Archaeology - Prishanta Gunawardhana

Prishanta Gunawardhana

Senior Professor & Chair of Archaeology

PhD (Kelaniya), MPhil (Kelaniya), BA (Kelaniya) in Archaeology, Cert. in Cultural Asset and Heritage Management (Shiga), FSLCA

Email prishanta@kln.ac.lk

Telephone +94112290813

Mobile +94714458362

Room No G-01

Postgraduate Supervision Available

BIOGRAPHY:

Senior Professor Prishanta Gunawardhana is the Cadre Chair of Archaeology at the University of Kelaniya and a leading authority on South Asian low-density urbanism. Formerly the Director General of the Central Cultural Fund, he pioneered post-disaster archaeology and global research collaborations in Lumbini and Jaffna. His work with Durham University and the Shanghai Museum has redefined the understanding of ancient city planning. Awarded the 2024 State Literary Award and multiple Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for research excellence, he is a distinguished scholar whose leadership bridges academic discovery with national heritage management.

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Cultural Resource Management, Buddhist Archaeology and Colonial Archaeology, Tourism, Social-archaeology and Anthropology, Urbanisation

ONGOING RESEARCH & PROJECTS:

On request

TEACHING: (Papers taught in 2025/2026)

Definitions, Methods and Techniques of Archaeology
Ancient Sri Lankan Architecture
Archaeological Heritage Management

POSITIONS:

Co-Director, Sri Lanka/China Archaeological Research Project. A joint initiative by the Central Cultural Fund (CCF), Sri Lanka, and the Shanghai Museum, China (2018–Present).
Steering Committee Member, International Workshop on Ancient Urbanization in Sri Lanka (IWAUS), University of Kelaniya (2023).
Steering Committee Member, Workshop on Archaeology, Anthropology, and Tourism for Junior Researchers, University of Kelaniya (2023).
Director, Research Council, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya (2020).
Competent Authority, Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR), University of Kelaniya (2017–2018).
Director General, Central Cultural Fund (CCF), Government of Sri Lanka (2015–2018).
Co-Director, Jaffna Post-Disaster Archaeological Research Project. A collaborative project between the CCF and the Universities of Durham, Stirling, Leicester, Bradford (UK), and Baroda (India) (2016–2018).
Co-Director, Polonnaruwa Archaeological and Anthropological Research Project. A collaborative project between the CCF and the Universities of Durham, Stirling, Leicester, Bradford (UK), and Baroda (India) (2015–2017).
Acting Director, Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR), University of Kelaniya (Served intermittently 2015–2016).
Head, Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya (2003–2009).
Co-Director, Upper Malwatu-Oya Archaeological Exploration Project. A collaborative project between the CCF and the Universities of Durham, Stirling, Leicester, Bradford (UK), and Baroda (India) (2004–2009).
Deputy Student Counselor, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya (2004).
Student Counselor, University of Kelaniya (Academic years 1993/94, 1996/97, and 2003/2004).
Committee Member, University Teachers Association (UTA), University of Kelaniya (1997–1998).
Co-Director, Polonnaruwa Archaeology and Anthropology Urban Landscape Project. Organized by the Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, in collaboration with La Trobe University, Australia.
Steering Committee Member, The Inaugural Annual Senake Bandaranayake Symposium on Sri Lankan Archaeology, University of Kelaniya.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:

Editorial and Content Chair, Inaugural Annual Senake Bandaranayake Symposium on Sri Lankan Archaeology, University of Kelaniya (2023).
Editor-in-Chief, Archaeologia, Vol II (Part 3), Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya (2021).
Editorial Board Member, The Contemporary Issues in Socio-economic Development: In Honour of Professor Herath Madana Bandara (2021).
Member, Advisory Board of the Department of Archaeology, Government of Sri Lanka (2018–2019).
Editor, Alahana Parivena Project–Polonnaruwa: Archaeological Research and Excavation Reports (Annual volumes 2015, 2016, and 2017), Central Cultural Fund (2018).
Editor (with R. Coningham), Buddha Rashmi Vesak Volume: Essays in Buddhism and Buddhist Monastic Archaeology, Central Cultural Fund (2018).
Editor (with R. Coningham & K. Nampoothiri), Buddha Rashmi Vesak Volume, Central Cultural Fund (2017).
Editor, Conservation of Buddhist Monasteries (Bauddha Vihararama Samrakshanaya saha Samwardhanaya), Vol. I and Vol. II (Parts 1 & 2), Central Cultural Fund (2017).
Member, Board of Management, Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR), University of Kelaniya (2003–2019).
Editor (with W. Wijayapala et al.), Sandagiri Stupa Puja, Central Cultural Fund (2016).
Editor (with Jagath Weerasinghe), State Academic Vesak Volume, Neptune Publication (2016).
Secretary, Sri Lanka Council of Archaeologists (2012).
Member, Executive Body in Sri Lanka Council of Archaeologists (2011).
Editor (with G. Adikari & R.A.E. Coningham), Sirinimal Lakdusinghe Felicitation Volume, Neptune Publication (2010).
Editor, Abstract Volume of the B.A. Dissertation in Archaeology, S. Godage (2010).
Editor, Collection of Social Sciences Research, S. Godage (2010).
Editor, Essays of Vedda Society in Sri Lanka, Neptune Publication (2010).
Editor, Introduction to Anthropology, S. Godage (2009).
Editor, Seethavaka Heritage, Ministry of Urban Development Authority / S. Godage (2009).
Editor, Archaeologia Vol I, II, III, and IV, Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya (2005–2009).
Member, Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) Panel, Department of Archaeology (2004–Present).
Director, Tsunami Survey Team for Affected Archaeological Sites and Monuments (2004).
Member, Advisory Board for the Antiquities Ordinance (Act of Law), Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage (2004).
Member, Quality Improvement for History and Archaeology, Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage (2004).
Editor Consultant, Sri Lanka Heritage Vol. 2, Seya Prints (2004).
Editor, Essays in Archaeology: In Honour of Professor Senake Bandaranayake, University of Kelaniya (2003).
Member, Advisory Board for the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, North Western Province, Sri Lanka (1997).
Editor, Sarasavi Vol I, II, and III, University of Kelaniya (1998, 2004, 2006).
Editor, Paryeshana Vol 2, 3, and 4, University of Kelaniya (1990–1992).
Visiting Lecturer and Resource Person, MA/MSSc in Archaeology, Diploma in Archaeological Heritage, and Diploma in Anthropology, University of Kelaniya.
Evaluator for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR).
Professional Affiliations: Fellow of the Sri Lanka Council of Archaeologists (FSLCA); Member of ICOMOS Sri Lanka; Member of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASSL).

ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS:

Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Best Promoter of International Relations, University of Kelaniya (2025).
State Literary Award for Best Research (2024) – Government of Sri Lanka.
Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Best Promoter of International Relations, University of Kelaniya (2024).
Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Best Researcher, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya (2009, 2008, 2007).
Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Promoter of International Relations, University of Kelaniya (2006).
Commonwealth Scholarship Award, University of Bradford, UK (2001–2003).
Cultural Asset and Preservation Technology Award, University of Shiga, Japan (1998).

JOURNAL ARTICLES (selected):

Gunawardhana, P., Manuel, M., Namalgamuwa, H., Coningham, R., Davis, C., Krishnan, K., & Rammungoda, U. R. (2021). Low-density urbanism in medieval Sri Lanka: Exploring the hinterland of Polonnaruva. Asian Perspectives, 60(2), 248–271. https://doi.org/10.1353/asi.2021.0002
Gunawardhana, P. (2021). Piloting post-disaster archaeological heritage protection at Jaffna Fort, Sri Lanka. Archaeologia, 2(3), 1–11.
Gunawardhana, P., Coningham, R., Pushparatnam, P., Davis, C., Namalgamuwa, H., Senanayake, J., & Roshani, U. (2021). Geophysical survey, archaeological risk map and heritage protection at Jaffna Fort and its environs, Sri Lanka. Archaeologia, 2(3), 23–36.
Gunawardhana, P., Coningham, R., Schmidt, A., Manuel, M., Senanayake, J., Namalgamuwa, H., Davis, C., & Herath, T. (2021). Geophysical survey: Anuradhapura Mahavihara area. Archaeologia, 2(3), 52–73.

BOOKS (selected):

Gunawardhana, P. (2025). The Study of Archaeology: Multidisciplinary subjects and fields (Purawidyawa Hadareema: Bahu Vishayan saha vivida Ksethra). Samanthi Publishers.
Gunawardhana, P. (2022). Archaeology: Architectural heritage and socio-economic development. Samanthi Publishers.
Gunawardhana, P. (2020). Jaffna: Post-disaster archaeology, maritime commerce and urbanism. Neptune Publications.
Gunawardhana, P. (2018). Ibbankatuwae. Central Cultural Fund.
Gunawardhana, P. (2014). D. S. Senanayake: The god of farmers. Neptune Publication.
Gunawardhana, P., & Coningham, R. A. E. (2013). Anuradhapura: Volume III. The hinterland. BAR International Series.
Gunawardhana, P. (2013). Political history of Polonnaruwa. Neptune Publication.
Gunawardhana, P. (2012). Sigiriya: Guide book. Neptune Publication.
Gunawardhana, P. (2010). The ancient Buddhist monasteries. Samanthi Publication.
Gunawardhana, P. (2009). Polonnaruwa district: The monuments and sites. Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
Gunawardhana, P. (2009). Ancient architecture and built environment. S. Godage.
Gunawardhana, P. (2009). Development of the Buddhist monasteries toward urbanism in southern Sri Lanka. Neptune Publication.
Gunawardhana, P. (2007). Tourism industry: The products of the developing countries. Samanthi Publishers.
Gunawardhana, P. (2007). Sigiri entrance. Samanthi Publishers.
Gunawardhana, P. (2006). Archaeology: Introduction and fundamental concepts. Samanthi Publishers.
Gunawardhana, P. (2005). Buddhist monasteries. Samanthi Publishers.
Gunawardhana, P. (2005). Polonnaruwa. Archaeological Survey Department.
Gunawardhana, P. (2005). Archaeological heritage in Sri Lanka: Concepts and forms. Samanthi Publishers.
Gunawardhana, P. (2004). Ancient village: An ethno-archaeological study. Samanthi Publishers.
Gunawardhana, P. (1998). Sigiriya monastic archaeology. Abaya Publishers.

BOOK CHAPTERS & EDITED VOLUMES (selected):

Davis, C., Coningham, R., and Gunawardhana, P. (2025). Power, patronage and pilgrimage within Early Historic and medieval Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka: The development of state and sangha relations and the representations and limits of royal control. In: J. C. Moreno Garcia (Ed.), Space and Communal Agency in Pre-Modern Societies (pp. 288-313). UK: Oxbow Publishers.Gunawardhana, P. (2022). Low-density urbanism. Vidyalankara Press.
Gunawardhana, P. (2021). Cultural understanding and key elements of aboriginal tourism: Case study of Vedda society. In Sri Lanka: Contemporary issues in socio-economic development, in honour of Professor Herath Madana Bandara (pp. 266–278). Neptune Publications.
Gunawardhana, P. (2018). Excavation of Demalamahaseya, Polonnaruva: 2014–2017. In P. Gunawardhana & R. Coningham (Eds.), Buddha Rashmi Vesak volume: Essays in Buddhism and Buddhist monastic archaeology (pp. 1–7). Central Cultural Fund.
Gunawardhana, P. (2018). Hydraulic complexities: Collapse and resilience in Sri Lanka. In F. Sulas & I. Pikirayi (Eds.), Water and society from ancient times to the present: Resilience, decline and revival. Routledge.
Gunawardhana, P. (2018). Recent excavations and survey at Jaffna Fort in 2017 and reflections on the antiquity of Indian Ocean trade. In P. Gunawardhana & R. Coningham (Eds.), Buddha Rashmi Vesak volume: Essays in Buddhism and Buddhist monastic archaeology (pp. 1–7). Central Cultural Fund.
Gunawardhana, P. (2018). Ritual and economy reconsidered at Siva Devale No. 2, Polonnaruva. In P. Gunawardhana & R. Coningham (Eds.), Buddha Rashmi Vesak volume: Essays in Buddhism and Buddhist monastic archaeology. Central Cultural Fund.
Gunawardhana, P. (2017). Archaeology and cosmopolitanism in early historic and medieval Sri Lanka. In Z. Biedermann & A. Strathern (Eds.), Sri Lanka: At the crossroads of history. UCL Press.

CONFERENCES (selected):

Gunawardhana, P., Strickland, K., Namalgamuwa, H., Adikari, G., Panzo-Kajewski, P., Rammungoda, U., Kurpiel, R., Marasinghe, P., Amarasinghe, Ven. Jinasiri, K., Ariyarathna, A., Gunawardhana, S., Amarasinghe, K., and Young, B. (2025). The Development of the Urban Landscape from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa. International Archaeology and Anthropology Urban Landscape Field Research Programme and Workshop, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (pp. 10-11).
Gunawardhana, P., Strickland, K., Pamalka, H., Rammungoda, U., Namalgamuwa, H., Panzo-Kajewski, P., Kurpiel, R., and Young, B. (2025). Exploring Tourist Perceptions of water garden at Sigiriya. International Archaeology and Anthropology Urban Landscape Field Research Programme and Workshop, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (p. 23).
Gunawardhana, P. and Strickland, K. (2025). Urbanism in Tropical Environments: Sustainability, Resilience and Collapse. 10th Archaeological Congress (WAC-10), Darwin, Australia (pp. 144-145).
Gunawardhana, P., Strickland, K., Namalgamuwa, H., Rammungoda, U., Panzo-Kajewski, P., Kurpiel, R., and Young, B. (2025). The Equilibrium, Growth and Disintegration of the Urban Landscape of Ancient Sri Lanka. 10th Archaeological Congress (WAC-10), Darwin, Australia (pp. 146-147).
Strickland, K., Gunawardhana, P., Namalgamuwa, H., Rammungoda, U., Marasinghe, P., Amrasinghe, T., Bothwell, J., McGinley-Jemison, Srivastava, S., Wingard, W., Gunawardhana, S., and Amarasinghe, K. (2025). Digging for the “truth”: exploratory excavation and ground truthing within the Polonnaruwa Citadel. International Archaeology and Anthropology Urban Landscape Field Research Programme and Workshop, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (pp. 12-13).
Rammungoda, U., Gunawardhana, P., Strickland, K., and Namalgamuwa, H. (2025). Contribution of the PAAULP Project to Capacity Building in the Field of Archaeology. International Archaeology and Anthropology Urban Landscape Field Research Programme and Workshop, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (p. 14).
Kurpiel, R., Panzo-Kajewski, P., Young, B., Strickland, K., and Gunawardhana, P. (2025). Application of LiDAR remote sensing in Sri Lanka: Preliminary results from Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya. International Archaeology and Anthropology Urban Landscape Field Research Programme and Workshop, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (p. 15).
Namalgamuwa, H., Rammungoda, U., Gunawardhana, P., Strickland, K., Young, B., Amarasinghe, Gunawardhana, S., Amarasinghe, K., Panzo-Kajewski, P., Kurpiel, R., and Adikari, G. (2025). Polonnaruwa Citadel: Urban Morphology Outside the Citadel Wall in the Eastern Sector. International Archaeology and Anthropology Urban Landscape Field Research Programme and Workshop, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (p. 16).
Young, B., Panzo-Kajewski, P., Strickland, K., Gunawardhana, P., Senevirathna, S., Namalgamuwa, H., Gunawardhana, S., Amarasinghe, K., and Marasinghe, P. (2025). Geophysical survey at Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka: investigating Urban Form using Ground Penetrating Radar. International Archaeology and Anthropology Urban Landscape Field Research Programme and Workshop, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (p. 17).
Pamalka, H., Gunawardhana, P., Strickland, K., Namalgamuwa, H., Rammungoda, U., Panzo-Kajewski, P., Kurpiel, R., Amarasinghe, and Young, B. (2025). Developing the Polonnaruwa World Heritage Site as a Better Local Tourist Attraction by Enhancing Tourist Satisfaction. International Archaeology and Anthropology Urban Landscape Field Research Programme and Workshop, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (pp. 18-19).
Merinnage, J., Gunawardhana, P., Strickland, K., Namalgamuwa, H., Rammungoda, U., Gunawardhana, S., Marasinghe, P., and Kanangama, S. (2025). An Archaeological Study of the Influence of the Parikrama Samudra on Improvement of the Landscape of the Polonnaruwa Kingdom. International Archaeology and Anthropology Urban Landscape Field Research Programme and Workshop, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (p. 21).
Namalgamuwa, H., Strickland, K., Gunawardhana, P., Panzo-Kajewski, P., Rammungoda, U., and Fernando, J. (2025). The Dimbulagala Archaeological Complex and the Indigenous People in the Context of Ancient Sri Lankan Urbanization. 10th Archaeological Congress (WAC-10), Darwin, Australia (p. 146).
Rammungoda, U., Gunawardhana, P., Strickland, K., and Namalgamuwa, H. (2025). Traditional Wisdom for Modern Sustainability: The Role of Women in Sigiriya’s Tourism Landscape. 10th Archaeological Congress (WAC-10), Darwin, Australia (p. 179).Gunawardhana, P. (2023). Archaeology of trade in the Indian Ocean: Recent evidence from Kayts Island in Jaffna Peninsula [Conference presentation]. Inaugural Annual Senake Bandaranayake Symposium on Sri Lankan Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Gunawardhana, P. (2021). Introduction to the concept of post-disaster archaeology: Case study in Jaffna Peninsula [Conference presentation]. International Forum and Conference on Post-disaster Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Gunawardhana, P. (2021, November 22–24). Interaction with Silk Road from Island of Kayts in Jaffna Peninsula-Sri Lanka [Conference presentation]. 1st International Conference on Silk Road Sustainable Tourism Development and Cultural Heritage, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Gunawardhana, P. (2020, March 5–8). Centre and hinterland strategical city planning in Sri Lanka [Conference presentation]. A Comparative Regional Archaeological Conference and Field Tour of the Greater Lumbini Area, Lumbini Development Trust, Nepal.
Gunawardhana, P. (2019, August 29–30). Foreign relation between Sri Lanka and Malaysia through the Silk Road [Conference presentation]. 4th Malaysia-China Cultural and Art Forum, Melaka, Malaysia.
Gunawardhana, P. (2019). The archaeological findings in Jaffna Peninsula and international trade in Indian Ocean [Conference presentation]. International Conference of Silk Road, Shanghai Museum, China.
Gunawardhana, P. (2018). Sino-Sri Lanka maritime archaeology in southern coastal area [Conference presentation]. Institute of Acoustics Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Gunawardhana, P. (2017). The ancient maritime trade in South-South East Asian context and Sri Lanka [Conference presentation]. International Symposium on Past, Present and Future of ASEAN Maritime Heritage, Bangkok, Thailand.
Gunawardhana, P. (2017, September 3–4). Tsunami responses, Sri Lanka heritage at risk 2017: Pathways to the protection and rehabilitation of cultural heritage in South Asia [Conference presentation]. Durham University Pathways Conference, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Gunawardhana, P. (2016, December 5–10). Revenue from heritage and investment for the protection: Formation of world cultural heritage tourism system in Sri Lanka [Conference presentation]. AHRC-sponsored Lumbini Scoping Workshop and Conference, Nepal.
Gunawardhana, P. (2016). City of Anuradhapura and its global affiliations [Conference presentation]. Second Kathmandu Cultural Forum, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Gunawardhana, P. (2013). Professor H.T. Basnayake conference [Conference presentation]. Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.
Gunawardhana, P. (2012). Living heritage: Tourism product for the Vedda society of Sri Lanka [Conference presentation]. SAARC Cultural Conference, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Gunawardhana, P. (2010). The Buddhist monastic planning strategy at Anuradhapura hinterland [Conference presentation]. Buddhist Monastic Conference, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Gunawardhana, P. (2008, July 18–20). The state theocracy: Defining an early medieval hinterland in Sri Lanka [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Gunawardhana, P. (2008). Alawala excavation [Conference presentation]. National Archaeological Congress, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Gunawardhana, P. (2006). The character of Pabbata Vihara [Conference presentation]. Third National Archaeology Congress, Department of Archaeological Survey, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Gunawardhana, P. (2005). Tsunami: Affected archaeological sites in the Western Province, Sri Lanka [Conference presentation]. Annual Research Symposium, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Gunawardhana, P. (2003). Archaeological heritage management: Historical analysis concepts and forms of the Buddhist monasteries [Conference presentation]. 9th International Conference on Sri Lankan Studies, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
Gunawardhana, P. (2001). The Buddhist monastic pattern at ancient Magama [Conference presentation]. Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, UK.
Gunawardhana, P. (1998). Japan: Cultural heritage and conservation technology [Conference presentation]. Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA), Japan.
Gunawardhana, P. (1995). The modernization of Vedda society of Sri Lanka: An ethno-archaeological perspective [Conference presentation]. University of Sydney, Australia.
Gunawardhana, P. (1990). Nagalakanda Buddhist monastery [Conference presentation]. 2nd National Archaeological Congress, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISION:

On request

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