Sowing the Seeds: How Trade and Investment Shaped the European Colonial Encounter in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Imperialism is one of the most significant phenomena in human history. It resulted in magnificent empires that lasted for centuries as territories were annexed and became colonies. On one hand, this practice created the conditions for a few nations to emerge as economic powerhouses by capitalising on the trade and investment opportunities made possible by the process of colonisation. On the other hand, a number of nations were relative victims of colonial policies that prioritised the commercial goals of entrepreneurs who were prominent throughout the colonial encounter. Amongst the latter, Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is one of the Asian nations whose history has been shaped by the significance of commerce in the context of establishing and ruling of a particular colony. Whilst exploring her history, this paper details the importance of trade in general, and trade in cinnamon in particular, as the most significant feature of the process by which Ceylon was exposed to colonisation. It further identifies investment in the plantation sector as the subsequent method by which the colonial grip over the island was tightened.