Senaka Weeraratna

34,747 views Jan 28, 2026 #CNAInsider #CNAInsiderDocumentaries #CNATheMarkOfEmpire

The island of Sri Lanka has lured travellers from near and afar to its shores. Over 2,500 years ago, this was the domain of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, a unifying force that turned the island’s dry plains into a breadbasket to fuel their cultural growth as a budding centre for the new religion of Buddhism, and where followers flocked to from as far away as Greece and China. Curator and scholar Peter Lee travels across this beautiful island to discover how it became known across the ancient world for its unimaginable riches, drawing traders in search of luxury goods, but also becoming a target of envy to unwelcome visitors. From visiting the kingdom’s first Buddhist stupa, to practicing the ancient martial art of Angampora, to tracing the origins of its celebrated moonstone gem, he sees how the kingdom created a dazzling golden age that laid the foundations for a distinct culture and identity that has endured until today. WATCH MORE The Mark of Empire:   

 • The Mark of Empire   00:00 Introduction 02:15 At the Esala Perahera festival 04:20 Sri Lanka’s Buddhist roots 06:23 First stupa 07:39 Inside a monastery for women 11:40 A history of invasions 12:46 Warriors’ martial art: Angampora 16:22 Street art around Sri Lanka 18:36 City architecture of Anuradhapura 21:11 Surprising visitors 23:07 Inside UNESCO site Lion Rock 27:08 Ancient hydraulic network 29:34 Historical hospital complex 31:52 Sri Lanka’s traditional medicine 35:01 Panning for gems 39:49 Jewel of Anuradhapura art: Moonstone 42:37 Fall of the kingdom  ============================== ABOUT The Mark of Empire: Kingdoms of the Sea: What are the secrets and mysteries behind Asia’s ancient empires? In the third season of this award-winning series, curator and scholar Peter Lee is back on a journey to trace clues and uncover new theories behind the Srivijaya empire, the Champa kingdom, the Sultanate of Sulu, and the Anuradhapura kingdom. What were the epic battles, political alliances and cultural exchanges forged by the four powers in the region? From investigating the iconic reliefs of Borobudur temple in Indonesia, to diving for sea cucumbers in the Philippines’ Sulu Archipelago, to practicing the ancient martial art of Angampora in Sri Lanka, and learning about modern Cham rap music in Vietnam, Peter traces the rise and fall of these formidable kingdoms, and the cultural legacies that they have left on the region until today.