Prof. Raj Somadewa Sri lanka has a great tradition of written sources of historical information extending from about 250 BC until end of the kandyan regime in the second half of the 19 century AD. This significant tradition of literacy can be divided in two main parts.The most archaic part of this tradition represented by the inscriptions carved on mighty rock boulders and drip-ledges of the natural cave shelters which were used by the ascetic monks right after the advent of Buddhism in the latter half of the first millennium BC (Paranavithana 1970).

Arjuna Thantilage Phd Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology – Sri Lanka *This was first published in the Sirimal Lakdusinghe felicitation volume. I am privilege to write an article to this special volume dedicated to Mr. Sirinimal Lakdusinghe. I am even more privileged that I being able to write this article for this special volume dedicated to him since it discusses one of his valuable discovery on two Hindu images by art historical means, based on scientific evidences.

Arjuna Thantilage Phd Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology The history of use of metals in Sri Lanka is an area yet to be studied thoroughly and hence have very vague picture on the subject. But it has recently been shown that the copper metallurgy may have been played a very important role in our cultural formation process against the

Arjuna Thantilage1,Senake R. Ratnayake2 1 Lecturer, Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology 2 Chemical Conservation Officer, Department of Archaeology Abstract It is a well known fact that there was no way of producing liquid iron from wrought iron in historical period and hence, casting of iron implements was impossible. An ancient bowl made of iron was subjected to microscopic investigations with a view to find its manufacturing technology. By means of these microscopic images, it was possible to understand some important technological aspects of ancient Sri Lankan iron implements manufacturing process.

Dr. <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Latha; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-2146435069 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:””; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Latha; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Latha; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –> P.Vidanapathirana Senior Lecturer Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Latha; panose-1:2 11 6 4

Chandima Bandara Ambanwala1* Mahinda Karunaratne2* 1 Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya,Peradeniya. 2 Department of Social Sciences & Comparative Studies, Buddasrawaka Bikshu University, Anuradhapura. Introduction The central hill region which had been named as Malaya Desa (=Malaya Country) in historical age has not got the due recognition as far as archaeological researches are concerned. Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratna has attempted to shed new light on the archaeological findings on the region and the purpose of the paper is to add some facts to help his argument. The main focus of this paper is to explore some findings that were obtained through basic archaeological researches in and around Pahala Mawela Rajha Maha Vihara.

The Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR), University of Kelaniya, is currently engaged in an archaeological excavation of a place assumed to be a proto historic burial site. This site is the newest addition to the fifty odd archaeological sites representing the early Iron Age of Sri Lanka. According to the surface evidence of the site it is assumed to be a clay canoe burial. The archaeological findings from Ranchamadama in Hambantota District and Kalaotuwawa in Gampaha District have revealed similar types of burials.

“Sri Lanka after the War: Prevention of recurrence, reaching for prosperity” Important Dates: Final Date for Panel Proposals 31st December 2009 Final Date for Submission of Abstracts 31st January 2010 Final Date for Notification of Acceptance 15th February 2010 Registration Begins 15th December 2009 Eraly Bird Registration Period Ends 31st December 2009 Submission of Full Papers 28th February 2010 12th ICSLS 18th – 20th March 2010 Introduction to the ICSLS International Conference on Sri Lanka Studies (ICSLS) is a bi-annual meeting of scholars researching on historical, socio-economic, cultural, and political aspects of Sri Lanka. After its humble beginings at a gathering of 25 scholars at Sussex, the UK in 1987, the ICSLS was held in venues across the globe. The Conference continued its scholarly spirit and tradition and has now grown into a major academic event. 10th ICSLS held at the University of Kelaniya marked the largest social science conference

SUDHARSHAN SENEVIRATNE Professor of Archaeology University of Peradeniya Sri Lank *VESAK COMMEMORATION LECTURE. KATMANDU 28TH MAY 2007 EMBASSY OF SRI LANKA “The foothill of Himalaya, Inhabited by Kosalans Whose race is named after the Sun Whose lineage is Shakyan” “At a Shakyan city in the land of Lumbini A being to be enlightened, a priceless jewel, Is born in this world of men for welfare and weal; Because of that we are extravagantly gay. The Unique Being, the Personality Sublime, The Lord of all men and Foremost among mankind, Will turn the Wheel in the Grove of the Ancient Seers With the roar of the Lion, the monarch of all beasts” (Samuytta Nikaya III. i, III. ii) Thus I pay homage to an exalted son of Nepal – Shakyaputta Gautama Buddha, the compassionate one endowed with perfect wisdom, who gifted to humanity the doctrine of dialectics and analysis – to

Sudharshan Seneviratne Professor of Archaeology University of Peradeniya Sri Lank *Orginally published in LANKA GUARDIAN. Vol. 6 (1983) For nearly two and a half millennia the Vedda withstood the ravages of cultural and technological encroachments of ‘civilization’.  Today they do not possess any magic or charm powerful enough to stem the tide of ‘modernization’ that is literary bulldozing its way though the once serene forest and ejecting its inhabitants from their natural habitat. The Vedda are facing the ‘final solution’ or total obliteration though a process of assimilation as peripheral elements of   the cosmopolitan civilization.  They have finally come up against a techno-cultural contender capable of destroying the material basis sustaining them as a separate entity, which in itself is the antithesis to ‘civilization through modernization’.