Beyond Economic Enclaves: The Indian Ocean as Shared Heritage

Abstract

This article examines how Sri Lanka’s transformation from successful maritime hub to indebted peripheral state reflects the contradictions of infrastructure-driven development that systematically undermines inclusive connectivity principles. The 2022-2023 economic crisis exemplifies how mega-projects like the Colombo Port City create ‘economic enclaves’ that exclude local communities while generating dependency relationships serving external interests. Drawing on archaeologist Sudarshan Seneviratne's scholarship and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) leadership (2023), it presents heritage-centred connectivity as a viable alternative that preserves community autonomy while enabling beneficial regional exchange. Grounded in Sanjay Chaturvedi's (2023) ‘Indianoceanness’ concept, this approach transcends binary great power alignments through cooperative maritime regionalism anchored in shared cultural foundations, offering sustainable development pathways that honour historical patterns of oceanic prosperity.