Lankas

Lankas is a term that can refer to several different subjects, depending on context. The root Lanka is a historic and literary name meaning "island" in several South Asian languages, and it is most commonly associated with the island nation now known as Sri Lanka.

In ancient texts, Lanka denotes a real or mythological island kingdom. In the Ramayana, for example, Lanka is the realm ruled by the demon king Ravana. The name appears in various translations and retellings of Indian epics to signify an island kingdom or a matching locale, sometimes with geographical or political associations that extend beyond a single historical place.

In modern usage, Lanka can be used as an alternative or historical name for Sri Lanka in academic, poetic, or cultural contexts. The plural form Lankas may appear in discussions that reference multiple places named Lanka, or when listing linguistic or historical variants of the name across sources.

Lankas is also used in fiction and media as a proper noun to designate fictional islands, kingdoms, or settings inspired by the concept of an island realm. In such contexts, the name functions independently of real-world Sri Lanka and is chosen for narrative or world-building purposes.

There is no single, universally recognized subject strictly identified as "Lankas." Rather, it serves as a versatile term tied to the broader name Lanka and its various historical, literary, and fictional uses. See also Lanka for more on the historical and linguistic background of the name.