A Bibliography of Ceylon: A Systematic Guide to the Literature on the Land, People, History and Culture Published in Western Languages from the Sixteenth Century to the Present Day

Compiled by H. A. I. Goonetileke and first published in 1970, this comprehensive bibliography was created to address the long-standing need for a structured academic index of the extensive literature produced about Ceylon—modern-day Sri Lanka—in Western languages. Spanning the colonial era from the sixteenth century into the late twentieth century, the work serves as a definitive reference tool for scholars, historians, and researchers seeking to navigate the vast array of travelogues, administrative records, and historical treatises written by European visitors and administrators.

The bibliography is noted for its meticulous categorization and thematic organization, reflecting Goonetileke’s commitment to providing a systematic guide to a historically complex region. The design prioritizes scholarly utility, offering detailed annotations that contextualize the myriad sources included. Upon its release, the work was received as a landmark achievement in South Asian studies, praised for its exhaustive nature and its role in consolidating disparate bibliographical records into a single, accessible framework that continues to be a cornerstone for researchers studying the island’s colonial trajectory.