Bound by culture

Whenever I am in Sri Lanka, I often feel I am in Kerala. The similarities are simply stunning. In fact, Sri Lanka seems to be more culturally close to Kerala than most other Indian states. When I used to live in Norway, my only source of solace in the midst of a cold winter was the hot Kothu Parotta from the Sri Lankan restaurant. The cuisines are so similar. Idiyappam, puttu, coconut chutney, beef and the similarity of taste buds indicate the close cultural ties between Kerala and Sri Lanka.

One of the first destinations for Keralites to migrate outside India was erstwhile Ceylon. There is evidence of the links between Buddhism prevalent in Kerala till the 13th century and that of Sri Lankan Buddhism. Kerala and Sri Lanka are also known for Ayurveda practice. Housing and architecture are similar. Music and musical instruments are very similar.  The natural habitat, flora and fauna too are so similar. All over Sri Lanka one can see houses made of laterite and even the architecture is familiar. Sinhala and Malayalam have the influence of Pali language. Like Kerala, Sri Lanka too had a thriving spice trade and was a major hub in the spice route. Most of the Indian ships would go to South East Asia via Sri Lanka due to the convenient direction of the wind.  It is also reported that Sri Lanka had an ancient Christian community, though it disappeared over time and again commenced with the advent of the colonialist.

While there has been speculation about the Sri Lanka and Kerala link, there is hardly any serious archaeological and historical research. Sri Lanka is a country of good people. Unfortunately, it has witnessed some of the worst ethnic violence in South Asia. This is also largely due to the marginalisation of the linguistic minority  — Tamil people  — in the aftermath of independence from the British. In many ways there are so many good things to learn from Sri Lanka. But one can also learn from the mistakes — terrible consequences of majoritarian and sectarian politics.  

Sri Lanka has the highest human development index in South Asia and also has great potential for high economic growth. A peaceful Sri Lanka could become the most prosperous country in South Asia. Sri Lanka and Kerala seem to be twins separated during the tides of history. It still happens to be one my favorite destinations as it not only reminds me of Kerala but also has some of my best personal friends outside Kerala.

(John Samuel is an international  traveller, and researcher on international relations, public policy and governance)