timeline of key countries and civilizations that came to trade, not conquer:
Ancient to Medieval Trade Visitors
- 3rd century BCE onward – Romans and Greeks
- Traded via intermediaries for spices, gems, and elephants. Ptolemy even mapped Taprobane (ancient Sri Lanka).
- 5th–13th centuries CE – Arab Traders
- Dominated Indian Ocean trade; brought Islam and established settlements, especially in coastal towns like Beruwala.
- 7th–15th centuries CE – Chinese
- Tang and Ming dynasties engaged in trade; Admiral Zheng He famously visited in the early 1400s.
- 11th–15th centuries CE – South Indian Kingdoms (Chola, Pandya)
- Besides invasions, they also traded textiles, pearls, and spices.
Colonial and Early Modern Trade Powers
- 1505–1658 – Portuguese
- Initially came for cinnamon trade before returning to conquest.
- 1602–1796 – Dutch (VOC)
- Focused on monopolizing cinnamon and other exports; established trading posts and forts.
- 17th–18th centuries – French and Danish
- Made brief attempts to establish trade links, especially in Trincomalee.
- 1796–1948 – British
- Expanded plantation economy (tea, rubber, coconut) and integrated Sri Lanka into global trade networks.
🌏 Modern Trade Agreements & Partners
- 1975 – Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)
- Includes China, India, South Korea, and others.
- 1988 – Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP)
- Among developing countries to boost South-South trade.
- 2000 – India–Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA)
- Boosted bilateral trade significantly.
- 2005 – Pakistan–Sri Lanka FTA
- Opened duty-free access to thousands of products.
- 2006 – South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)
- Regional trade pact among SAARC nations.
- 2018 – Singapore–Sri Lanka FTA
- Covers goods, services, and investment.