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Ms K.V.J. Koshalee Delivers Talk on Archaeological Thought in India and Sri Lanka at Spectrum 2025-26
Ms K.V.J. Koshalee Delivers Talk on Archaeological Thought in India and Sri Lanka at Spectrum 2025-26
Ms K.V.J. Koshalee, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, served as a distinguished Resource Person at the inaugural event of the Spectrum 2025-26: International Multidisciplinary Seminar Series, hosted by Sree Narayana College, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, India, on December 12, 2025.
The seminar focused on the theme, "Revisiting Archaeological Thought in India and Sri Lanka." Ms Koshalee delivered a pivotal lecture that offered critical, comparative insights into the historical narratives and theoretical frameworks of archaeology in both nations. Her successful participation highlighted the Department of Archaeology's significant contribution to international academic discourse. The event was conducted in a Hybrid Mode, ensuring global reach.
The Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, congratulates Ms Koshalee on her significant and impactful representation at this prestigious event.
13 December 2025
Kelaniya Archaeologists Lead Sessions and Present Groundbreaking Research at Major UISPP Prehistory Conference in Indonesia
Kelaniya Archaeologists Lead Sessions and Present Groundbreaking Research at Major UISPP Prehistory Conference in Indonesia
The Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, proudly announces the successful participation of Professor Chandima Bogahawatta and Ms K.V.J. Koshalee at the prestigious UISPP Inter-Congress Conference, “Asian Prehistory Today: Bridging Science, Heritage and Development (APT 2025),” held from October 27 to November 6, 2025, across the Indonesian heritage sites of Salatiga, Sangiran, and Yogyakarta.
Organised under the auspices of the International Union of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences (UISPP), the APT 2025 brought together leading scholars and archaeologists from across Asia to address emerging research trends and interdisciplinary approaches.
The two academics played a leading role in the conference, presenting their jointly authored research papers and serving as Co-Chairs for a major scientific session.
In addition to the rigorous academic sessions, the conference featured several applied side events designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Prof. Bogahawatta and Ms Koshalee participated in educational tours and practical workshops, including a notable workshop dedicated to stone tool production, underscoring the conference's focus on innovative heritage activation.
Their extensive contribution to APT 2025 significantly raised the international profile of the University of Kelaniya's archaeological research and its commitment to advancing prehistoric studies in Asia.
3 December 2025
Prof. Chandima Bogahawatta to Deliver Keynote at Prestigious Maijishan Grottoes Sculpture Forum 2025 in China
Prof. Chandima Bogahawatta to Deliver Keynote at Prestigious Maijishan Grottoes Sculpture Forum 2025 in China
Professor Chandima Bogahawatta, an eminent Archaeologist and Sinologist from the Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, successfully delivered a keynote address at the internationally recognised Maijishan Grottoes Sculpture Forum 2025, which took place from September 10 to 13, 2025, in Tianshui, China. This high-profile forum, dedicated to the theme "Contemporary Re-construction of the Oriental Sculpture Art System," was hosted by the Institute of Maijishan Grottoes Studies and its partner institutions.
The forum provided a vital platform for promoting Oriental aesthetics through international academic dialogue and innovative heritage activation. Tianshui, the host city, is home to the Maijishan Grottoes—one of China's four major grotto complexes—often celebrated as the "Eastern Sculpture Gallery" and a UNESCO World Heritage Site embodying over 1,600 years of profound cultural exchange and the Sinicisation of Buddhist art.
Professor Bogahawatta's keynote, titled "Southern Gateways of the Silk Road: The Transmission and Transformation of Buddhist Art and Architecture in Ancient Sri Lanka," examined the island nation’s crucial yet often-overlooked role as a vital maritime hub. The lecture traced how ancient Sri Lanka received, indigenized, and propelled Buddhist artistic forms, ultimately influencing the larger Silk Road network and connecting the maritime routes with the artistic developments inland.
This presentation is a testament to Professor Bogahawatta's extensive expertise in Sinology, which has significantly enhanced the international profile of the Department of Archaeology at the University of Kelaniya.
1 December 2025
Heartiest Congratulations to Senior Professor Prishanta Gunawardhana, who has been awarded the Best Original Academic and Research Text of the Year 2023 for 'Low-Density Urbanism' at the State Literary Awards 2024. A distinguished scholar in Anthropology, Archaeology, and Tourism, Senior Professor Prishanta Gunawardhana's dedication to research and excellence continues to inspire. This recognition follows his previous honour as Best Researcher in the Faculty of Social Sciences (2006-2009) at the Vice Chancellor’s Awards. We hereby celebrate his remarkable achievements and contributions to the academic world.
29 November 2024he Da
The first field season of the three-year collaborative research project, the Polonnaruwa Archaeology and Anthropology Urban Landscape Project, conducted jointly by the Department of Archaeology at the University of Kelaniya and La Trobe University in Australia, took place from February 4, 2024, to February 24, 2024, at the ancient citadel of Polonnaruwa. During the project’s first field season, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Auguring technologies were employed. The GPR data revealed information about numerous widely distributed buildings, furnaces, ponds, and walls in the central urban area of the citadel. The auguring examination identified soil layers containing cultural evidence. Archaeological excavations are planned for next July to gain a deeper understanding of the observed sites. This research was conducted under the direction of Senior Professor and Chair of Archaeology, Prishanta Gunawardhana, University of Kelaniya, and Dr Keir Strickland from La Trobe University in Australia. A one-day workshop to discuss the results of this research project was also held on 26 February 2024 at the Research Centre of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya. Senior Professor M. M. Gunatilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Senior Professor Prishanta Gunawardhana, Dr Keir Strickland, Senior Professor Anura Manatunga, Professor A. G. Amarasinghe, Director of the Research Centre, and Senior Professor Jagath Weerasinghe addressed the inauguration session. Senior Professor Prishanta Gunawardhana, Dr Keir Strickland, Paul Penzo–Kajewski, Bradley Yon, Senior Lecturer Harendra Lal Namalgamuwa, Senior Lecturer Umanga Rammungoda, Hiruni Pamalka, and Jayampath Senanayaka (PGIAR) presented research papers on the results of the project. At the end of the workshop, certificates were presented to all participants in the research project.
04 March 2024
Senior Professor Anura Manatunga of the Department of Archaeology has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship
Senior Professor Anura Manatunga of the Department of Archaeology has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship
Senior Professor Anura Manatunga of the Department of Archaeology has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai at its 219th Foundation Day by the Hon. Governor of Maharashtra, Mr Ramesh Bais, at a ceremonial function held at the Town Hall of Mumbai on 25th November 2023. This is the first time a Sri Lankan scholar has received this honour from the Asiatic Society, the oldest academic association in Asia, founded by Sir William John as early as 1784 in Calcutta. Professor Manatunga once held the post of Honorary Librarian of the Sri Lanka Society of the Royal Asiatic Society, a sister organisation of the Asiatic Society and the oldest existing association and library in Sri Lanka.
06 December 2023
A Lecture Organized by the SAARC Cultural Center in Collaboration with the Department of Archaeology
A Lecture Organized by the SAARC Cultural Center in Collaboration with the Department of Archaeology
The SAARC Cultural Centre of Sri Lanka organised a captivating lecture on 28 July 2023, in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology at the University of Kelaniya. The event was held at the auditorium of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya. The entire event was broadcast via Zoom, utilising a hybrid mode that accommodated both local and international participants. The lecture was conducted by Professor Osmund Bopearachchi, Emeritus Director of the French National Centre for Scientific Research, on the theme "Contradictions in the Texts and Confusions in the Iconography: Revisiting the theme of the Great Departure of Bodhisattva Siddhartha in the Ancient Buddhist Art of India and Sri Lanka”. Mrs Renuka Ekanayake, the Director of the SAARC Cultural Centre of Sri Lanka, Dr Bina Gandhi Deori, the Deputy Director of the SAARC Cultural Centre of Sri Lanka, and Senior Professor Anura Manatunga of the Department of Archaeology addressed the gathering. An interactive session was also conducted after the lecture, featuring engaging discussions that allowed participants to gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural heritage and understand the importance of preserving it for future generations. Present at the occasion were Dr Sriyani Hathurusinghe, the Head of the Department of Archaeology, Chair/Senior Professor Prishanta Gunawardane, Professor Uda Hettige, Senior Lecturer Dr Senarath Disanayake of the Department of Archaeology, academic staff members of the Department of Archaeology, the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Humanities, staff of the SAARC Cultural Centre of Sri Lanka, and undergraduates of the Department of Archaeology and the Department of History.
07 August 2023
Workshop on Archaeology, Anthropology and Tourism for Junior Researchers-2023
Workshop on Archaeology, Anthropology and Tourism for Junior Researchers-2023
The Department of Archaeology at the University of Kelaniya recently hosted a collaborative workshop designed to provide an exceptional learning opportunity for junior researchers in the fields of archaeology, anthropology, and tourism. The event, held on July 1st, 2023, at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Social Sciences, was a joint effort between the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, the Research Centre of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka and La Trobe University, Australia. Undergraduate students from the Department of Archaeology at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and the Department of Archaeology and History at La Trobe University, Australia, presented their research findings during the workshop. The event featured speeches by esteemed personalities including Professor M.M. Gunatilake, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Cadre Chair and Senior Professor of Archaeology Prishanta Gunawardhana, Senior Professor Gamini Adikari, Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, Professor AG Amarasinghe, Director of the Research Centre for the Faculty of Social Sciences, and Senior Lecturer Dr. Keir Strickland from La Trobe University, Australia. The workshop created a conducive environment for young researchers to showcase their work and engage in meaningful discussions. It served as a platform for interdisciplinary exploration, covering various aspects of archaeology, anthropology, and tourism. Participants benefited from the opportunity to interact with peers and experienced academics, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.
07 July 2023
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