Glimpses of an Ancient Civilisation: Society and Culture in Jaffna (300 BC to AD 500)

In reflecting on the work of Professor S. Pathmanathan, my mind goes back to the difficult years of war, when fear and mistrust had entered almost every sphere of national life.

- by Professor S. Pathmanathan.

Those were times when it was easier, and often safer, to remain on one side than to reach across to the other.Yet what I remember most about him from those years is not only the depth of his scholarship, but the steadiness of his convictions and the generosity with which he engaged those who differed from him. At a time when history was often invoked to divide, he remained committed to using it to illuminate and connect. It is with that memory in mind that I read his latest work, Glimpses of an Ancient Civilization.

Glimpses of an Ancient Civilization by Professor Sivasubramanium Pathmanathan is an important book, which examines the society and culture of Jaffna from 300 BC to AD 500. It marks a significant milestone in the historical research undertaken on Sri Lanka. It is the work of a scholar who has laid a firm foundation on which future generations of researchers can build with confidence. The special value of the book lies in the way it invites us to see Sri Lanka’s past differently. At a time when history continues to be drawn into contemporary political contestation, Professor Pathmanathan offers a disciplined and rigorous approach. His method reflects a high standard of historical inquiry in its scientific sense, as a continuing refinement of understanding in the light of fresh evidence, better methods and wider comparative perspectives.