Indian Palaeography c16.s1.35

c16.s1.35

The origin of Ceylonese writing is traceable to the style of writing in India which was made popular by the activities of the Buddhists. The earliest inscriptions bear close affinity to the writing seen in the Nanaghat records and the cave inscriptions of the extreme south. In the next stage influence from the later Śātavāhana records is clearly traceable. In the third century A.D. the graphic style of the Ikshvāku records reached Ceylon. But side by side with these extraneous influences Ceylon maintained its conservative style of writing, in which survived the oldest forms seen in the island. The next influences reached Ceylon from the country of the Kadambas and the western coast. Finally, in the seventh to eighth century A.D., the Pallava Grantha writing penetrated into the island. Influences from these various styles were left behind in Ceylon, where a local conservative writing was gradually developing to meet the demand of the local language and phonetics.