Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: History, Sri Lankan History, Archaeology, Anthropology, Mythology, Non-Fiction.

Book Review:
Professor Wijaya Dissanayake's ''New Vistas on the Early History of Sri Lanka'' is a fascinating and thought-provoking work that brings a unique interdisciplinary lens to the study of the island's ancient past. Dissanayake, a distinguished psychiatrist by training, draws upon his extensive knowledge of anthropology, mythology, archaeology, and psychology to challenge conventional readings of Sri Lanka's early chronicles and legends.

The book delves into some of the most enduring mysteries of Sri Lankan history. Dissanayake offers fresh perspectives on the origins and migrations of the legendary Yakkhas, provides a compelling anthropological interpretation (through totemism) of the story of King Vijaya and his lion ancestry, and presents intriguing arguments suggesting the possible presence of Buddhist ideas in the island before the official mission of Arahat Mahinda. He approaches myths and legends not as mere fables but as cultural artifacts that may hold kernels of historical and psychological truth.

Praised by Professor Prishantha Gunawardhana of the University of Kelaniya as an ''excellent psychological and anthropological review,'' this book is sure to stir debate among scholars and enthusiasts alike. It is not a dry academic text but an engaging exploration that invites readers to look at familiar stories from entirely new angles. For anyone interested in moving beyond traditional narratives and exploring the deeper, often murkier, currents of Sri Lanka's early history, ''New Vistas'' is an invaluable and rewarding read. It successfully complements conventional historical accounts with insights from other disciplines, painting a richer and more complex picture of the island's distant past.