A Bond Forged on the Indian Ocean
The relationship between Sri Lanka and the Arab world is not a modern diplomatic convenience — it is a living, breathing legacy that stretches back over a thousand years. Arab geographers, traders, and travellers were writing about the island they called Serendib as early as the 7th century CE, long before most European nations had even heard of it.
This ancient bond was built on the Indian Ocean trade routes, on the exchange of spices, gems, and ideas, and on the quiet but profound influence of Islam, which took root on Sri Lanka's western and eastern coasts through the very merchants who came to buy cinnamon and sell horses.
Serendib: The Arab Name That Gave the World "Serendipity"
The word serendipity — that happy accident of discovery — comes directly from the Arabic name for Sri Lanka. Arab geographers called the island Sarandib or Serendib, derived from the Sanskrit Simhaladvipa. When the English writer Horace Walpole coined "serendipity" in 1754, he drew on a Persian fairy tale set in this very island. Every time someone uses that word today, they are unknowingly invoking the Arab world's ancient fascination with Sri Lanka.
The Spice Routes: Arabia's Highway to Sri Lanka
Arab merchants were the masters of the Indian Ocean long before Vasco da Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope. Their dhows — those elegant, lateen-sailed vessels — rode the monsoon winds with extraordinary precision, arriving on Sri Lanka's western coast between November and March and departing with the south-west monsoon from May onwards.
What drew them? Cinnamon, above all. Sri Lanka produced the finest cinnamon in the world, and Arab traders held a near-monopoly on its distribution to Europe and the Middle East for centuries. They also sought:
- Precious gems — sapphires, rubies, and cat's eyes from the Ratnapura region
- Elephants — prized for warfare and ceremony across the Arab world
- Pearls — from the Gulf of Mannar, one of the world's richest pearl fisheries
- Pepper and cardamom — essential spices for Arab cuisine and medicine
Ibn Battuta's Visit: A Traveller's Account
In 1344 CE, the great Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta visited Sri Lanka and left one of the most vivid accounts of the island in medieval literature. He climbed Adam's Peak — the sacred mountain that Muslims believe bears the footprint of Adam — and described the lush forests, the Buddhist monasteries, and the thriving Muslim communities along the coast.
Ibn Battuta noted that the Muslim merchants of Sri Lanka were wealthy, respected, and deeply integrated into local society. They had their own mosques, their own cemeteries, and their own community leaders. Yet they also participated fully in the island's commercial and social life, trading with Sinhalese and Tamil merchants alike.
The Moors: Sri Lanka's Arab-Descended Community
The Sri Lankan Moors — today numbering around 1.9 million people, roughly 9% of the population — are the direct descendants of those Arab traders who settled on the island over many centuries. The word "Moor" itself reflects the European tendency to label all Muslims from the Arab and North African world with a single term.
Sri Lankan Moors maintained their Islamic faith, their Arabic-influenced names, and many of their cultural practices while also adopting Sinhala and Tamil as their primary languages. Their cuisine, their architecture, and their festivals reflect this beautiful synthesis of Arab and Sri Lankan culture.
Diplomatic Relations: From Ancient Trade to Modern Ties
The modern diplomatic relationship between Sri Lanka and Arab nations is built on this ancient foundation. Sri Lanka established formal diplomatic relations with most Arab League members in the decades following independence in 1948. Today, Sri Lanka maintains embassies in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, and Libya.
The economic dimension of this relationship is enormous. Over 1.5 million Sri Lankans work in Gulf countries, sending home remittances that constitute one of Sri Lanka's largest sources of foreign exchange. Arab investment in Sri Lanka is growing, particularly in tourism, real estate, and infrastructure.
A Living Legacy
Walk through the old quarters of Colombo, Galle, or Beruwala today, and you will find mosques that have stood for centuries, families with Arabic surnames, and a cuisine that blends Sri Lankan spices with Arab culinary traditions. The connection between Sri Lanka and the Arab world is not history — it is the present, lived every day by millions of people on both sides of the Indian Ocean.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Arab traders first arrive in Sri Lanka?
Arab traders began visiting Sri Lanka as early as the 7th century CE, though trade connections may have existed even earlier. By the 9th and 10th centuries, Arab merchants had established permanent settlements on the island's western and eastern coasts.
What is the origin of the word "serendipity"?
The word comes from "Serendib," the Arabic name for Sri Lanka. It was coined by Horace Walpole in 1754, inspired by a Persian fairy tale about three princes from Serendib who made fortunate discoveries through accident and wisdom.
Who are the Sri Lankan Moors?
Sri Lankan Moors are the Muslim community descended primarily from Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka over many centuries. They number approximately 1.9 million and are concentrated in the western, eastern, and northern coastal areas.
How many Sri Lankans work in Arab countries today?
Over 1.5 million Sri Lankans are employed in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, primarily in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. Their remittances are a critical source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka.