A small number of Arabic inscriptions have been found in Sri Lanka from maritime regions as well as from hinterland. The majority of them are tombstones while some others are votive in character. The percentage of the number of Arabic inscriptions in Sri Lanka is considerably very low when it compares to the amount of Sinhala inscriptions (majority language) recorded so far in the country.
The records date between the 9th -15th century period. The script used generally was Kufic, but other scripts such as Naskh and Farisi (Persian) have also been reported.
The records date between the 9th -15th century period. The script used generally was Kufic, but other scripts such as Naskh and Farisi (Persian) have also been reported.
The list of Arabic inscriptions
This is an incomplete list prepared by "Lanka Pradeepa".
| No. | Inscription | Remarks | References |
| 1 | Puliyantivu inscription (Mannar District) |
A tombstone 9th century A.D. |
Dasanayaka, 2007; Kalus & Guillot, 2006 |
| 2 | Anuradhapura-Puttalam road inscription (unknown place) |
?? 9th century A.D. |
Dasanayaka, 2007; Kalus & Guillot, 2006 |
| 3 | Fragmentary Arabic inscription, Colombo National Museum (unknown place) |
?? after the 9th century A.D. |
Kalus & Guillot, 2006 |
| 4 | Jawatta cemetery inscription (Colombo District) |
A tombstone 949 A.D. |
Ali, 2014; Kalus & Guillot, 2006 |
| 5 | Mantai inscription (Thiruketheeswaram, Mannar District) |
A tombstone 11th century A.D. |
Kalus & Guillot, 2006 |
| 6 | Bhagavalena inscription (Ratnapura District) |
A religious text 13 century A.D. |
Dasanayaka, 2007; Dewaraja, 1994 |
| 7 | Nicholson Cove inscription, Trincomalee (Trincomalee District) |
A tombstone 1329 A.D. or 1523 A.D. |
Devendra, 1968; Kalus & Guillot, 2006 |
| 8 | Trincomalee dockyard inscription (Trincomalee District) |
A tombstone 1405 A.D. |
Kalus & Guillot, 2006; Dasanayaka, 2007 |
| 9 | Kuragala inscriptions (probably non authentic) (Ratnapura District) |
Tombstones, inscribed stones etc. 10-16th century A.D. |
Somadeva, 2014; Kalus & Guillot, 2006 |
| 10 | Galle Trilingual slab inscription (Galle District) |
A votive text 15 February 1409 |
Dewaraja, 2006; Kalus & Guillot, 2006 |
| 11 | Ellupitty inscription (Mannar District) |
A tombstone ?? |
Dasanayaka, 2007; Kalus & Guillot, 2006 |
| 12 | Talapitiya mosque inscription (Galle District) |
?? ?? |
Kalus & Guillot, 2006 |
| 13 | Hemmatagama inscriptions (Madulbowa in Kegalle District) |
Three tombstones ?? |
Kalus & Guillot, 2006 |
| 14 | Mannar inscription (Mannar District) |
?? ?? |
Kalus & Guillot, 2006 |
See also
References
1) Ali, A., 2014. Muslims in harmony and conflict in plural Sri Lanka: A historical summary from a religio-economic and political perspective. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 34(3), pp.227-242.
2) Dasanayaka, R., 2017. Arabs in Serandib: Trade relations between Sri Lanka and West Asia from ancient time to 15th century A. D.: Historical and Archaeological Survey. S. Godage & Brothers. ISBN: 978-955-30. pp.344-358.
3) Devendra, S., 1968. Arabic Gravestone from Trincomalee Dockyard. The Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society: New Series: Vol XIV. pp.28-35.
2) Dasanayaka, R., 2017. Arabs in Serandib: Trade relations between Sri Lanka and West Asia from ancient time to 15th century A. D.: Historical and Archaeological Survey. S. Godage & Brothers. ISBN: 978-955-30. pp.344-358.
3) Devendra, S., 1968. Arabic Gravestone from Trincomalee Dockyard. The Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society: New Series: Vol XIV. pp.28-35.
4) Dewaraja, L.S., 1994. The Muslims of Sri Lanka: one thousand years of ethnic harmony, 900-1915. Lanka Islamic Foundation.p.33.
5) Dewaraja, L., 2006. Cheng Ho's Visits to Sri Lanka and the Galle Trilingual Inscription in the National Museum in Colombo. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, 52, pp.59-74.
6) Kalus, L. and Guillot, C., 2006. Réinterprétation des plus anciennes stèles funéraires islamiques nousantariennes: III. Sri Lanka (In French). Archipel, 72(1), pp.15-68.
7) Somadeva, R., 2014. කූරගල ගවේශනය 2014: අදියර 1. (In Sinhala) pp.31-32.
6) Kalus, L. and Guillot, C., 2006. Réinterprétation des plus anciennes stèles funéraires islamiques nousantariennes: III. Sri Lanka (In French). Archipel, 72(1), pp.15-68.
7) Somadeva, R., 2014. කූරගල ගවේශනය 2014: අදියර 1. (In Sinhala) pp.31-32.
This page was last updated on 15 May 2022
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