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Public Lecture Program

The monthly public lecture program is one of the most popular public events of ICOMOS Sri Lanka. Topics of the public lectures cover wide range of subjects and themes related to cultural heritage delivered by experts on respective subjects. The lectures are held on hybrid mode (Physically at the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology at 407, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07 as well as on-line) commencing at 6.00 pm on every second Thursday of each month. Usually, the lecture proper will take about one hour and it is followed by a Q & A session of about 20 minutes.

In addition, ICOMOS Sri Lanka also organizes special guest lectures by eminent professionals and experts related to the subjects of cultural heritage.

The lectures held and so far are as follows:

Monthly Public Lectures

2016

  • May 2016: ‘Excavation and Conservation work at Rajagala’ by Archt. Prof. P. B. Mandawala
  • June 2016: ‘New Horizon of History of Sri Lanka’ by Prof. Raj Somadeva
  • November 2016: ‘Origin, Types and Development of Oratorian Missionary Churches in Sri Lanka’ by Archt. Sagara Jayasinghe
  • December 2016: ‘Portuguese and Dutch Inscriptions of Sri Lanka’ by Prof. K. D. Paranavitana
  • ‘Space Organization of Sri Lankan Buddhist Image Houses with special reference to Anuradhapura and Polonnaruva’ by Dr. D. P. Gamalath

2017

  • May 2017: Engineering aspects of Ancient Sri Lankan Stupas by Prof. M. P. Ranaweera
  • June 2017: An Overview of Sri Lanka’s Industrial Heritage by Mr. Kusumsiri Kodituwakku
  • July 2017: Two Inner Core Insulated Building Types of Kandyan Period: The Monks’ Residences and Image Houses on Stone Pillars in Kurunegala District by Archt. D. P. Chandrasekera
  • August 2017: Total Museum and Sustainable Tourism in Southern Sri Lanka: Seascape and Landscape Interface for Heritage Initiativesby Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratne
  • September 2017: Dilemma of Planning Living Heritage Sites: the Anuradhapura Experience by Archt. Plnr. Veranjan Kurukulasuriya
  • October 2017: Ancient Iron Technology of Sri Lankaby Dr. Thusita Mendis 
  • November 2017: Ancient Coins of Sri Lankaby Dr. Kavan Ratnatunge 

2018

  • February 2018:  Safeguarding the heritage with Portuguese influence in South Asiaby Dr. Joaquim R. Santos of University of Lisbon  
  • May 2018: Changing Winds in Heritage Practice by Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya
  • June 2018: Sri Lanka’s Ancient Irrigation Works by Eng. Lalith de Alwis
  • July 2018: Sri Lanka’s Pre-historic Settlements by Dr. Siran Deraniyagala
  • August 2018: Heritage of Kotte: Significance and Challenges for Sustainable Protection by Mr. Prasad Fonseka
  • September 2018: Uncovering Underwater Cultural Heritage of Sri Lanka’s Eastern Sea by Mr. W. M. Chandraratne
  • October 2018: Conservation Issues of Mirror Wall at Sigiriya by Dr. Arjuna Tantilage
  • November 2018: Sri Lanka’s Ancient Road Network by Dr. G. Widanapathirana
  • December 2018: Evolution of Sri Lanka’s Painting Conservation Tradition by Mr. Dias Wagachchi

2019

  • January 2019: Sinhalese Battle Strategies and Firearms During European Occupationby Mr. Chamikara Pilapitiya
  • February 2019:  Sense of Place: A Concept of Heritage Stewardship by Dr. Janaka Wijesundara
  • June 2019: Paleo-Climate and Extinct Fauna in Sri Lanka by Mr. Kelum Manamendra-Arachchi
  • July 2019: Ellanga: The Cascading Tank System of Sri Lanka’s North CentralProvince by Mr. M. U. A Tennakoon
  • August 2019: Sri Lanka’s Paleo-Bio Diversity: Conservation and Tourism Development by Prof. Gamini Adikari
  • September 2019: Water Utilities of  Ranmasu Uyana: A Multifarious Review by Dr. Chandana Jayawardana
  • October 2019: New Findings on Sri Lanka’s Wall Painting Techniques by Prof. B. D. Nandadeva
  • November 2019: Resurrecting Vidiyebandara’s Citadel in Sathkorale by Prof. Samitha Manawadu
  • December 2019: Ancient Iron Technology of the Kiri-Oya Basin,Sigiriya by Dr. Rose Solangaarachchi

2020

  • February 2020:  Oru – PARU – Yathra”:A forensic re-appraisal of the “Paru: the  work-horse of the waterwaysby Mr. Somasiri Devendra
  • May 2020: Managing Panted Heritage of Dambulla  by Dr. B. D. Nandadeva
  • July 2020: Faunal Diversity as Depicted in Stone Carvings at Anuradhapura by Mr. Kelum Nalinda Manamendra-Arachchi
  • August 2020: People Centered Approach for not to Isolate Heritage by Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya
  • December 2020: ‘Radiographic Investigation of Sri Lanka’s Historic Bronze Images’ by Ms. Anusha Kasturi Arachchi

2021

  • January 2021: Treasure hunting and Antiquities Ordinance by Mr. Rohana Kariyawasam
  • 14th Feruary 2021: Chinese – Sri Lanka Relationships (from 2nd century BC to 15th century AD) by Dr. Chandima Bogahawatte
  • 28th February 2021: Temples of Tamil Nadu: An Unending Dialogue between its Past and Present by Archt. Kunkuma Devi Kishore

Special Guest Lectures

  • March 2018: Community based Conservation: Indonesia and the Netherlands Case Studies by dra. Hasti Tarekat Dipowijoyo, MSI (Heritage Hands On, the Netherlands, Pan-Sumatra Network for Heritage Conservation, Indonesia, ICOMOS – the Netherlands) 
  • August 2018: The LIDAR and Excavations Work in Angkor by Dr. Wayne Johnson, Archaeologist/ Historian of ICOMOS Australia
  • October 2018: Bodhgaya in 2018: The Shifting Significance of Ruins by Prof. Janice Leoshko of University of Texas at Austin
  • November 2018: Introduction to 3D Documentation Techniques for Heritage Preservation by Mr. Max Rahrig, Research Assistant, Center for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technology, University of Bamburg, Germany
  • January 2019: Archaeological Discoveries at Nateshwar Buddhist Site of Wikrampur in Bangladesh by Prof. Li Yiyunan, Hunan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology in China
  • December 2020: Heritage of Dual Parent-ship as context for International Collaboration by Dr. Robert Parthesius
  • January 2021: 3D Documentation and Virtual Reality Presentation of the Sigiriya Wall Paintings by Dr. Max Rahrig