Category: Articles
The Dutch forts of Sri Lanka are a unique group of monuments of the island’s tangible cultural heritage. Built by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in the 17th and 18th centuries during their occupation of the littoral, these forts ranged from large fortified towns and citadels to small forts with a garrison of just […]
Over 100 Sri Lanka Dive Sites are related to historical shipwrecks in Sri Lankan waters. They are scattered around the country, and there may be many unknown historical shipwrecks around the country. Most of the identified historical shipwrecks belong to the colonial period, and the oldest shipwreck site identified is the 2000 years old Godawaya […]
Sri Lanka has many colonial period monuments and chief among them are the forts, which are mainly of Dutch origin. While much has been studied about them, the archaeology of such sites of the Early Modern Period has rarely been investigated. It is only in the last few years that detailed archaeological excavations have been […]
Sri Lanka has many colonial period monuments and chief among them are the forts, which are mainly of Dutch origin. While much has been studied about them, the archaeology of such sites of the Early Modern Period has rarely been investigated. It is only in the last few years that detailed archaeological excavations have been […]
Embekke Devalaya can be considered a significant architectural edifice along with its finest wood carvings. Its history extends back to the Gampola period. The Devalaya is located in the Medapalata Korale of Udunuwara area of the Kandy District. This place is dedicated to the Deity of Kataragama. It is believed that the Devalaya was first […]
Our Lost Cousins Extinct Human Species By Ama H. Vanniarachchy Our species is known as the Homo sapiens. We are the only surviving Homo species in today’s world. However, we were not the only human species that walked on earth. A very long time ago we shared the earth with more species of humans. This … Continue reading →
By Ama H. Vanniarachchy Although we today separate ourselves from the rest of the animal kingdom, science proves that we were and we are a part of the animal kingdom. It is a fact that we humans, known as the Homo sapiens evolved from the apes. We share a common ape ancestor with chimpanzees. We … Continue reading Meet Lucy and Ardi →
By Ama H. Vanniarachchy “Teach your daughter to use her own sword, so when she is in a battle she wouldn’t have to rely on someone else’s.” – Zufishan Rahman The discipline of Archaeology and the sector of Heritage Studies in Sri Lanka has mainly been male-centric and male dominant. There were only a few … Continue reading Female Archaeologists in Sri Lanka →
By Ama H. Vanniarachchy “The female warrior knows how to fight without violence. She knows when not to raise her sword, but instead hold up her heart. Her shield is not a defence against others but a shelter for all.” – Riitta Klint As we celebrated Women’s Day on 8 March, it seems as if … Continue reading Rewriting ‘His’tory; a need of a feminist approach to Sri Lankan history →
“I look those haters straight in the eye, keep my chin up and shoulders back. Because I know I’m a fierce queen – and they know it, too.” – Alyssa Edwards Sri Lanka has a long list of monarchs who ruled the island for more than two millennia. Out of this … Continue reading Queens of Valour →