Archaeology - Mangala Katugampola

Mangala Katugampola

Professor in Archaeology

PhD (Sichuan), MPhil (Kelaniya), PGDip (Kelaniya), BA in Archaeology (Kelaniya), FSLCA

Email srilal@kln.ac.lk

Telephone +94112290813

Mobile +94713454221

Room No G-05

Postgraduate Supervision Available

Editor in Chief: TRIVALENT: Journal of Archaeology, Tourism & Anthropology

BIOGRAPHY:

Professor Mangala Katugampola is a distinguished archaeologist and academic leader at the University of Kelaniya, a former Director of the Centre for Heritage Studies and Head of the Department of Archaeology. He specialises in spatial archaeology, Megalithic burial traditions, and settlement patterns. He pioneered the integration of advanced technologies in Sri Lankan heritage management, notably serving as the Director of GIS for the Central Cultural Fund. His award-winning research, recognised by Senate Honours, utilises spatial analysis and nuclear techniques to conserve artefacts, significantly advancing the study of ancient landscapes and maritime trade relations.

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

GIS in Archaeology, Spatial Studies in Archaeology, Proto History, Mortuary Archaeology, Archaeological Photography, Field Archaeology, South Asian archaeology, Visual media in archaeology

ONGOING RESEARCH & PROJECTS:

On request

TEACHING: (Papers taught in 2025/2026)

Visual Media for Archaeology
Field Archaeology
Computer Archaeology

POSITIONS:

Director, Centre for Heritage Studies, University of Kelaniya (2021 – 2023).
Head of Department, Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya (2018 – 2021).
Subject Coordinator, Archaeology MSSc Degree Programme (2018 – 2021).
Director of GIS, Central Cultural Fund (CCF), Sri Lanka (2016 – 2019).
Senior Student Counsellor, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya (2015 – 2017).
Academic Advisor, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya (2015 – 2017).

ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS:

Senate Honours for Research Excellence, University of Kelaniya. Awarded for conducting high-quality research and publishing in an international indexed journal (International Journal of Culture and History, 2015, Vol. 1, Issue 2).

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:

Editor-in-Chief (2020 – 2021), TRIVALENT: Journal of Archaeology, Anthropology & Tourism, Volume 1 (Issues 1 & 2) and Volume 11 (Issue 1). Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya.
Editor-in-Chief (2017 – 2018), Kalana, Volumes 1 and 2. Art Council, University of Kelaniya.
Member of Editorial Board (2021), Vimarśana, Volumes I and II. Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya.
Member of Review Committee (2021), International Journal of Archaeology, Volume 9, Issue 2.
Member of Editorial Board (2018), Amarabhinandana. Central Cultural Fund, Colombo.
Member of Review Committee (2018), 1st Junior Academic Staff Symposium (JASS). Research Centre for Social Sciences (RCSS).
Member of Editorial Board (2013), Anuradhapura Volume 3: The Hinterland (Eds. Coningham, R. & Gunawardhana, P.). BAR International Series 2568.
Member of Editorial Board (2010), The Society of South Asian Archaeology (SOSAA) 3rd International Congress: Abstract Volume. Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya.
Member of Editorial Board (2008), Upper Malvathu Oya Archaeological Exploration Project 2004-2008. Special Volume for the International Conference on Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya.
Member of Editorial Board (2005), Essays in Archaeology: In Honour of Professor H.T. Basnayake. Godage International Publishers.
Member of Editorial Board (2003), Essays in Archaeology: In Honour of Professor Senake Bandaranayake.
Member of Editorial Board and Review Committee, Global Illuminators research journals and international conferences.

JOURNAL ARTICLES (selected):

Katugampola, M., Munasinghe, D. S. A., Nanayakkara, K., Fernando, D. V. C., & Jayathilake, K. K. P. M. (2021). Sri Lanka and Greco-Roman maritime trade relations. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 11(7), 682–688.
Katugampola, M. (2021). Unseen pattern in the utilization of resources: Site catchment analysis in settlement archaeology. Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology, 9.
Katugampola, M. (2021). Distinguish the ancient landscape through spatial studies: Case study on Yan Oya Middle Basin (YOMB), Sri Lanka. International Journal of Current Advanced Research, 10(7), 24839–24842.
Katugampola, M. (2015). Beyond what we see: An inter-site spatial pattern of Megalithic burial complexes in Yan Oya Middle Basin (YOMB), Sri Lanka. International Journal of Culture and History, 1(2), 129–134.
Coningham, R., Gunawardhana, P., Manuel, M., Adikari, G., Katugampola, M., Young, R., Schmidt, A., Krishnan, K., Simpson, I., McDonnell, G., & Batt, C. (2007). The state of theocracy: Defining an early medieval hinterland in Sri Lanka. Antiquity, 81(313), 699–719.
Katugampola, M. (2007). Space in archaeology: Beginning of spatial studies in archaeology. Journal of Archaeologia, 3, 31–36.
Coningham, R., Gunawardhana, P., Adikari, G., Katugampola, M., Simpson, I., & Young, R. (2006). The Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) project: The hinterland (phase II), preliminary report of the first season 2005. South Asian Studies, 22(1), 53–64.

BOOKS (selected):

Katugampola, M. (2020). Pattern and past: Archaeological analysis of spatial patterns. Bloomberg Publishers.
Katugampola, M. (2020). Purana Sri Lankawe susana charithra: Devolapola mati kutira susana kanima [Burial customs of ancient Sri Lanka: Excavation of the clay cist burial site at Devolapola]. Kadulla Publication.
Katugampola, M. (2005). Pouranika sthana ha smaraka: Ratnapura distrikkaya [Ancient sites and monuments: Ratnapura district]. Department of Archaeology.

CONFERENCES (selected):

De Silva, K. R. C., Ratnayake, A. K., Ratnayake, S. Y., Rajapaksha, C. D. P., Alwis, H. A. A. N., Katugampola, M., et al. (2021). Alkyd resin as a candidate for reinforcement of naturally aged paper by gamma radiation induced graft copolymerization [Abstract presentation]. Second International Conference on Applications of Radiation Science and Technology (ICARST).
De Silva, K. R. C., Ratnayake, A. K., Ratnayake, S. Y., Pathirana, C. D. R., Alwis, H. A. A. N., Katugampola, M., Abayarathna, A. H. M. H., & Chinthaka, S. D. M. (2020). Application of gamma radiation induced graft copolymerization for paper conservation in Sri Lanka [Abstract presentation]. 1st International Conference on Frontiers in Chemical Technology, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Sri Lanka.
Katugampola, M. (2019). Excavation of clay cist burial site in Devolapola [Research presentation]. Research Council, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
De Silva, K. R. C., & Katugampola, M. (2018). The IAEA Regional TC Project RAS/1/021: Application of nuclear techniques for cultural heritage characterization, conservation and preservation [Workshop presentation]. 1st Coordination Meeting-cum-Workshop, Bangkok, Thailand.
De Silva, K. R. C., Ratnayake, A. K., Ratnayake, S. Y., Pathirana, C. D. R., Alwis, H. A. A. N., Katugampola, M., Abayarathna, A. H. M. H., & Chinthaka, S. D. M. (2018). Application of radiation surface modification techniques for the preservation of archived materials in Sri Lanka [Technical meeting]. Strategies for Preservation and Consolidation of Cultural Heritage Artefacts through Radiation Processing, Zagreb, Croatia.
Gunathilake, K. A. D. M. S. (2018). Beyond what we see: An inter-site spatial pattern of Megalithic burial complexes in Yan Oya Middle Basin (YOMB), Sri Lanka [Paper presentation]. Reviewing International Encounters.
Madhuwanthi, H. M. L. U., Katugampola, M., Jayathilaka, K. M. D. C., & Sumathipala, H. H. (2018). Comparison study of mechanical and chemical properties of ancient and modern clay pots [Abstract presentation]. 3rd International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences (IRSPAS), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Gunathilake, K. A. D. M. S. (2015). Beyond what we see: An inter-site spatial pattern of Megalithic burial complexes in Yan Oya Middle Basin (YOMB), Sri Lanka [Full paper presentation]. International Conference on Business Economics Social Science & Humanities (BESSH).
Katugampola, M. (2012). Archaeological evidence of the use of iron in Sri Lankan ancient culture [Abstract presentation]. International Conference on Early Iron Production in Sichuan Basin and Chinese Ancient Society, China.
Dissanayake, R. B., Katugampola, M., Priyanta, T. G., Wijesooriya, A., & Ambalantota, Rev. C. (2010). Village abandonment behaviour among tank villagers: The effect of carrying capacity on a tank-village in the dry zone of Sri Lanka [Abstract presentation]. 3rd International Congress of the Society of South Asian Archaeology (SOSAA), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Katugampola, M., Gunawardhana, P., Schmidt, A., Coningham, R., Manual, M., Simpson, I., Strickland, K., & Adikari, G. (2008). Getting random for looking at reality: Alternative methods for random survey [Abstract presentation]. International Conference on Social Sciences, Research Centre for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Manuel, M., & Katugampola, M. (2008). Mapping the hinterland: GIS and archaeology [Abstract presentation]. International Conference on Social Sciences, Research Centre for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Gunawardhana, P., Coningham, R., Adikari, G., Strickland, K., Katugampola, M., Namalgamuwa, H., Saldin, M., Simpson, I., & Batt, C. (2008). Miniature art: Female dominance of the terracotta figurines [Abstract presentation]. International Conference on Social Sciences, Research Centre for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Gunawardhana, P., Coningham, R., Adikari, G., Katugampola, M., Namalgamuwa, H., Saldin, M., Simpson, I., & Batt, C. (2007). Do terracotta figurines suggest a burial pattern? [Abstract presentation]. Annual Research Symposium, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Gunawardhana, P., Adikari, G., Hathurusinghe, S., Katugampola, M., Bandara, N., Namalgamuwa, H., & Wijesuriya, D. (2006). Heritage tourism: Complexities of land management and archaeological presentation [Abstract presentation]. Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Katugampola, M. (2004). Archaeological heritage management in the Kelani Valley Region [Paper presentation]. Annual Research Symposium, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Katugampola, M. (2003). A system for recording surface artifacts by using trend surface analysis [Abstract presentation]. Annual Research Symposium, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISION:

On request

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