My New Book – Sri Lanka, Serendib and the Silk Road of the Sea

I am posting this preliminary notice – a WARNO or WNGO as it is termed in the military – to give advance notice of my new book which is scheduled to be launched in Colombo in the latter part of August 2025.

Published by Perera-Hussein Publishing House, one of Sri lanka’s bestknown publishers, my book entitled SRI LANKA, SERENDIB AND THE SILK ROAD OF THE SEA traces the role of Sri Lanka, the island nation situated at the virtual midpoint of the Indian Ocean, in the story of the ancient Maritime Silk Routes,

This strategically situated small island became an important link in the network between East and West and over the years developed into a major meeting place for mariners, merchants, and missionaries from all over the medieval world.

The network of trade routes, known variously as the Maritime Silk Route, The Silk Road of the Sea, and the Spice Route, became a channel of commerce that linked the great historic cultures of Asia, Europe, and Africa. As pathways of communication along which the two-way transport of commercial goods (like silk and spice and all that’s nice) took place, they also carried intangible riches such as ideas, religion, music, and technology.

Weaving together information about Sri Lanka’s ancient harbours and trade emporia and its connections to the lands around the Indian Ocean – as well as about the seagoing craft that plied those trade routes, I have drawn on traditional sources as well as from lesser-known writings by travellers, traders and historians who wrote about the island.

This well-researched and readable book – a creative re-telling of history – will fascinate as well as educate the reader about the important role played by Sri Lanka as a link between East and West along the Silk Road of the Sea.

It will be available after the launch from booksellers in Sri Lanka – and from 1st September it will also be available online from https://pererahussein.com/

The Countdown begins!!

Keep watching this post