Stones of memory: Prof. Seneviratne to deliver the 103rd National Trust lecture
View(s):“Stones of memory: Social archaeology of the Megalithic monuments” will be the title of the lecture by Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30p.m. on Thursday, February 22. This is the 103rd in the monthly lecture Series of the National Trust – Sri Lanka.
Megaliths (large+stones) form a distinct group of monuments primarily constructed with stone slabs and entombed with artifacts and corporeal remains. Megaliths have a widespread presence over most continents and a time span extending from C.6000 BCE to contemporary times. These enigmatic monuments are largely associated with ancestor veneration and a belief in a life after death. They are popularly identified with granite slabs. However, a wide range of raw material such as terracotta and laterite were used otherwise in construction.
Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne was Head of the Department of Archaeology for nearly ten years at the University of Peradeniya and holds the only Chair in Archaeology within the University system of Sri Lanka and was awarded Professor Emeritus status in 2016 by the University.
In the past forty odd years Professor Seneviratne mentored the next generation of archaeologists in problem oriented and issue related archaeology and spearheaded several Sri Lankan and international heritage projects. He had appointments as Assistant Director Archaeology at the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Polonnaruwa and Kandy in 1980 and was later Director Archaeology at the Jetavana Project. In 2007 he was appointed Director General of the Central Cultural Fund (2007-2010) –the custodian Organization for UNESCO. As DG/CCF he initiated programmes on Sustainable Tourism and promoted heritage for conflict resolution and peace, heritage and sustainable development, and preservation of traditional knowledge and environment.
| Book launch | |
 The National Trust – Sri Lanka, together with the sponsors Palmyrah House will launch the book Mannar, Sri Lanka edited by Dr. Sarala Fernando on Thursday, February 22 at the HNB Auditorium, Colombo at 6.15 p.m. The book features contributions by Roland Silva, Ashley de Vos, Sriyanie Miththapala, Sarala Fernando, Anouk Ilangakoon, Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, T. Jayasingam, Gajaba Ellepola and Samitha Harischandra, joined by Somasiri Devendra, Jennifer Moragoda and Ramla Wahab-Salman. Principal photographers are Luxshmanan Nadaraja, Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne and Ajith Ratnayaka. This coffee table book which is the first book on the Northern Province by the National Trust will be available for sale at a pre-launch price of Rs.3,750. |