Archaeology - Uda Hettige

Uda Hettige

Professor in Archaeology

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

Email udahettige@kln.ac.lk

Telephone +94112290813

Room No G-04

Postgraduate Supervision Available

BIOGRAPHY:

Professor Uda Hettige is a distinguished archaeologist and academic leader at the University of Kelaniya, where she has served as Head of the Department of Archaeology and Chairman of the Academic Committee. With over three decades of scholarly expertise, her research spans Buddhist iconography, Kandyan mural traditions, and traditional knowledge systems. As former Director of the Seethawaka Monument Restoration and CCF Gampaha projects, she has spearheaded critical heritage conservation efforts in the Western Province. A Fellow of the Sri Lanka Council of Archaeologists and former Vice President of the Royal Asiatic Society, she is widely recognized for bridging academic research with inclusive heritage practices, particularly in museum accessibility.

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Ancient Art History , Cultural Anthropology, Art and Culture, Archaeological Photography

ONGOING RESEARCH & PROJECTS:

On request

TEACHING: (Papers taught in 2025/2026)

Art History of Sri Lanka
Cultural Anthropology and Ethno-Archaeology
Archaeological Conservation
Archaeological Photography

POSITIONS:

Professor (2009 – up to date), Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya.
Chairman, Academic Committee (AC), University of Kelaniya.
Head of the Department (2015 – 2018), Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya.
Postgraduate Coordinator (2009 – 2018), Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya.
Vice President (2014 – 2016), Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASL).
Former Director, Seethawaka Monument Restoration (SMR) Project.
Former Director, Gampaha Project, Central Cultural Fund (CCF).
Council Member (2011 – 2012), Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASL).
Honorary Librarian (2012 – 2014), Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASL).
Fellow, Sri Lanka Council of Archaeologists (SLCA).

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:

Postgraduate Coordinator (2009 – 2018) Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Vice President (2014 – 2016) Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka.
Honorary Librarian (2012 – 2014) Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka.
Council Member (2011 – 2012) Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka.

ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS:

Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Service, Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya.

JOURNAL ARTICLES (selected):

Hettige, U. (2013). The Buddhist communications in visual arts in ancient Sri Lanka. Buddhist Culture. Department of Cultural Affairs.
Hettige, U. (2012). Buddhist art in Sri Lanka. In Essays in Social Sciences and Humanities. Godage International.
Hettige, U. (2005–2006). Ancient food preservation systems in Sri Lanka. Archaeologia. Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya.
Hettige, U. (2002). Water gardens in literary sources. In Essays in Archaeology. University of Kelaniya.
Hettige, U. (2000). The sources that influenced the Kandyan paintings. Journal of Puranaya. Central Cultural Fund.
Hettige, U. (n.d.). Traditional preservation methods and systems in paddy cultivation in Sri Lanka. In Essays in Archaeology. Godage International.

BOOKS (selected):

Hettige, U. (2018). Valuable archaeological sites in Gampaha district. Central Cultural Fund.
Hettige, U. (2009). Hindagala chithra [Hindagala paintings].
Hettige, U. (2009). Kalawa prathama bhagaya [Concepts and techniques of art: Part I]. Godage Publishers.
Hettige, U. [et al.]. (2007). Polonnaruwa civilization of Sri Lanka. Godage International.
Hettige, U. [et al.]. (2007). Jagath kala pravesha [Introduction to world art]. Godage Publishers.
Hettige, U. [et al.]. (2007). Puravidya pravesha [Introduction to archaeology] (Extended ed.). Godage Publishers.
Hettige, U. [et al.]. (1992). Puravidya pravesha [Introduction to archaeology]. Godage Publishers.

BOOK CHAPTERS & EDITED VOLUMES (selected):

Hettige, U. (2007). Polonnaruva paintings (Chapter 6). In Polonnaruva civilization of Sri Lanka. Godage International.
Hettige, U. (2007). Sculptures of Polonnaruva (Chapter 5). In Polonnaruva civilization of Sri Lanka. Godage International.

CONFERENCES (selected):

Hettige, U. (2021). Intangible cultural heritage of Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy [Paper presentation]. International Conference of the University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Hettige, U. (2018/2019). Museum access for people with special needs [Paper presentation]. International Conference of the Humanities (ICH), University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Hettige, U. (2015). Aesthetic traditions: A case study of paintings in Subhodharama Image House [Paper presentation]. International Conference of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
Hettige, U. (2015). Jewelries in Sigiriya paintings [Paper presentation]. Research Conference of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASL), Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Hettige, U. (2015). Past, present and future of Hamilton Canal [Paper presentation]. International Conference of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
Hettige, U. (2014). A study of dancing figures in low country late historical paintings [Paper presentation]. Research Conference of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASL), Colombo, Sri Lanka.

POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISION:

On request

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