The Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts has Issued three new postage stamps and a souvenir sheet, in the denominations of Rs. 15.00 each, on 22nd March, 2020, that depict ancient maps of Sri Lanka.

Ancient Map of Sri Lanka (1560 – 65 AD)

Around 1595, Cypriano Sanchez, a Spanish cartographer who was working for Portuguese map makers in Lisbon, produced this map of Sri Lanka, pentagonal in shape and fairly detailed in its description. This map was included in the famous Mercator’s Atlas in either the 1619 or 1630 edition. This map does not depict Colombo; however, it has detailed topographical notes and depicts at various points, of the type of vegetation and the animals special to the district. In this remark this map is quite different from Tomaso Porcacchi Castilione’s map circa 1572 AD.

Ancient Map of Sri Lanka (1572 AD)

Early Roman, Arab, medieval European and Asian maps do not depict the true shape of Sri Lanka in its maps. These maps also contain inaccurate or incomplete depictions of rivers, mountains and other geographical features. However, Tomaso Porcacchibb Castilione’s (1530 – 1585 AD) map is a marked improvement in this aspect.

Ancient Map of Sri Lanka (1681 AD)

Out of the three maps depicted in the stamps, this map, drawn by Robert Knox is the most
accurate one. Knox, who was a sailor, was taken captive in 1659 by the troops of King Rajasinghe II king, who ruled Kandy at that time. Knox lived 19 years in Sri Lanka and had an extensive understanding about the country. This helped him to create a more accurate map. This was also one of the first maps in English. The central highlands, most of the rivers and cultivations, lagoons and ports around the country are fairly accurately depicted on the map.

Sasinu T. Kanaheraarachchi