Sri Lanka and the Maritime Silk Route’ by Dr Sanjiva Wijesinha Sunday, 14th December 2025, 5.00pm ( Melbourne Event)
CEYLON SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA MELBOURNE CHAPTER is proud to present an illustrated talk on
‘Sri Lanka and the Maritime Silk Route’ by Dr Sanjiva Wijesinha
Foreign trade has been a prominent feature of Sri Lanka’s economy since ancient times. For a small island, situated at the virtual mid-point of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka was ideally located to become an important link in the maritime trade routes between East and West-the Silk Road of the Sea. It thus developed into a major meeting place for sailors, traders and travellers from all over the known world. Weaving together information about Sri Lanka’s ancient harbours, her connections to the lands around the Indian Ocean and the seagoing craft that plied these trade routes – plus lesser-known writings by travellers, historians and merchants who wrote about the island, Sanjiva’s illustrated talk will focus on Sri Lanka’s important role as a link between East and West on the Maritime Silk Route.
SRI LANKA, SERENDIB THE SILK ROAD OF THE SEA
SANJIVA WIJESINHA
Associate Professor Sanjiva Wijesinha worked for many years as a consultant surgeon at the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital in Colombo before moving to Hong Kong and then Australia. He served as a medical officer in the Australian Army as well as a lecturer at Monash University prior to retiring – and still works as a GP in Melbourne. His interest in the Silk Road stemmed from his participation in the UNESCO Silk Routes expedition that retraced the ancient maritime silk route from Venice to Osaka in 1990-91. Sanjiva is a well-known author of several books; his latest book Sri Lanka, Serendib and the Silk Road of the Sea was published in Colombo in August 2025.
Sunday, 14th December 2025, 5.00pm at Ashwood Hall, 21 Electra Avenue, Ashwood For enquiries contact Logan 0468 348 153
