Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Genre: History, Sri Lankan History, South Asian History

Book Review:
Dr. W.M.K. Wijetunga's ''Sri Lanka and the Cholas'' is a valuable scholarly contribution to the understanding of a crucial period in Sri Lankan history. Wijetunga, a distinguished historian with nearly three decades of teaching experience at the universities of Peradeniya and Sri Jayewardenepura, brings his considerable expertise to bear on the complex relationship between Sri Lanka and the Chola Empire of South India.

The book focuses on the period of Chola expansion and their invasions of Sri Lanka, a time of significant upheaval and transformation. Wijetunga examines the causes and consequences of these conflicts, exploring the political, economic, and cultural impact of Chola rule on the island. He delves into the administration of the conquered territories, the interactions between the Cholas and the Sinhalese kingdoms, and the lasting legacies of this era.

While the book is clearly a work of serious scholarship, it is written in an accessible style that will appeal to both students and general readers interested in the subject. Wijetunga draws on a range of sources, including inscriptions, chronicles, and secondary literature, to construct a nuanced and balanced account.

The author's background is impressive. He has served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Chairman of the State Printing Corporation, and has held academic positions in the Caribbean. His published works in Sinhalese, including ''Delhi Sultan Rajyaya'' and ''Mughal Indiava,'' demonstrate his range as a historian, and his co-translation of A.L. Basham's classic ''The Wonder that was India'' speaks to his deep engagement with the broader field of South Asian studies.

''Sri Lanka and the Cholas'' is a welcome addition to the historiography of Sri Lanka, filling an important niche and providing a clear and insightful analysis of a formative period in the island's past.