Commercial Relations Between Ancient Tamilaham And Ceylon

ABSTRACT

Tamilaham and Ceylon have close relationship from the time in memorial onwards. At times two countries tried to co-operate each with other for commercial purposes. The rise of imperialism among the rulers of Tamilaham brought the countries in collusion and always Ceylon had to become a prey to the Tamils. Migrations of the Tamils seems to have occurred from early times Probably Ceylon did not exist as a separate entity till the pre-historic ages onwards. It was but a part and parcel of Tamilaham. Lemurian Theory holds that South India, Ceylon, New Zealand, Australia, Malays in and the neighbouring islands on the one hand, and South Africa and Madagascer on the other, were all connected together by land. Tamilaham and Ceylon played an important role in foreign trade from the early time onwards. The continguity to Tamilaham, Paved the way for the sea-born commerce through Palk Strait and the Gulf of Manner.  The most distinguishing features was that Ceylon exercised influence on sea trade out of all proportion to the size of the country. Ceylon possessed many attributes that found favour with those engaged in sea trade. It provided safe ports for the vessels travelling around the island and offered essential facilities to mariners such as basic provisions and other supplies. It had most of the rare trade goods much in demand in the West for export, while there was also the demand from Ceylonese for the commercial products of the Eastern and Western countries. Ceylon, although an island, was not considered as a solitary country because it was situated at a central point in the Indian Ocean close to India.

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