This publication is a collection of articles drawn from the perspectives of archaeology, history, geography, biology and science, archival material combining with stunning photographs of the island today.

This new book is the latest addition to the Prestigious Volumes series published by the Central Cultural Fund and National Trust-Sri Lanka. It is intended as a companion to the Sri Lanka and the Silk Road of the Sea publication (now out of print), a collection of academic articles emanating from the UNESCO Silk Road project of 1990 which drew strong public interest. Both books comprise of articles by scholars covering Sri Lanka’s early history and archaeology, tracing the patterns of trans-regional trade and cultural contacts across the Indian Ocean, and exploring the contribution of the island’s strategic resources, including its nautical traditions.

The relevance of this publication and the modern connections to our ancient heritage are apparent with the impact of rapid communications imprinting a new “Digital Silk Route” across the Indian Ocean calling upon Sri Lanka to fulfill its destiny cast by geography and natural endowments. With the end of the armed conflict in 2009, the transformation is complete. Sri Lanka is expanding and modernizing its transportation and energy infrastructure, roads and bridges, new ports and harbours, strengthening its position as an internationally competitive service center and knowledge hub.