Category: Ama Vanniarachchy
Ama H.Vanniarachchy is a Sri Lankan scholar in Archaeology, writer, journalist and a painter.
She is a journalist at a leading National Newspaper company in Sri Lanka.
She has conducted two international painting exhibitions in Colombo and published nine books so far. She is also the founder / principal of Ama H. Vanniarachchy, Arts and Crafts Studio, Sri Lanka.
Her first book, an archaeological research about the origin and evolution of the domestic dog was published by Godage International Publishers in 2013. Since 2013 she is conducting research in archaeology and have published her research in International and National archaeology research platforms. ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25066965 )
She has written, illustrated and published seven children’s books. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8556146.Ama_H_Vanniarachchy)
She also published her first translation book in 2019, which was a translation of the award winning British writer Cathy Cassidy’s Cherry Crush novel.
Ama was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka and had her primary and secondary education at Musaeus College, Colombo. She read for an Honours degree in Archaeology from the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka and currently researching for her higher studies in Archaeology. Her field work includes excavation and exploration work at Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Kelaniya,Thissa,Akuragoda and Jaffna in Sri Lanka.
Ama H.Vanniarachchy is an animal rights activists and involved animal charity work. She is the founder of J’pura Animal Lovers Animal Welfare organization based in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
“I have always believed that it is the artist who creates a work, but a society that turns it into a work of art.” – Johannes Cladders Nagalakanda Raja Maha Vihara is a fascinating archaeological site located in the Minneriya town, North Central Province. This archaeological site can be reached once you pass the Minneriya … Continue reading Seeing Perfection in Imperfection; Nagalakanda ruins, Minneriya →
The Northern and Eastern plain of the island is blessed with an abundance of cultural and natural heritage. The golden era of the country’s civilisation sprang into life in these areas, leaving a massive number of archaeological ruins all over the region. Ampara is one of the districts in Eastern Sri Lanka with a high … Continue reading Temple by the Sea; Pothuvil Muhudu Maha Viharaya →
“Without education, we are in a horrible and deadly danger of taking educated people seriously.” – G.K. Chesterton The strange stillness of the atmosphere was disturbed only by the sound of the wind and the hasty footsteps disturbing the sandy ground of the arid river bed. The wind was dry and warm. The scorching sun, … Continue reading ‘Discovering’ the Discovered; Budupatuna archaeological ruins →
Stupas are no doubt wonderful architectural structures. White washed beaming dome shaped stupas are a common sight in the rural Sri Lankan landscape. Even amidst the urban buzz in cities like Colombo, one can witness small white domes under the blazing sun, still maintaining their pride in the midst of the ultra-urban cityscape. Although almost … Continue reading Stupas in all Shapes and Sizes →
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is celebrated on 9 August every year. On this day the rights of indigenous people and their issues are addressed and solutions are sorted. The International Labour Organisation defines Indigenous people as follows; ‘Indigenous people have their own cultures and institutions, which distinguish them from other parts … Continue reading Unheard Cries of the Children of the Forest →
“A professionalist is the better part of the perfectionist. He does not wait for results, he does not really care about criticism, but above all, he acts and does not rest on his laurels.” -Pawel Cislo On 7 July we celebrated the National Archaeology Day and the 130th anniversary of the Department of Archaeology which … Continue reading Corruption Hindering Preservation →
It is archaeologically proven that the golden era of the Sinhala civilisation sprang into life in the Northern and Eastern plains of the island.Therefore, a massive number of ruins can be witnessed in the North and Eastern Provinces today. Although many of these ruins were deliberately vandalised with the shallow hope of wiping out the … Continue reading Presidential Task Force for Archaeological Heritage Management in the Eastern Province →
“The limitations of archaeology are galling. It collects phenomena, but hardly ever can isolate them so as to interpret scientifically; it can frame any number of hypotheses, but rarely, if ever, scientifically prove.” – David George Hogarth Archaeological evidences come to historians’ aid during research while unravelling the mysteries of the past. These evidences help … Continue reading Far Beneath Fa-Hien Cave →
I walk through the ruins, as the path beckons me… As I feel the heartbeat of the ruins, and hear the riddles they whisper, I witness the story of a long lost civilization…. This is the story of Mihintale or Chethiya pabbatha; A place that bears an uncountable number of secrets, Only revealed to those … Continue reading A Walk Among the Ruins at Mihintale →
Antiquities of the Buddhist stupa: Part 2 A Buddhist stupa is a pleasant and common sight in every Buddhist country. A complex tangible and intangible culture has been woven around Buddhist stupas making the stupa the ultimate symbol of veneration among Buddhists. Eminent scholar A.H. Longhust in his much acclaimed scholarly work The Story of … Continue reading Sri Lanka’s first Stupa, Girihandu seya →