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Sri Lanka Navy Journal 1

THE EARLY DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS OF SRI LANKA AND THEIR IMPACT ON
SRI LANKA
Captain (C) MTS Karunatunga

he goal of Sri Lankan foreign policy at present is to maintain a strong,
independent, powerful and united Sri Lanka. When studying early diplomatic
Trelations still this statement is true to some extent. Even this was true to the
core when studying colonial period.

2. Sri Lanka recognised as a sovereign state from early times. It had diplomatic relations
with several foreign kingdoms. According to historians Sri Lanka had diplomatic and trade
relations with the major civilisations of the world. Though India is Sri Lanka’s neighbour,
because of ethnic problem some historians refrain from talking on diplomatic relations
especially with South India.

3. When studying Sri Lankan history The Deepawamsa written in 4 AD and the
Mahavamsa, written by Mahanama Thero in 5 AD, trace the origins of the Sinhalese to
the regions of Northern and Eastern India inhabited in ancient times by Aryan people .
1 Evidence to back this claim includes not only their language, which is related to the
languages of Northern India including Sanskrit. The Mahavamsa depicts the history of Sri
Lanka as a bitter struggle between the Sinhalese and intruders from the Indian mainland .
2
We had writings even before introduction of Buddhism in 3rd BC. Even during Stone Age,
Iron Age and during new Stone Age it was there. Though researches were done, it was

1 countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/58.html
2 mahavamsa.org