The Ancient Heritage of Sri Lanka 1

Author – Sirisaman Wijetunge

Publisher – Samudra Publishers

First Edition 2016

ISBN 978-955-680-538-3

322 Pages

The veteran writer, Sirisaman Wijetunge was graduated from Peradeniya University in 1968. In 1971, he joined the government service. In 1974, he joined the Ministry of Health, In 1979, he worked as a media information officer in the Secretariat of the International Year of Children. In 1982, he joined the Department of Archaeology.

He retired from the Department of Archaeology. By that time he was working as an assistant director. He had worked in the publication section of the Department for twenty-one years. During that period, he started the magazine ‘Puravidya’. In 1990, the centenary programme of the Department of Archaeology was implemented by Mr. Sirisaman Wijetunge under the guidance and patronage of the Directors General of the Department of Archaeology, Dr. Roland Silva and Mr. M.H.Sirisoma.

Mr.Sirisaman Wijetunge was further graduated with ‘Puravidya Vidyapathi’ (Msc.) from the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology affiliated to the Kelaniya University for his research assignment on ‘The Communication system of the ancient Inscriptions’ special reference to the pillar inscriptions in Sri Lanka’. Now, it has been published as a book. This research work was appreciated highly. Now, he is involving in another research on inscriptions of India for the Ph.D.

In 1997, he got the opportunity to go to India for a two-month tour which had been organized by the Department of Archaeology under the Indo-Lanka cultural Pact, In this tour, he could study archaeology in the Indian states, Bihar, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Andra Pradesh. In the same year, he was invited by the Birla International Archaeology Institute, Andra Pradesh, India to deliver a lecture on ‘Ancient cultural relationships between Sri Lanka and India based on Amarawathi and Nagarjunakonda sacred places. In addition, he has delivered a number of speeches on research on archaeology.

He functions as the secretary of Prof. Senerat Paranavitana Foundation and also as a lecturer of tourism attached to the Tourism Development Authority.

He has written 25 classic books on Archeology and History. He worked in the board of editors of the book published by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs for the event of 2600 Sambuddha Jayanthi’.

Dr. Sarath Gnasiri Maldeniya, Dean, Faculty of Visual Studies, University of Aesthetic Studies, No. 46, Horton Place, Colombo 07. Sri Lanka

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