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30 Sri Lanka Navy Journal Sri Lanka Navy Journal 31

Ocean. Below figure one, denotes the strategic location of Sri Lanka in the Indian Impact of Strategic Location on Sri Lanka’s National Identity During the
Ocean and the world’s busiest maritime routes passing the Sri Lankan waters. Pre-Colonial and Colonial Period

Attanayaka, (2021) explained that archaeological discoveries show that
Sri Lanka’s maritime trade ties were crucial in preserving international relations
between the East and the West in terms of religious, cultural, social, economic,
and political channels. Indeed that has aided the country to become more ci-
vilised and flourishing in terms of culture and business affecting the national
identity. On the other hand, Cassim (2018) explored that, the significant ship-
wrecks discovered at Manthaai, Gokanna, Godawaya, and Kirinda give many de-
tails regarding Sri Lanka’s old trading associations. In particular, for the Romans,
Greeks, Persians, Chinese, Russians, and inhabitants from the Gulf, the little is-
land called Taprobane (Sri Lanka) in the Indian Ocean was strategically and eco-
nomically important from the 2nd to the 1800 A.D. (Madanayaka, 2022).

Furthermore, there are many pieces of evidence that denote how the lan-
Figure 1: Strategic Location of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean guage, culture and economy of the country are influenced by the mixing of over-
seas trading in history. In addition, there are cities, villages and locations in the
Source: Somasunderam, 2001
country which were named according to the foreign influence.

Moreover, Sri Lanka is a vital strategic location and forward base for func-
tion naval bases in order to conduct naval power projection in the IOR. Indeed, in
history also it has proven that, Sri Lanka is an ideal location for a naval outpost
to monitor the Indian Ocean and its increasingly congested maritime lanes.

In particular, developing maritime traffic in the Indian Ocean connecting
the entire globe has generated nations to increase interest on the IOR. For in-
stance, the USA naval historian Admiral AT Mahan explained that “Whoever has
control over the Indian Ocean has control of Asia and the fate of the globe in the
twenty-first century will be decided on its waterways.”

Furthermore, natural ocean current and gyres circulating in the Bay of
Figure 2: Over 2000 years old shipwreck found at the ancient port Godawaya
Bengal and the Arabian Sea create two main Monsoons to the country. Indeed, it
Source: Cassim, 2018
is also a significant natural phenomenon factor that occurs due to her strategic
location in the Indian Ocean which helps ships to navigate towards Sri Lankan
ports using sails with the help of monsoon winds. Moreover, Sri Lanka also has maintained ties with West Asian countries
via the maritime Silk Route. Importanty Importntly, Sri Lankan shipbuilding has
Importantly, the strategic geographic position of the country has given been steadily improving for generations. In particular, Plini an Egyptian writer
many opportunities for foreigners to land in Sri Lanka in history, today and in from the first century B.C., claimed that Sri Lankan ships could carry 3000 ‘am-
the future as well. However, the arrival of people from foreign nations has affect- phora,’ or 75 tons. For instance, Sri Lanka has produced larger ships, according
ed the national identity of the country. to the Arabian geographer Al Idris (1155 AD), and foreign merchants came to
the country in request of shipbuilding supplies. For example, in chronicles such
as the Mahavamsa, Digha Nikaya, trip diaries, and historical epigraphs, the his-
tory of Sri Lanka’s maritime affairs is mentioned (Sadeen, (n.d.).