The Department of Archaeology is proud to highlight the ongoing research of Senior Lecturer K.V.J. Koshalee, who was recently awarded the NCAS (National Centre for Advanced Studies) Short-Term Research Grant for her groundbreaking project: “Evolving Divinity: Tracing the Religious Conception of the Buddha in the Colossal Statues of Sri Lanka.”

Preliminary findings of this investigation were presented at the 10th World Archaeology Congress (WAC-10) held in Australia. Ms Koshalee’s research was featured in the session “Sacred Echoes: Exploring Asia’s Sacred Beliefs through Tangible Remains and Intangible Practices,” chaired by Dr Vysakh Ambili Santhosh (University of Kerala). The presentation received significant acclaim from international experts, whose constructive dialogue helped shape the final stages of the study.

While previous scholarship has largely focused on the stylistic and artistic attributes of Sri Lanka’s colossal Buddha statues, Ms Koshalee’s research moves beyond material analysis. It contextualises these monuments within the evolution of Buddhist thought, revealing a fundamental shift in how "spiritual refuge" was conceptualised between the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods. Ms Koshalee’s research concludes that the colossal statues of Sri Lanka are not static entities but dynamic spiritual loci that were constantly reinvented to meet the evolving doctrinal needs of ancient society. By integrating literary history with archaeological remains, this study provides a new textual rationale for the transformation of these iconic forms.

The initial draft of this research has been submitted to the NCAS for formal publication, marking a significant contribution to the field of South Asian sacred archaeology and conceptual history.

Download: WAC-10 Abstract Volume (Ms Koshalee’s abstract is featured on page 352).