Sri Lanka is an island placed strategically in the Indian Ocean. The island is almost in the centre of the Indian Ocean. Sea routes of ancient world and modern world (between Western world and India, Far East and Australia) run touching Sri Lanka. This naturally attracted a number of seafarers and sea-faring vessels from ancient times.
Sailing ships of ancient and medieval times found a haven in the ports of Gokanna or modern Trincomalee or in several smaller bays. Sri Lanka became a port of call in the second century when it became known to Greek and Arab sailors and an emporium of maritime trade between the East and the West.
In the 1st century AD, an Ambassador who called on the courts of Claudius spoke about trade links between Sri Lanka and China. Various foreign visitors who came to Sri Lanka left records that indicate the early relations between Sri Lanka and China. In the 1st and 2nd centuries, embassies laden with gifts from rulers of Sri Lanka often visited China. Such visits grew frequent after the 4th century AD.
The great traveller monk Fa-Hsien came to Sri Lanka from a place called Tamluk on the mouth of river Ganges in India. Fa-Hsien named Sri Lanka as the Land of Lions.
According Fa-Hsien’s records, this island was 50 yojanas from the West to the East and 30 yojanas from the North to the South. We cannot forget Fa-Hsien when we talk about China and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka had very close contacts with China during the fifth century from 426 AD to 429 AD. Nine Sinhala bhikkhunis (Nuns) had reached China to hold ordination of Chinese bhikkhunis. Fa-Hsien came to Sri Lanka or Land of Lions, a century after the Sacred Tooth Relic had been received.
Sea trade
By the second quarter of the sixth century, Sri Lanka had emerged as the “Centreport” of sea trade between the East and the West. Chinese ships and ships from Far East and the West arrived in Sri Lanka, bringing their merchandise. It was in Sri Lankan ports that they exchanged their merchandise and purchased the products of Sri Lanka.
“Christian Topography” of Cosmos Indicopleustus is a book that gives a fair account of the island. He introduced Sri Lanka as the island of Taprobane. Central position of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean helped the country to become the emporium of trade. She received goods from all the trading marts and distributed them all over the world. Ships from India, Persia, Ethiopia and China frequented the havens of Sri Lanka for trade.
By the middle of the 7th century, Arabs dominated the sea routes to the West, but the Chinese dominated sea borne traffic to the Far East.
Even during the 7th and 8th centuries, exchange of embassies between China and Sri Lanka continued. Visits of the learned Indian monk Vajra Bodhi is mentioned in Chinese texts. Ven. Monk seemed to have visited Sri Lanka between 718 AD-798 AD. He seemed to have visited Anuradhapura, Ruhuna and Siripade (Adam’s Peak) during his visit.
It was the spread of Buddhism to China that enhanced the relationship between the two countries. Chinese monks and nuns visited the island and vice versa. Official records of China indicate Chinese interests in Sri Lanka.
Fa-Hsien’s visit
According to Chinese records, there had been contacts between Sri Lanka and China from the time of King Buddhadasa (337AD-365AD) and his two sons Uppathissa 1st and Mahanama. During the reign of Mahanama who ascended the throne in 406 AD, the celebrated pilgrim Fa-Hsien visited the island. From the accounts of his travels, a reader can gain valuable information about Buddhism in the island. From the visits of Chinese pilgrims, it becomes clear that Chinese were interested in Sri Lanka as a Buddhist country.
During the period 405-418AD, the ruler of Sri Lanka Ksatriya Mahanama had sent an embassy with an image of the Buddha to the emperor Hiao-ou-ti of the Tsin dynasty. Sino-Sri Lanka relations went beyond cultural and religious relations. Contemporary Buddhist countries seemed to have envied Sri Lanka for the possession of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. From Chinese sources, it becomes clear that Great Emperor Kublai Khan too had sent envoys to Sri Lanka asking for the Bowl relic of the Buddha, but the Sri Lankan King was unwilling to part with it. Chinese rule over China was re-established under Ming dynasty after almost a century of subordination to Mongol power. Ming emperor Yung Lo sent his Cheng Ho to Sri Lanka. Trilingual inscription of Galle makes it clear that Cheng Ho was sent to declare Ming power to foreigners.
Two Chinese writers Pien-i-tien and His-yu-chi-fu-chu wrote about the first visit of Cheng Ho in 1406. According to Pien-i-tien, Cheng Ho tried to persuade the Sri Lankan King to give up his heretical beliefs and follow the teaching of the Buddha. His –yu-chi-fu-chu mentions that Cheng Ho came to take away the Sacred Tooth Relic.
The King of Sri Lanka followed a hostile attitude towards Cheng Ho and he had to leave Sri Lanka. In 1409, Cheng Ho came to Sri Lanka for the second time according to Chinese records. The King of Sri Lanka plotted against the Chinese fleet. As a result, the King was captured, and was taken as a prisoner to the court of Chinese Emperor, Yung Lo in 1411. But the emperor forgave him. The King returned to Sri Lanka.
According to another contemporary Chinese work, Cheng Ho came again to Sri Lanka and made some offerings at the shrine of God Upulvan at Devundara. The King who returned to Sri Lanka may have been Alagakkonara. But the Chinese Emperor preferred the appointment of Parakramabahu VI. Later he was disposed by Parakramabahu VII.
Commercial and political benefits
After 1459, Sri Lanka did not despatch missions with tribute to China. China never expected subservience from the ruler of Sri Lanka. This practice of sending tribute to China seemed to have helped the ruler of Sri Lanka, the benefits of commercial and political. The scene changed after the arrival of Western powers into the waters of the East.
From 400 AD-460 AD is a period when Sino-Sri Lankan contacts were very close. Before the Portuguese, Dutch and English appeared in the Eastern waters, Sino-Sri Lankan friendship was a very close one. China never entertained the idea of subjugation or exploitation of Sri Lankan resources as Europeans did. If they expected anything, it was only the acceptance, nominal Suzerainty of China.
Emmerson Tennent and John Still had referred to close relations that existed between Sri Lanka and China. The Chinese admired the works of Sri Lankan craftsmen in the sphere of gold, silver, jade and gems. Chinese craftsmen came to Sri Lanka to learn these arts and crafts. It was Buddhism that fostered friendship. Relationships were peaceful and amicable between the great imperial power of distant China and the pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was a relationship between equals and not conquered and conqueror.
Even after independence, it was China that came to our help when we were on the verge of starvation. People have almost forgotten the Rubber-Rice pact between Ceylon and the People’s Republic of China signed on December 18, 1952. It was signed by then Minister of Commerce, R.G. Senanayake and his Chinese counterpart in the presence of Prime Minister of China, Zhou En Lai in Beijing (then Peking). This was five years before establishing diplomatic relations and was the first trade agreement signed by China with a non-communist country. In 1950, there was a shortage of rice in the world and it brought about a sharp increase in the international market price.
It was the time when the Government of Ceylon provided two measures of rice per person at a subsidised price. But the Government didn’t have enough foreign funds to continue with buying rice. Rice bought from the USA and Ecuador was not tasty enough for Ceylonese palate.
To make matters more difficult for Ceylon, international demand for natural rubber on which Sri Lankan export economy depended decreased owing to the introduction of synthetic rubber as a substitute. This brought about a severe economic crisis in Sri Lanka.
During this time, China had a surplus of rice and China had a difficulty in purchasing natural rubber owing to the competition between capitalist West and Asian communist countries. The situation was aggravated by the resolution of the UNO prohibiting Malaya to export natural rubber to China. This happened before Malaya was separated into Malaysia and Singapore.
Observing the situation, R.G. Senanayaka proposed signing a barter trade agreement with China under which Ceylon would supply natural rubber and China to reciprocate with rice. This was a period when Sri Lanka favoured the Western nations. Anyway, the Sri Lankan Government took steps to sign the proposed barter agreement. Ceylon-China Rubber-Rice Pact or Sino-Sri Lanka Rice Pact was signed on December 18, 1952 in Peking, China. It was renewed every five years and was in effect until 1982.
Sri Lanka benefited by supplying rubber at a higher price than the international price prevailed at the time and China supplied rice at a price lower than the world market price.
China continued to purchase rubber at a higher price even when other producers were prepared to sell it at lower prices. China even helped us replant the uneconomical rubber plantations by granting around 125 million US dollars to cover part of the cost. The Rubber-Rice pact was the starting point for the expansion of bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and China.
It led the way to stronger economic co-operation and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1957.
China always came to our help whenever this island was in difficulty during the 30-year battle against terrorism.
They never left us in the lurch when the so-called world powers blamed us for eliminating terrorism from the country. China held us even in this economic crisis. Long live the friendship of Sri Lanka and China.
The writer is a retired Additional Provincial Director of Education, Southern Province.