Let us look back at Europe too. King Parkramabahu's era.

References to acts of cannibalism are sprinkled throughout many religious and historical documents, such as reports of cooked human flesh being sold in 11th-century English markets during times of famine.

Here, an engraving by Theodor de Bry depicts hungry Spaniards cutting down the bodies of thieves hanged by Pedro de Mendoza in order to eat them. (© Stapleton Collection/Corbis)

Europe’s Hypocritical History of Cannibalism

From prehistory to the present with many episodes in between, the region has a surprisingly meaty history of humans eating humans

By Sarah Everts

smithsonianmag.com
April 25, 2013

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/europes-hypocritical-history-of-cannibalism-42642371/#ixzz2q67mpob5
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Cannibalism was reported from Leningrad (Present St. Petersburgh) during the siege of the city, for nearly a thousand days by the Germans, during the Second World War. During the intense cold and hunger there were a group of well nourished people who apparently resorted to cannibalism. This was speculated on by Harrison Salisbury on his book about this epic fight, during the days of Stalin. Needless to say any one caught doing it would have been summarily shot.(PGV)