There is greater recognition today that the roots of Sri Lankans are as much in India as in Sri Lanka, Indian historian S. Muthiah said on Thursday, as he presented recorded facts from history that validate cultural links between the two countries.

He was speaking at a function to launch the Indo-Asian Foundation for Archaeological Research, organised here by the Indian Science Monitor and Indo- Russian International Art & Science Association. The Foundation would conduct expeditions, seminars and interactions for archaeologists from different countries to strengthen age-old cultural ties among Asian countries, quoting its president T. K. V. Rajan The Hindu reported.
Every inscription can be interpreted in three different ways by different people, Mr. Muthiah said, stressing the importance of archaeological research and evidence. “Myths or legends that prevail in oral history will not stand the test of time. We need to forge links with people in Sri Lanka , and work with archaeologists there to search for the common past we share,” he added.

Referring to the history of Sri Lanka that dates back to 2,500 years when Prince Vijaya and his followers arrived in the island, an event seen as the start of the Sinhalese race, he said the original settlements in Sri Lanka were by Hindus from India, many years before Buddhism was actually taken there by the sons of King Asoka.

He held that during the last 7,00,000 years, the sea level dropped sufficiently at least 17 times to create land links between the India and Sri Lanka. Given that just about 20 miles separate the two, early trading relations should have existed, he said. “The reason why they remained different people was because of the thickest of jungles that hindered movement,” he added.

However, there were three instances when kings with hired armies from south India succeeded in conquering the island, he said. Only the British moved inland to conquer the Kingdom of Kandy , which had close associations with the Nayaks of Madurai and Thanjavur,” he added.

Cultural influence

Other instances of cultural influence were brought to light by Paisan Maraprygsavan, Deputy Consul General, Royal Thai Consulate. “History has shown that socio-cultural habits of people of different countries have much in common. People in Chennai call Jasmine, ‘Malli', and gold, Thangham. We, in Thailand , do the same,” he said.

Twenty six sites in Sri Lanka have been identified as important, out of which four have been excavated, said Mr. Rajan. “We keep getting scattered information about important findings at different places; we need to synthesise it,” he said, adding that the foundation would enable them do so.

“Unlike in India , students of archaeology in Sri Lanka are permitted to visit excavation sites to carry out their research. Hence we need to collaborate with them,” he said, adding that Sri Lankan history cannot be justifiably interpreted without the involvement of south Indian archaeologists.

Tatiana Perova, Deputy Director, Russian Centre of Science and Culture participated.