
In ancient time trade was very limited in village areas. But it was certainly not negligible and this
raises the important point of the self sufficiency of the ancient village. Agricultural productions
were very important in village areas. Some historian and thinkers had given many interpretations
about village economy because they thought village was economical center for essential
commodities.
The metal and metal implements were not produced in all Asian villages. In Sri Lanka, frequently
metals and metal produced had to be brought into many of the villages from the few producing
and manufacturing areas and salt had to be transported to the interior from the coastal centers.
Medieval literature refers to village paying currency (Kahavanu) to purchase ghee, venison and
lime. Some traders were supplied light weight commodities for villagers such as clothes, rings,
necklaces, bracelets.
At least some villages had a permanent trading place also. The Chulavamsa refers to shops here
and there on the outskirts of Polonnaruwa. The Parevi Sandesa refers to village market place. The
Saddarmaratnakaraya also shows a fisherman who exchanged two thirds of his fish daily for rice,
ghee, milk and oil.
Cities
In Sri Lanka also had very ancient cities before the six century B.C. Archaeological evidence of
in the inner city of Anuradapura, show the habitations of the cultured people who had experience
use of iron and paddy cultivation around 800 B. C. (two centuries before the Vijayan legendary).
According to literature sources, the Dipawamsa refers to an inner market place ( Antarapana ) at
Upatissagama, it is the earliest capital in ancient Sri Lanka.
According to Pandukabhaya legendary (in Mahavamsa ), there was a separate quarters close to the
western gate of the city for yavanas in Anuradhapura. (Usually considered to have been Greek
merchants, although considering the fifth century B.C.)
Structure of capital city
Large population, courtiers (government servants) and their families, military establishments,
mercenaries and foreigners,
 Administrative center of country or Kingdome
 Large monastic establishment
 Attracted buildings
In polonnaruwa, certain streets were set apart for the bazaar (market place), where there were open
shops full of commodities. (Chulavamsa )
Kurunagala had velada vidi or merchant streets while there were many shops at Kotte full of
various commodities on either side of its streets. ( kurunagala vistaraya )

External Trade
The island was a center of transit trade from very early days. Because island was connected by sea
routes with ports in the southern, western and north-eastern regions of the Indian Sub-Continent
and also with ports in the Arab world as well as South-East Asian Kingdoms and through the latter
with China.
External Trade Activities
The state administrator had shown an interest in establishing trade relations with the outside world
since the inception of the organized state. The embassies sent to India, China and Rome by early
kings. In Polonnaruwa period Parakramabahu I set up a department knows as Antarangadura in
order to organize trade.
Indian merchants had a direct contacts with Sri Lanka from pre historical time to modern era. Some
stories and legends refer evidences about this trade relations. Example, Sena and Guttika, the
earliest South Indians who occupied the throne of Anuradapura in the 3rd century B.C. Sri Lanka
had a trade relations with west and eastern countries in ancient time. Most of Sri Lankan
commodities taken to Indian ports were trans shipped by Indians, as well as Greek and Roman
merchants to the world from the 4th century B.C. The craved for commodities such as pearls,
gems, ivory, silks, porcelain – ware and spices.
A large number of Greek and Roman coins have been found in places such as Mahatitta,
Anuradhapura, Mhintale. But there does not seem to have been any direct trade relation between
Sri Lanka and the Greek – Roman world. Probably Indian merchants discouraged such direct
contacts. The stories about the Yaksasa and Raksasas living in the Island which have crept in to
myths, legends and history in to would have been organized by monopolistic Indian merchants to
discourage others likely to compete with tem around Sri Lankan seas.
After 4th century A.D. Persians became a very power full kingdom between west and east.
Between the 4th and 7th centuries A.D. Sri Lanka also had a direct contact with Persians. At this
period Persians to pay greater attention to controlled central –Asian Silk routes.

Sri Lanka became an important trading center for the merchants of Persia, China and India who
exchanged their commodities in her ports. According to Cosmos (sixth century Egyptians Monk)
reports, Sri Lanka was the most important entrepot in south Asian waters during this time and
beginning of the sixth century. At the time the Persians chose Sri Lanka as the center of their Indian
oceanic maritime trade, the Island already had commercial contacts with China and with the Sri
Vijayan kingdom is south-east Asia which included the present Java and Sumatra.
Sri Lanka sent out her own ships and that she had trade relations with China as well as with other
countries.
According to Chinese texts, Sri Lankan ships were large, about 200 feet long and able to carry
seven to eight hundred men.
With the shift of the political centers to the south-west and the development of the south-western
parts of the island several other ports such as Beruwela, Bentota, Wattala and Chilaw too turned
out to be of significance in the island's trade with foreign countries.
One of the natural ports in the south, Galle had gained prominence in the middle of the 14th
century.
According to Ibn Batuta, he was treated by a Muslim named captain Ibrahim at Galle who had a
residence in the town.
The Galle Trilingual slab inscription datable to the first few decades of the fifteenth century written
in Chinese, Persian and Tamil indicates that Chinese,
“Muslim and South Indian Hindu and Jain traders frequented the port.”
Colombo, the most important port of the island today was a town largely inhabited by Muslims
whose presence there can be traced as far back as the 10th century A.D.
According to Iban Batuta, Colombo (Kalanbu) was the greatest city of Serendib. When the
Portuguese arrived in Sri Lanka in the beginning of the sixteenth century Colombo was the Island's
major port.