Serendib to Sri Lanka -The Charm of the Name

If the charm of an exotic island could be encapsulated in a name, it would be this island now known as Sri Lanka. Through the centuries past, it had been called by numerous names. The shimmering blue waters of the Indian Ocean hold this island shaped like a teardrop or pearl. It is like the pearl-shaped pendant in the necklace of India. The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has come a long way from the days of Serendib. Whatever the name, the allure of this mystic, fertile, palm-fringed, and the verdant island has never ceased to amaze those who visit it.

Serendipity is a word that came into the English vocabulary in the 18^th Century after being invented by the scholar, Horace Walpole. It means ‘unexpected and happy events that take place without seeking’. His inspiration for this term is the Persian fairy tale “Three Princes of Serendip”, where the princes often made unexpected happy discoveries purely by chance. The Arabic name for the island of Sri Lanka was Sarandib, Serendib, or Serendip. Since these times the island has been considered to be serendipitous.

Over the long recorded history of the island spanning some 2500 years, it has been known by many different names and nicknames. Some were coined by the inhabitants while others were given by visitors or traders. There are names given in different languages and people that have persisted over time. Some of the more common of these names are listed in chronological order in the paragraphs below.

1. Lanka

   – Perhaps the most ancient out of other names occurs in ancient Sanskrit writings like Ramayana in which the island is referred to simply as “Lanka”.

2. Lankadweepa, Lakbima, Lakdiva

   – These names were used to refer to the island from the time of Gauthama Buddha 2500 years ago. Dweepa and Diva mean island. Bima on the other hand refers to the land. Thus, Lankadweepa means the Island of Lanka. Lakdiva also means the Island of Lanka. Lakbima is the Land of Lanka.

3. Heladiva

   – This name refers to the island or diva of the Hela people. Therefore, the island was called Heladiva. Hela is another name for the Sinhala race that made the island their home.

4. Tambapanni

   – This is the name that was given to the island by Prince Vijaya who landed there with 500 of his followers in the 5^th Century BC. The name is derived from the color of the sands. Tamba means copper colored. The rich golden hue may have looked like copper to the visitors.

5. Sihaladeepa

   – This simply meant the island of Sihala. Prince Vijaya and his followers were known as the Sihala. Sinha means lion and the ancient chronicle of Sri Lanka’s history, The Mahawamsa, states that this is the island of Sihala.

6. Parasamudra

   – This is also an ancient name for Sri Lanka that is found in Indian literature. In Kautilya’s “Arthasastra” this name is used to refer to the island of Lanka. It simply means, beyond the ocean.

7. Palaesimoundu

   – The ancient Greeks seem to have referred to the island by this name as evidenced by the writings of ancient Greeks. The Greek seafarers may have picked the name up from the Indian name Parasamudra. These, however, were not very well known or used by later travelers to the island.

8. Simoundu

   – This is an abbreviated version of the word that was used by ancient Greek writers. The word Palaesimoundu may have been too long.

9. Taprobane

   – Taprobane or Taprobana was the name given to the island of Sri Lanka by the ancient Greek geographers Pliny and Ptolemy as far back as the middle of the 2^nd Century AD. Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to the Mauryan court of King Chandragupta referred to the Island of Taprobane. This probably was derived from the name Tambapanni.

10. Sielediba

    –  This name was often used by Indians to refer to the island of Sri Lanka. In ancient times this name may have been derived from Sihaladweepa.

11. Slike or Silike

    – This again was how some ancient Indians referred to Sri Lanka. The origin stemmed from the word Sihala referring to the Sinhala race. It seems that at different times, Indians from different parts of the subcontinent had used a variety of names to refer to the island.

12. Ilankai

    – This is the name used by Tamils to refer to the island of Sri Lanka. It is used even to this day.

13. Singaldip

    – This name derived from the two words Sinhala and Dipa or Deepa was used by the Aarab historian Al-Biruni or Abu Rihaan Muhammad in the 10^th Century to denote the island of Sri Lanka.

14. Serendib or Serendivi

    – These names were used by the Arab traders who visited the island. For them, it meant the Island of Rubies. One of the nicknames given to the island by ancient traders of Arab and Chinese origin was the land of gems. Two other notable figures from the far-off past referred to Sri Lanka as Serendib. They are the Arab traveler Ibn Batuta and the Arab geographer Al Idrisi.

15. Saheelan

    – This is a little-known name for the island. The Arab author of Marvels of India or Ajab-al-Hind in the year 960 mentions the island of Sri Lanka. He calls it Serendib, the usual Arab term but also states that the island was known as ‘Saheelan’ which is another lesser-known Arab name for Sri Lanka.

16. Ceilao

    – The Portuguese invaders who took over parts of the island from 1597 to 1658.

17. Zeylan or Seylan

    – The Europeans who were familiar with the island of Sri Lanka referred to the island as Zeylan or Seylan which were words derived from the Arabic word Saheelan. The Portuguese called the island Ceilao. By the time the Portuguese invaders of the island were replaced by the Dutch, it was called Ceylon. In the early 1290’s Marco Polo, the famous explorer visited the island of Sri Lanka on his voyage back from China. He called the island Seilan, Seylan, or Zeilam. The Chinese name for the island was Xi Lan or Xi Lon.

18. Ceylon

    – This is the name by which the British referred to Sri Lanka. It is a name coined from Zeylan or Seylan used by the Arab traders and other explorers. Ceylon was used by European mapmakers and for purposes of trade throughout Europe. Ceylon is always associated with products from the island. Ceylon Tea and Ceylon Cinnamon are two of the most sought-after products and are sold under those brand names even today. Therefore, Ceylon is a name still associated closely with the island of Sri Lanka.

19. Sri Lanka

    – The name Ceylon was changed to Sri Lanka when the country became a fully-fledged republic in 1972. Sri Lanka means the resplendent land. In 1978 the official name of the island became the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka with the adoption of a new constitution that created an Executive Presidency.

Apart from these names, there are many nicknames given to the island through the ages. The Pearl of the Indian Ocean, The Pearl of the Orient, The Granary of the East, The Land of Gems, and The Teardrop of India are some of them.

The allure of the island never diminished for the visitor and remained the same regardless of the name used. All the names came to epitomize the beauty of the island. Golden sandy beaches, cascading waterfalls, ancient and historical sites, incredible biodiversity, flavorful cuisine, and the friendliest of people make a visit to the island nation unforgettable. The culture of the island nation with all its romantic nuances pervades every corner of the island. Getting from one corner of the island to the other takes only a few hours. Transportation is available by rail, road, helicopters, and seaplanes to all regions and the fact that the island can be explored within a short period appeals to most visitors.

The Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, and the indigenous Veddhas comprise the people who each have a different cultural orientation. Their vivid festivals, attire, and food add to the diversity of the nation and its fascination in general. Visiting this island nation and feeling the pulse of the people is essential to understanding the true meaning of ‘Serendipity’.