ABSTRACT
There is a long history attached to the art of batik in Sri Lanka. Although the ancient origins of this craft cannot be precisely established, it is possible that certain crafts were introduced to Sri Lanka from Java by the Dutch when they occupied the Maritime Provinces. The Dutch occupied Sri Lanka-then known as Ceylon-from 1657 to 1815. The Dutch East India Company carried this cloth, together with spices and fruits, to other colonies. Fruits like mangosteen, rambuttan and durian too were introduced to Ceylon through these traders.
