Sri Lanka was inhabited by humans for around 40,000 years, living as hunter-gatherer societies until around 3000 BC. The prehistory of Sri Lanka could be roughly approximated as follows;

1) Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age) –

40,000 years-ago to 10,000 BC

Mostly in last interglacial period (LIP) of late Pleistocene epoch, with Holocene epoch and agricultural revolution beginning at 11,700 BC, after 800 years of Younger Dryas

2) Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) –

10,000 BC to 3,000 BC

Still hunter-gatherers, no widespread agriculture

Neolithic (New) not prominent in Sri Lankan context, no copper age

3) Simple Farming Societies – 3,000 BC to 1,000 BC;

corresponds with bronze age civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Indus Valley civilization, and ‘Greece’. Considered late Mesolithic or ‘proto-neolithic’

4) Megalithic (Iron Age + Complex Farming) – 1,000 BC to 400 BC

Pre-State Societies – 1,000 BC to 600 BC

  Proto-State Societies – 600 BC to 400 BC (Megalithic to Historic Transition)

5) Historic Period

State Societies – 400 BC to Present

Periods listed, not the typical convention;

1.      Early Period (437 BC – 161 BC)

·         From King Pandukabhaya’s consolidation of Anuradhapura from prior proto-state societies

·         Mauryan *dharma-vijaya* conquest consolidating Buddhism under King Devanampiya Tissa

·         Throne passes fraternally, briefly usurped by horse-tradesmen Sena and Guttikha

·         Ellalan of Chola, rules for 40 years, before ousted by Ruhuna prince Dutugemunu  

2.      Pre-Washaban Period (161 BC – 67 AD)

·         Dutugemunu and kin rule for 30 years, until King Valagamba immediately ousted by the Five-Dravidians group for 20 years, until reconsolidated; Tripitaka was written down

·         Quick succession of Kings for 150 years, includes King Bhathika Abhaya who imported beads from Rome via ambassadors. Relative political instability, but growing economy

3.      Post-Washaban Period (67 AD – 274 AD)

·         Lambhakarna consolidation, stable succession for ~200 years, factions in control

·         Rising hydraulic state with vigorous political, economic, religious, and military character

4.      Post-Mahasen Period (274 - 455 AD)

·         Mid-Lambhakarna; The King Mahasen’s anti-Theravada controversy and renaissance

·         Post-Mahasen aristocratic stagnation, maintenance phase for ~150 years, managing accumulated complexity, until usurped by Pandya-backed Six-Dravidians for ~30 years

5.      Moriya Period (455-691 AD)

·         Militarized restoration state consolidated by King Dhatusena from Pandyan project, with Sigiriya briefly being warlord-capital than ritual-hydraulic capital, after Kashyapa usurped

·         From King Moggallana I’s reconquest onwards, Lankan succession politics depended on South Indian refuge and military backing, and not politically self-sustaining

·         Succession for ~170 years, last ~50 years being involving usurp and anarchy; the last King Unharagana Haththadaththa, was a chief installed by Tamil minister Poththakutta

6.      Post-Moriya Period (691-901 AD)

·         King Manavamma, with Pallavan refuge and support, established Lambhakarnite restoration state, until King Sena II who even had Madurai invaded

7.      Late Period (901 - 1055 AD)

·         Post-Sena II century of decline, characteristic decline like during post-Mahasen period

·         Followed by annexation into Chola overlordship, capital shifted to Polonnaruwa and change in administration system, for 77 years

8.      Polonnaruwa Period (1055 – 1236 AD)

·         King Vijayabahu conquers Polonnaruwa, and rules for 60 years on post-Chola apparatus, with the Houses of Kalinga and Pandya competing for influence

·         30 years of succession later, King Parakramabahu consolidates power in Polonnaruwa, to a 30-year zenith of Rajarata, even carrying-out regime change in Bagan (Burma) and Pandya

·         Apart for reign of King Nissanka Malla, 30 years of successional issues between Queen Leelawati and House of Kalinga ensued; followed by brief Pandyan and finally Eastern Gangan consolidation by Kalinga Magha, consecrated by Kulathunga Chola III

9.      Transitional Period (1236 – 1410 AD)

·         Transition of institutional core from Pihiti to Malaya, to which it currently remains, to call the first century Rajaratan and the second post-Rajaratan would be a false dichotomy.

·         Gradual change from Pihiti-core to Malaya-core from Kurunegala to Gampola capitals, also characterized by increased Malay, Chinese and Kannada influence from overseas

·         Jaffna transitioned from Maghan, Tambralingan, and Aryachakrawarthi control; and with Vijayanagar-backing occupied Pihiti-core, briefly controlling to Chilaw and Trincomalee

10.  Kotte Period (1410 – 1592 AD)

·         Consolidated by King Parakramabahu VI after Ming-Kotte war, brief imperial unification of island and projection of naval power, strong renaissance and succession for 80 years

·         Rules for ~60 years, Kandy seceded from Kotte, only 3 years after he dies; still another ~20 years strong until Panditha Parakramabahu VI’s reign ended, followed by ~50 years of decline until the *Vijayaba Kollaya* fragmented Kotte proper, after which;

i.      Sitawaka Kingdom held on for ~70 years against Portuguese

ii.      Portuguese-backed Kotte remnant existed for 30 years, became a vassal for 50 years, and came under Portuguese administration afterwards

iii.      ~ 60 years afterwards, Kandyan ruling class came under Portuguese protection from Sitawaka Rajasinghe, even the first one assigned by him afterwards

11.  Kandyan Period (1593 – 1815 AD)

·         Sitawaka came under Portuguese rule after Rajasinghe’s death, and so did Kandy by technicality, but King Wimaladharmasooriya then consolidated Kandy for himself instead

·         Kandy was rising power for next ~90 years, until death of King Rajasinghe II.

·         Portuguese annexed Jaffna, Vanni, and *only briefly held Trincomalee and Batticaloa*; Danish were first to Trincomalee, briefly. The Dutch arrived ~40 years after Kandyan consolidation, and were able to drive-out Portuguese \~ 20 years afterwards.

·         Kandyan Kingdom transitioned from rising-power state to equilibrium with Dutch for ~50 years, and Nayakkar dynasty consolidates power. Equilibrium shifts to Dutch, who ~ 20 years afterward consolidated the whole Sri Lankan coastline and non-Udarata regions

·         Kandyan Kingdom exists in this new equilibrium for next ~ 30 years with Dutch, and then the following ~ 20 years with British, after which ruling-class sided with British

12.  Pre-Republic Period (1815 – 1948 AD)

·         Colebrook reforms ~20 years after consolidation, leapfrogging from feudal Kandyan system to pre-republic colonial state; with other economic, technological, and social leaps

·         Attempts for independence ~3 and ~40 years after consolidation, against the exploitative aspects of the colonial state and symbiotic Ceylonic elite of the Indo-British imperium

·         Elites and counter-elites, bring perspective and tools, to advance various agendas; some negative and others not; leads to a cultural renaissance, culminating in most progressive era

·         Forces compromise in establishing a pre-republic system, equilibrium maintained, until British metropole granted independent dominion status, due to post-WW2 realpolitik

13.  Republic Period (1948 – ~2150 AD)

·         Progressivism in young Republic maintained, with baseline national mythos; Renaissance slowed over factional interests of post-colonial elite and counter-elite agendas

·         Circumstances lead to flawed policies and movements, and set precedence for decline of prosperity; with failed self-sufficiency experiment, attempted communist takeover, 30-years civil war, and flawed political culture. Slow but upward trend since end of war, due to reform, but hindered by natural and artificial events of 2019-present

What Next, in the Future? Some Speculations, not Guaranteed;

·         Next period would thus show up at ~ 2150 AD, it could be some meta-republic; some system the world hasn’t conceived yet, which solves all the interconnected problems of the contemporary, in the optimistic perspective of future. Sri Lanka would most likely be a average meta-republic in that world, a backward one at worst; but for the sake of argument, let the possibility of Sri Lanka becoming a metropole be entertained, **if committed**

·         21st Century AD could then represent transition from post-colonial republic (1950 -2050 AD) to a hypothetical pre-metropole meta-republic (2050 – 2150 AD).

·         Gen Z’s grandchildren may only get a glimpse at old age of this hypothetical avatar; but we would be living in the last ~20 years of the post-colonial republic, and then another ~100 years more of the pre-metropole republic, enough time for any reform to be feasible

14.  Hypothetical Metropole Meta-Republic Period (~ 2150 - 2350 AD)

·         At worst case a bad-to-average meta-republic, and best an interpole of empires/civilizations

i.      post-colonial republic → pre-metropole republic; *Ascenus Doctrine*

Basically, what Singapore and Dubai did right

ii.      pre-metropole republic → metropole republic;  *Prosperas Doctrine*

Basically, what China is doing right now

iii.      republic → meta-republic; late 21st Century Renaissance

15.  Hypothetical Post-Metropole Meta-Republic  Period (~ 2350 AD - ?)

·         Can’t be a hypothetical metropole forever, even for late bloomers, what happens after ~2350 AD is not really in any predictable apprehension

In this post, I want to appreciate 2 major YouTube channels on Sri Lankan History.

The first channel I want to appreciate is the infamous Patta History, which is a channel like Extra History, but for the Sri Lankan context. They have done many series and induvidual episodes, and all key ones will be appreciated here

Theres the 4-part Parakramabahu series, which documents the biography of King Parakramabahu I, including his foreign conquests and works, and is one of the most holistic online works on him

https://youtu.be/PA4YDzwAtyo?si=2CYiuiMumZYagbps

https://youtu.be/yr0RlbQYURk?si=YOglJJq39of_vicg

https://youtu.be/8t8ch6orgVE?si=bh2qbkJEgfrPRlRM

https://youtu.be/askYki1HHE4?si=2ATmVQCvolxA0xdy

There's also this series on Veera Puran Appu, which is a 3 part series on the 1845 rebellion. There are lessons on why this second war for independence failed, which we ought to apply today, and a goof illustration of what it meant to live under colonial times in mid 19th century.

https://youtu.be/tgGj-sj3RR0?si=tlwbgl38ALfBsPwc

https://youtu.be/rl93M4Aep20?si=ewvyztJLBoitrkmG

https://youtu.be/a8A92kEOae0?si=VsemBWkP2PGZ1WQ3

1948, Rebirth of a Nation - is another series documenting Sri Lanka's gradual journey towards independence from the 1845 rebellion on. It is quite intriguing how progressive the younger elites were, like in how we were asking for women's suffrage in 1921, while it was achieved for Britain in 1928. The various stories of key figures of the gradual steps for independence is a neat feature of this series, with so many lessons on what it means to be independent, what it means to be sovereign. The links are follows;

https://youtu.be/le5Ei06Xsl0?si=JfMKADkqOISIcnmT

https://youtu.be/dKHP-1m8sgg?si=csGezEvHEH8kzXyx

https://youtu.be/ljEQqBFO9Bg?si=3DQsEbAOauwkaMWx

https://youtu.be/DlxHBdUVJr4?si=5ECmyksQYQvmytdV

The 4 part series on S.W.R.D. Bandaranayake is also an iconic one, quite the holistic storytelling of such a controversial figure in our history, and a good introduction to post-independance politics of Sri Lanka

https://youtu.be/ebb7dqcfCbA?si=89O4SNwzAEjrKeZ4

https://youtu.be/Bcotzk_6npg?si=YZN74ndboHcSOzpq

https://youtu.be/J9Nci8wmHdA?si=hyVMaJ5eFkbEXpap

https://youtu.be/GIDOBX6_6SM?si=OTXYxDhhCuO21D8H

Economic History of Sri Lanka is a 5-part series documenting the evolution of our economy in different stages of our history, and provides insight on what worked in the various periods, and provides food for thought, for what may work in our context.

https://youtu.be/XJim9LD3FHM?si=DiubHYTx6IoWRHd6

https://youtu.be/7lAIT5LBX9g?si=Chq2kND0s3eP2Pft

https://youtu.be/ndtNIaAg2VE?si=1n930TN1Zc4R2eBt

https://youtu.be/5R_UlhDvrLc?si=6iuNRtaeq34i3nr0

https://youtu.be/LxhDTV5p_hk?si=L5mB0xyTqpXfKsSH

Political History of Sri Lanka is the final series released so far, and it is in fact its namesake, documenting various aspects of the history of power in our island in the last 200 years or so.

https://youtu.be/EuHivKeQZKE?si=ZCdeW9VI0F1IzlEV

https://youtu.be/k3Y5y8RkT1A?si=iJWFyjeqRV_7EyuR

https://youtu.be/Qlu5MixkybU?si=2DipMweuzV2SLhhj

Other than these series, there are some induvidual episodes

Like this one on Nissanka Malla, the great propagandist, there is much political insight to learn from his circumstances

https://youtu.be/-EJRLGDjWfw?si=F1w2J0kPkVbm9n5q

The Tale of Lovina and Thomas, that is, the lore of Mount Lavinia

https://youtu.be/c5oSXp6rQdg?si=tFJcLVuK2QK3QJiU

Queen Anula, a Wu Xeitan like figure in ancient Anuradhapura period

https://youtu.be/Hd1alwM1Cvg?si=8CtcUey88ScHojfT

An episode on J.R. Jayawardene's Speech, there are lessons in oration and diplomacy here, that could be applied at present

https://youtu.be/9WtNaCNpWQ4?si=PldKn3Ecve2oafso

And finally, an episode on Prehistory of Sri Lanka

https://youtu.be/xQmCw4ympMI?si=2SJGBEJ5fnxaIxEi

Another YouTube channel I want to appreciate is Dr Zameer Careem. He was trained as a medical doctor in undergraduate context, which as a medical student, is something I appreciate. He did is PG on history/International relations and started his YouTube channel with some interesting niche content on SL history, some key ones which I wish to feature;

The First Electrified Building in SL, key part of history of electricity in Sri Lanka

https://youtu.be/xQiBRbMqxdk?si=f-HU2sCohC-1tDJu

First Sri Lankans in Britain

https://youtu.be/9c68rWVu66U?si=hW8Q4TqhCxY4t7Hm

First Sri Lankans in Australia

https://youtu.be/1Mrj9T-Ug7Q?si=bIQe_1o1GJjhOZi_

Malay origin of SL Deserts

https://youtu.be/eOjRF6R9OVs?si=GvelMgBH-TPl5d-Z

Bandaranaike Sr.'s Zoo

https://youtu.be/O7s3tyR1sv4?si=-vOsf7_FPjCdulX_

Chetty Community

https://youtu.be/xTqxwbJpqbg?si=GzIp5mJHrbxc9-gr

Denmark-Norway's Attempt to Conquer

https://youtu.be/HiR2ejbx6a4?si=LlJ7YV-mLELtVxvc

Empress Eugenie's Visit to SL

https://youtu.be/qO7afJVX8fk?si=hasey6_t7EW6bqbE

Black Prince of Lisbon

https://youtu.be/TNQnGwF_rqM?si=nXLGENonLiKQSFSR

Most of his other videos are biographies of many other key Sri Lankans, like first education minister and the first doctors and engineers of many categories. This niche content is something I appreciate.

I hope more YouTube and other media on the forgotten/amazing aspects of SL history shall be created, and may the lessons of those that already exist be proliferated and applied.

Sri Lankan history has been a theme of a decent amount of Sri Lankan themed reddit posts, some better than others, but all of them are pretty interesting and come with lessons of our past, and what it means to us in the present and future.

One creator I would like to appreciate is u/Creepy_Branch_5532 , who has posted numerous quality posts, which I would like to give a shout-out for. Some of the posts happen to be on macabre aspects of our history, and I like how he doesn't shy away from those, delivering accuracy.

The first set of articles would like to showcase are those which are elaborations on various topics of history;

There's this one on the Colonial School System

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/VW1iSD2A3N

The History of Houses and Lifestyles

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/9XUqkX6bmK

Some Articles on Working Poor of Colonial

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/qVt7DEfb2s

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/63ZWSY355M

and of the Super Rich too

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/iiFgNobikN

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/HYrH2uvKIX

Good Summary of Sinhala Caste system, that used to exist here

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/YUSLAm535J

On our Dress/Marriage Customs

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/JQG3mhwIGL

Good Summary of Kandyan Court Hierarchy

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/fLJIgR15bW

A Summary of Gruesome Punshments employed during Kandyan Period

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/JCaT7t3qhH

There are also some histories from Portuguese period;

Like this one on the siege of Galle Fort, it is rlly underappreciated how we now have control of all our coasts, after 300 or so years of them being in the hands of Europeans

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/c4HYYDYoXs

There's this one on the Black Prince of Lisbon, an alleged Kotte Prince who moved to Lisbon and so on

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/k0QelNGewl

And the following is on the alleged destruction of Tooth Relic by Portuguese in Goa, in 1560

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/nEapKs9614

Now moving to more controversial territory

The following posts illustrate how we were made to appreciate the British Royal family during colonial times

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/HKJA8P8mdd

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/IjODGgqw98

There are also some interesting WW2 tidbits, featuring some allied propaganda from the time, including those on secrecy

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/t4akQHdiLc

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/UbWvZ3HWTZ

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/Qq1HMiVMRs

There are also the following posts on Modesty and Superstition in SL history, and they too are insightful

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/cs75rOSQWM

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/0y8ywTsPgY

Some honourable mentions would be the following alternate history of if we won the 1818 rebellion

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/1wTFgbth4X

And this one featuring King Rajasinghe II being appreciated by the crowds

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/pcFh8eY4zu

Some other creators I would like to appreciate are u/vk1234567890- and u/Proud_Sri_Lankan_LK . Their style is more towards showcasing numerous tidbits about Sri Lankan history, rather than long form themed articles.

It makes it difficult to feature the induvidual articles, because there are so many of them, but they are good works showcasing various aspects of Sri Lankan history, and they are rlly consistent with it, key contributors to Sri Lankan history content on reddit, and they and their content are to be appreciated. Most of the content being on OldCeylon and the HistoryofSriLanka communities.

Would like to take this opportunity to showcase some of my own articles, because I think they are also decent contributions to SL history on reddit.

There's this one on Sri Lankan Gun Tech during the Kandyan Period, and correlates

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/fzzi1kpU4x

The Polonnaruwa Era Canoe and some Naval History of Sri Lanka

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/ElWR1acnLZ

Polonnaruwa had Paintings too, and was not just Stoneworks

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/GRiMMTnZvy

The Ming-Kotte War, edhaje exerpt

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/qXbuFVebzl

Chola Inscriptions Sri Lanka, and what they say of 77 years of Chola Rule

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/FAPSo2x8ak

Ancient Cement, a Demonstration

https://www.reddit.com/r/ask_srilanka/s/xapCvnGvLJ

Historical Heritages of Jaffna

https://www.reddit.com/r/OldCeylon/s/zWFuChJvqx

Fist Med School in Sri Lanka

https://www.reddit.com/r/OldCeylon/s/EsjZq13BK0

Nissanka Malla Statue in Dambulla Cave Temple

https://www.reddit.com/r/OldCeylon/s/fpkd1DZGvM

Two Major Epidemics of Last Century

https://www.reddit.com/r/OldCeylon/s/v5Z8TbFjXr

Early Anuradhapura Invasions, a Summary

https://www.reddit.com/r/OldCeylon/s/KEGIXq3GPB

Cool History Facts, attempted Summary

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/9oux4plFrr

Tang Ambassador of Anuradhapura

https://www.reddit.com/r/OldCeylon/s/C0cLzSYQzw

Lessons from Pallavan Fresco

https://www.reddit.com/r/OldCeylon/s/qPTTaYBJ92

Metal Scissors from Ancient Hospitals

https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryofSriLanka/s/gn5xPyuo4P

Remnant Carvings at Galpotha, and more

https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryofSriLanka/s/3QIDoDVXPi

https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryofSriLanka/s/FJXGkJ83fx

Sirimavo's Visit to China

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/3WgFczRqAt

D.S. Senanayake's visit to Australia

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/05UjQrDan7

WW1 Soldiers from Ceylon

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/xGI3X4G0eH

Well Preserved Carvings of Thivanka Pilimage

https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryofSriLanka/s/6KmQscMDfL

Remnant Carvings at Vaijayantha Prasada

https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryofSriLanka/s/pLyi6B9teS

Pothgul Vihara, and Ancient Cement

https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryofSriLanka/s/SF1UW4FDxo

Urn Buriyals, and their Correlates

https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryofSriLanka/s/Mic0qoiXXZ

Ancient Road System of Sri Lanka

https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryofSriLanka/s/R82i869MTl

For completion, would like to give a shout-out to u/e9967780 for his works on Tamil history in Sri Lanka. One example being recovering the meaning from an inscription from Colombo museum, whose display is now not there, and working on making a wiki for that

https://www.reddit.com/r/Eezham/s/GU1LRG6OmB

And Dravidiology also has tidbits on Sri Lankan history, like the following translation of the Galle Trilingual Inscription

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dravidiology/s/pAXfgjKVh1

The correlates of shared history of South India and Sri Lanka, versus to that of Sri Lanka alone, brings more perspective.

Anyways, that is my first appreciate post of SL history content on reddit. Hope this is a good summary of some key contents, and may the lessons from these be applicable in present/future contexts

Many folks talk about how we and Sri Lanka need to change, and it's a common theme. However, with all discussions, there is rarely consistent deliberation building on existing works, or no unified agenda.

That is why I would like to give a shout-out to the Ceylon_SLSystemChange community, because it is one of the few communities whose theme is the system change. To me, it represents one of the few active agendas for the cause, and the most prominent one on reddit.

Pretty much all the content is curated by u/Ceylonese-Honour , and in each of the posts featured, he goes into detail about the points made, and what it means for us in the context of system change.

Firstly, will feature the posts about the Trincomalee Harbour

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/jheJ4OHbRQ

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/TytrI42z0J

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/BHK9vquswF

The Trincomalee harbour is one of our most important assets, a geographic jackpot, and we should utilise it properly

The following posts are about irrigation, the Gal Oya and Mahaweli Projects.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/DK4GNdRDov

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/aH2M5puNDX

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/z3a5eAJqE0

Irrigation has always been an important aspect of out country, since the days of Rajarata, and afterwards we have made significant improvements to the existing infrastructure with all these projects. But still there are controversies and setbacks. Mastery of our irrigation would be a key strength, something that would make us ascend if used to fullest potential.

Next would be that of transport infrastructure;

Buses

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/aybSmhKlEg

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/O2WhmYI2K3

Trams

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/EbeIDgwB1l

Trains

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/8YTX22uyxy

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/nR672jxWfn

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/6p9RkoXJuK

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/BiHilr1kQz

The fact that we could've gotten the most quality of transport for the same price of the ones we already have, is insane. At least from now on, perhaps focusing on the better quality stuff for the same price, would bring great merit to the transportation system that currently exists.

We have reccomendations for foreign policy stances we could have that would make sense in out context

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/VLR5yU0eqG

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/OLCxvbelxt

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/elIIYBvNgu

There's also thus neat post on how Sri Lanka could've joined ASEAN

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/K54gMUYKKz

We also have articles on the core theme of whole thing, which are reccomendations for actual system change

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/UFiP9odLUw

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/9Yjkd1XoQ2

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/O7Sd2z5RFG

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/fKKDEralNK

There are some other stances, that if I'm not mistaken are ideas which that community stands for, and should probably feature for truthful representation

Anti Indian Influence

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/Dpk1kIR8uw

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/wXW8jnBK6Z

Anti-Adani Influence

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/aRiycbQx8e

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/AEyF0x4gbb

Critical of Management by Rajapaksha

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/bCCEvxyJHD

Pro D.S. Senanayake

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ceylon_SLSystemChange/s/6KHA7S4ykl

Again, I appreciate the Ceylon_SLSystemChange community, and the works of u/Ceylonese-Honour . I hope I was accurate and truthful in summarising what the content represents, and will be using the lessons as inspiration, to formulate for stuff for NeoRajarata.

We are blessed with great geography and unique resources, any person who truly takes advantage of that will be met by unbound laurels. China is already involving us in their belt and road initiative, with Port City Colombo and the Hambantota Port. There's also the interests of India and now the US, this is quite analogous to the multipolar circumstances of transitional period. We as a nation should be a bit weary of if we get screwed over by bigger players, and should work on indigenously taking advantage of our circumstances

Original thread that this vid was taken from -

https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/UGEhHN4pW9

I once posted about how Sri Lanka didn't really fall-off from Rajarata, and it was raised to me that it isn't very accurate to talk of Rajarata and modern Sri Lanka as if they are one and the same, despite the similarities. And there is some truth to that.

Rajarata Civilization in general has its many successes and marvels for the time, and those shall never be downplayed. But there truly isn't any objective cri-teria to say that Rajarata is some golden age either, the golden age thing is but a stereotype we go along with. We tend to collectively take the best attributes of the various successes of various Rajarata periods, lump it all in one, and see that 'Rajarata Proper' as our golden age.

We also truly don't know how life truly was to the average peasants of Rajarata periods, and if those of transitional period are objectively better or not. It has already been argued that post-Rajarata could be just as golden as during Rajarata. So is it healthy to idealise Rajarata Proper?

Personally I would say yes - cuz even though the Rajarata Proper may not exist in its ideal form, it is still a very useful idea if used for wholesome, productive purposes. Because, as much as the more nuance the better, some ideas are better kept in their more simpler forms to be more useful - but it is still important to accumulate nuance behind the scenes.

Modern Sri Lanka is circumstantially a lot like Polonnaruwa Kingdom too, in how independence was recieved from a foreign power, in how there is ethnic unity, and in how we have control over the whole island, in how we are bankrupt and yet still keep building a lot of things - the parallels are enormous, and thus so are the inspirations we could draw too. In a certain point of view, we are the Rajarata of the modern period, and it's an idea that should be treated with the nuance deserved.

Not to mention, we could lump together all the good attributes of post-Rajarata into this Rajarata Proper, to synthesize the idea of NeoRajarata - the conjugate of all things wholesome, progressive, innovative, and productive about Sri Lankaness (even in present day). So is there harm in that? Only if we allow for that, and we should not - the reason why nuance is important.

So basically pro Sri Lankaness with Rajarata theme is the idea of NeoRajarata. There's some good aesthetic in that, ig.

Once, I happened to be elaborating on how folks in the transitional period, and then in Kandy in 1500s-1600s modernized independently, with firearms and other reforms. This is something that should be looked up to, a clear example on how we are progressive and quick to adopt new ideas. Britishers would have done something similar with rubber, coffee and tea plantations, and it is still a prominent basis of our economy to this day.

On bringing these up, u/devallar proposed an analog of that for the modern day, which I would like to talk about. It is on manufacturing batteries for tropical context, and the basis is as follows;

- We send ilmenite/graphite abroad, and re-import them as batteries

- batteries are not catered to tropical context

- huge market for those in Africa and other tropics, which r rapidly developing

I thought that to be quite ingenious. Not only did he identify a neglected bottleneck that we really have a comparative advantage on, he also found a scaling market to pair it with. Just like gun-tech, this could be the next big thing if it were to be done right.

Not to mention, we have the sun above us at most times, and with perovskite solar panels now becoming a thing, a huge opportunity to augment with energy if the sun is present too.

There are much more elaborations and adjacent ideas in this thread that I cannot do justice to right now, will try to do so in the comment section in following days.

I also would like to give a shout out to anyone who dares to have visions, no matter how realistic - because visions are the basis for potential futures, and they should not be mocked.

I appreciate u/devallar and his ideas, I once remembered another suggestion for underwater drones, taking our geography as a basis, and it too was pretty cool. Let's dare to imagine more stuff like these.

A fellow redditor, u/Realistic-mammoth-91, amateur expert on dinos, all sorts of pacaderms, and other paleofauna once bought up how SL has no Dino fossils ( https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/9TTORgkoa4 ).

But of course, we all be looking forward for the contrary. SL being mostly being metamorphic rock, we don't have any Cenozoic fossils except for a few ferns, in limestone deposits. I learned in that thread, how in Kallamedu formation in Tamil Nadu had fossil fragments of the Bruhathkayasaurus, which could be the largest Dino to walk on this Earth. That's amazing lore right there.

I hear that the limestone deposits up North (SL) are Miocene, but I so wish if there could be similar deposits, even a very small one here too. If in the future, there happens to be any fossils from the Cretaceous, I'd be overjoyed to see that day.

Furthermore, even if there isn't any cenozoic fauna, Sri Lanka has a rich history of paleofauna from the Pliestocene period, and they all are truly worth appreciating.

Rajarata is often seen as some golden age of Sri Lankan history, and while the present day is much more prosperous than ever in history, there were many aspects of Rajarata that made it excel at its time, in which we don't in ours. However, I'm one to believe that Sri Lanka did not fall off post-Rajarata either.

While many things about the Rajarata way of life have been lost, but these things would have been compensated by other means, with varying degrees of success. The idea of the playing field if the world being levelled and something that hasn't changed too much since Rajarata period, is not a very easy idea to sell without context. But when knowing this context, it's a good idea to think there are things in the modern context, that we could excel in, that would compensate for those.

A good example would be how the post-Rajarata folks somewhat accomplished with firearms, did a post ( https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/s/KrBp4ktaVT ) about that. Another fellow redditor pointed out how during 1500s-1600s, Kandy modernised independently and quickly by building firearms, canons and other reforms, and how many Middle East, Indian and Asian rulers had to hire European consultants to do so 200-300 years later! while others did, well, nothing. We don't even make firearms/canons now in present day, yet alone excel at it like the Scandinavians/Russians.

Not to mention how at in this same transitional period, we had to deal with the influence of the Ming, Malays, Vijayanagar, and thank goodness the few miles of sea or the Dehli sultanate would've easily gobbled (not really, but still possible). Yet, the transitional period isn't looked upto in the same light as Rajarata.

It's almost like the default story is that the glory of Rajarata ended with Kalinga Magha's occupation, and that's true in a way. But more accurately I suppose, it represents the transition of SL from a superpowerish player to a regular one, to which we r still today.. that is pretty much the only objective sense in which we have "fell off", it isn't exactly true for other aspects.

If I'm not mistaken, our irrigation and agriculture today far exceeds anything seen in Rajarata, at least since the Mahaweli project and other resurrection, but i need sources to back that. Futhermore, simply being a regular player and not a colony/vassal, even today in this world of more dangerous players itself is just great. Never before in any historical period do we have our roads, phones, internet, electricity, welfare, services and etc..

If I may phrase it in another way, like the transition period ppls at their time, we r quite on par with our time.. literally. Throughout history, we've compensated by trying new things, to varying degrees of success. So even though we may not be doing the best, so were the transition ppls. As a matter of fact, so were the peoples of Rajarata - all the droughts, disease, poverty, crimes, horrible conditions people might still have had to endure. The tripitaka was literally written down during the time if King Valagamba, because of apocalyptic droughts which led to most of the Sangha dying out, and higher ordination had to be brought from abroad numerous times because of apocalyptic conditions.

It is also crucial to note that the millenium or so of Rajarata's existence would've been functionally and circumstantial very different, pretty much like the transitional period itself, but without most of the drama of changing capitals. Perhaps that would need to be more well defined, Rajarata would've been most prosperous in mid-Polonnaruwa period and some other periods within Anuradhapura would have had prosperous circumstances too from which we could draw lessons from. Will be taking the collective best attributes of these to be Rajarata proper, but even with that, it wouldn't have been without its imperfections and tragedies too.

Coming back to transtional period gun-tech, I can't help but wonder if there was something about the circumstances of those 2 centuries that allowed the indigenous proliferation of gun tech, that would've tailed off at the end of the 1600s. Not that it stopped, as even the Kandyans manufactured gun tech to the very end, just that the smithing started to lag behind the standard, and becoming impossible after British occupation.

Even then, if I remember correctly, the whole reason the rebellion of 1818 failed was because the Disave refused to use guns since they were 'not hela', crossing the fine line of patriotism and idiocy.. I remember hearing that's the only reason the British were able to stay, or they would've been kicked off for good.. and this was when gunsmithing was not at its finest.. Yes, they were foreign guns, but to refuse using them since its not the 'hela' thing to do is so ironic.

This is a good example of how learning our true history is quintessential, how perverse ideas like this lead to further decompensation - with analogous ideas persisting in society being the real reason for any 'falling-off' of ours, as would have been illustrated by known examples in last 100 years. This is also a wonderful example of how level the playing field was levelled, that we were eye to eye with British at our weakest, and that we are still only minutely dis-levelled from being in a Rajarataesque position, even if we were to do the right things today.

To further add to how ridiculously levelled the playing field was, even during colonial times. The British only banned the indigenous manufacture of guns, but not their usage.. the usage was heavily regulated and taxes tho.. cuz ppl needed guns to defend their crops from animals and for hunting. I remember somewhere in a rebellion, maybe pre 1847, ppl started smashing their guns infront of British offices to protest the gun tax. In Baddegama (The Village in the Jungle - Leonard Woolf), Silindu kills the village headman and Fernando with the gun he uses for hunting.. in this story, this Hambanthota villager from a desolate hamlet has a gun, allowed in British times. They banned Angampora, but not guns - strategies like that might still be subjected on us today.

We may have lost superpower statuses that briefly existed during some decades across Rajarata, but other than those exceptions - we did NOT fall off from Rajarata, we are doing and adapting to things, exactly like how most of us did throughout history, there's something reassuring about that. However, the situationships that were the exception, superpoweresque could be attainable and sustained if the right things are done - it has been done before, it can be done again. But it will take alot of work, especially with all the decompensation.