Sri Lanka, Serendib and the Silk Road of the Sea

From ancient times, foreign trade has been a prominent feature of Sri Lanka’s economy. Situated at the midpoint of the maritime trade routes between Asia and Europe, it became an important link between East and West, developing into a meeting place for mariners, merchants, and missionaries from all over the medieval world.

The Maritime Silk Route not only became a channel of commerce between the great historic cultures of Asia, Europe, and Africa, it also carried intangible riches such as ideas, religion, music, and technology.