ACTIVITIES
LECTURES
The National Trust Sri Lanka hosts a lecture series on aspects of the Island’s heritage. Each lecture is delivered by a recognized expert in the field. Lectures are open to the public, and are held on the last Thursday of each month.
The lectures are FREE to members. Non-members will pay a nominal fee to attend.
The topics of lectures already delivered are listed below.
Scripts of several lectures are available for download on this page, and will continue to be uploaded as the series progresses.
Monthly Lecture No – 156
Wednesday 30th November 2023
“Hidden Gardens in the Giri Monasteries of Sri Lanka” by Dr. Shanti Jayewardene
Monthly Lecture No – 155
Wednesday 26th October 2023
“Uncovering the Hidden Value of Trees” by Dr. Ranil Senanayake
Monthly Lecture No – 154
Wednesday 27th September 2023
“Reversing cultural erasure: looking again at the photographs of E. A. Hornel” by Antonia Laurence Allen
Monthly Lecture No – 153
Thursday 31st August 2023
“Koneswar Temple on Swami Rock, Trincomalee” by Mr. Anandalal Nanayakkara
Monthly Lecture No – 152
Wednesday 26 th July 2023
“Use of Armour in Ancient Sri Lanka” by Mr. Anandalal Nanayakkara
Monthly Lecture No – 151
Wednesday 28 th June 2023
“Man-made Waterways of Sri Lanka’s Colonial Past: Conservation and its Potential Benefits” by Dr. Nilan Cooray
Monthly Lecture No – 150
Thursday 25th May 2023
“Prehistoric Sri Lanka” by Dr. Nimal Perera
Monthly Lecture No – 149
Thursday 30th March 2023
“History and Future of Sri Lanka’s Elephants” by Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando
Monthly Lecture No – 148
Thursday 23 rd February 2023
“Heritage Management and Preservation of Anuradhapura by Geographical Information System (GIS)” by Prof. Nuwan Abeywardane
Monthly Lecture No – 147
Thursday 26 th January 2023
“Serendipity: The Discovery of Sri Lanka’s Biodiversity Heritage” by Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda
Monthly Lecture No – 147
Thursday 26 th January 2023
“Serendipity: The Discovery of Sri Lanka’s Biodiversity Heritage” by Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda
Monthly Lecture No – 146
Thursday 24th November 2022
“Kotte: An Ancient Capital Under Destruction” by Prasad Fonseka
Monthly Lecture No – 145
Thursday 27th October 2022
“Sinharaja World Heritage Site: The Lesser Known Facts” by Prof. Sarath Kotagama
Monthly Lecture No – 144
Thursday 29th September 2022
“The Discovery of Early Human Habitation (4000 BP): Southern Coast of Sri Lanka” by Samanti Kulatilake, PhD.
Monthly Lecture No – 143
Thursday 25th August 2022
“A Shared Heritage: Ibn Battuta in Sri Lanka” by Ms. Ameena Hussein
Monthly Lecture No – 142
Thursday 28th July 2022
“Sri Lanka’s Lost Animals: The Pleistocene Period” by Mr. Kelum Nalinada Manamendra-Arachchi
Monthly Lecture No – 141
Thursday 27th January 2022
“Dr. Roland Silva Memorial Lecture – The History of the Museum in India” by Prof. Romila Thapar
Monthly Lecture No – 140
Thursday 25th November 2021
“Landscaped Garden Complex of Ranmasu Uyana, Anuradhapura” by Eng (Dr.) Chandana Jayawardana
Monthly Lecture No – 139
Thursday 28th October 2021 via zoom
“Underwater War Heritage: World War I & II – Unravelling Deep Mysteries” by Mr. Dharshana Jayawardena
Monthly Lecture No – 138
Thursday, 30th September 2021 via zoom
“Ancient Irrigation in Sri Lanka: Some Issues Pertaining to Cascade Systems, their Origins and Functional Linkages” by Prof. C M Madduma Bandara
Monthly Lecture No – 137
Thursday, 26th August 2021 via Zoom
“The Art of Gandhara – Buddhist Heritage of Pakistan” by Prof. Nimal de Silva
Monthly Lecture No – 136
Wednesday, 29th July 2021 via Zoom
“The Lost Forts of the VOC” by Mr. H. M. Chryshane Mendis
Monthly Lecture No – 135
Wednesday, 23rd June 2021 via Zoom
“The Dutch Hospital in Colombo: pre-2012, A story untold” by Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya
Monthly Lecture No – 134
Friday 21st May 2021 via Zoom
“Ancient Sri Lanka and Study of Trade in the Indian Ocean through Buddhist Iconography” by Prof. Osmund Bopearachchi
Monthly Lecture No – 133
Thursday 29th April 2021 via Zoom
“Management & Functional Use of Mineral Resources in Ancient Sri Lanka: Stone as a Building Material in Ancient Anuradhapura” by Dr. Thusitha Wagalawatta
Monthly Lecture No – 132
Thursday 25th March 2021 via Zoom
“PARADIGM SHIFT: AN OVERVIEW OF GLOBAL AND LOCAL ECOSOCIAL CHALLENGES” by Prof. Asoka Bandarage (following the launch of the new publication “Sri Lanka: Island of Islands” edited by Somasiri Devendra, Stefan D’Silva and Sarala Fernando)
Monthly Lecture No – 131
Wednesday 27th January 2021 via Zoom
“SAILING SHIPS OF SERENDIB: IN SEARCH OF LOST NAUTICAL CULTURES” by Lt. Commander Somasiri Devendra (following the launch of the new publication “George Keyt – A Portrait of the Artist” by Prof. Albert Dharmasiri)
Monthly Lecture No – 130
Thursday 26th November 2020 via Zoom
“THE GREAT LIBRARY TRADITION AS A REPOSITORY OF KNOWLEDGE” by Deshamanya Vidya Jyothi Ashley De Vos
Monthly Lecture No – 129
Thursday 29th October 2020 via Zoom
“COLONIAL KNOWLEDGE FORMATION UNDER BRITISH RULE AND MODERN SRI LANKAN HISTORIOGRAPHY” by Professor Gamini Keerawella
Read Synopsis View Lecture Lecture Transcript
Monthly Lecture No – 128
Thursday 24th September 2020 via Google Meet.
“ASIA RE-EMERGES AS THE DOMINANT ECONOMIC POWER IN THE WORLD: OPPORTUNITY BECKONS SRI LANKA” by Dr. Palitha Kohona
Monthly Lecture No – 127
Thursday 27th August 2020 via Google Meet.
“Wetlands, the First Line of Defence against Climate Change” by Prof. Devaka Weerakoon
Monthly Lecture No – 126
Thursday 30th July 2020 via Google Meet.
“The Traditional Architecture of Sri Lanka” by Architect C. Anjalendran
Monthly Lecture No – 125
Thursday 25th June 2020 via Google Meet.
“Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra and the Enrichment to Sinhala Culture” by Prof. K.N.O. Dharmadasa
Monthly Lecture No – 124
Thursday 27th February 2020 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Signals, Gestures and Behaviour of Elephants” by Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya
Monthly Lecture No – 123
Thursday 30th January 2020 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Healing Knife” by Dr. Gamini Goonetilleke
Monthly Lecture No – 122
Thursday 28th November 2019 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Traditional Dance Costumes of Sri Lanka and the Art of Somabandhu Vidyapathy” by Mr. Ravibandhu Vidyapathy
Monthly Lecture No – 121
Thursday 31st October 2019 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Indian Dance Influence on Polonnaruwa Period Sculptures” by Dr. Subashini Pathmanathan
Monthly Lecture No – 120
Thursday 26th September 2019 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Buddhist Art of Silk Road with Special Reference to Kizil Rock-Cut Cave Temple in Xinjiang Province of People’s Republic of China” by Ms. Bindu Urugodawatte
Monthly Lecture No – 119
Thursday 29th August 2019 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“A Concept for a Policy – A Short History of Nuwara Eliya” by Archt. Ashley de Vos
Monthly Lecture No – 118
Thursday 25th July 2019 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Clean, Green and Free: Solar Electricity for 2035” by Prof. S. Ravi P. Silva
Monthly Lecture No – 117
Thursday 27th June 2019 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Lankan Banknotes from 1785 to Modern” by Dr. Kavan Ratnatunga
Monthly Lecture No – 116
Thursday 30th May 2019 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“A Single World Heritage Nomination for Sri Lanka’s Post-Colonial Fortifications” by Archt. Ashley de Vos
Monthly Lecture No – 115
Thursday 28th March 2019 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Sufism: A Brief Introduction (Cultural Mores or Mysticism?)” by Ms. Shaheeda Mohamed Barrie
Monthly Lecture No – 114
Thursday 28th February 2019 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Sunil Santha and his Invaluable Contribution to Sinhala Music” by Dr. Tony Donaldson
Monthly Lecture No – 113
Thursday 31st January 2019 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“A Clerk Reminisces & Humour in Parliament” by Mr. Nihal Seneviratne
Monthly Lecture No – 112
Thursday 29th November 2018 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Ethnography and Portraiture in Photography 1840-1920” by Archt. Ismeth Raheem
Monthly Lecture No – 111
Thursday 25th October 2018 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“The Legacy of Prof. E.F.C. Ludowyk and his Contribution to the University of Ceylon in its Early Years” by Tissa Jayatilaka
Monthly Lecture No – 110
Thursday 27th September 2018 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“The Simplicity and the Profundity of our Siddha-Ayurveda Heritage” by Dr. S. Sritharan
Monthly Lecture No – 109
Thursday 30th August 2018 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Girikumbeela Tissa Pabbatha Viharaya – Popularly Identified as Rajagala Monastery Complex” by Prof. P. B. Mandawala
Monthly Lecture No – 108
Thursday 26th July 2018 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“An Interpretation of Vedic Mythology and its Influence on Buddhist Iconography” by Prof. Nimal De Silva
Monthly Lecture No – 107
Thursday 28th June 2018 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Primary Steps towards Civilization in Sri Lanka: Through the Origins of Rice and Banana Agriculture” by Dr. R. Premathilake
Monthly Lecture No – 106
Thursday 31st May 2018 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Zeng He’s Visit to Sri Lanka and the Western Countries” by Dr. Roland Silva
Monthly Lecture No – 105
Thursday 26th April 2018 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“The Path to Sustainability – Past, Present and Future” by Prof. Mohan Munasinghe
Monthly Lecture No – 104
Thursday 29th March 2018 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“The Drum’s the Thing – The Art of Traditional Drumming and its New Directions in the 20th & 21st Centuries” by Ravibandhu Vidyapathy
Monthly Lecture No – 103
Thursday 22nd February 2018 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Stones of Memory: Social Archaeology of the Megalithic Monuments” by Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratne
Monthly Lecture No-102
Thursday 25th January 2018 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka” by Rasika Muthucumarana
Monthly Lecture No-101
Thursday 30th November 2017 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“The Patron and the Painter: Dutch Governor Gideon Loten (1710-1789) and the Sri Lankan Natural History Artist Pieter de Bevere (1722-1782)” by Archt. Ismeth Raheem.
Monthly Lecture No-100
Thursday 26th October 2017 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“A Socio-Cultural and Economic Plan for Sri Lanka, Drawing on Lessons of the Past” by Dr. Roland Silva
Monthly Lecture No-99
Thursday 28th September 2017 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“The Study of Landscape Architecture is a Science” by Deshamanya Vidya Jothi Ashley de Vos
Monthly Lecture No-98
Thursday 31st August 2017 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Navigating Conservation Priorities of Kala Oya Basin – A Wish List” by Dr. Sevvandi Jayakody
Monthly Lecture No-97
Thursday 27th July 2017 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Buddhist Heritage Sites in Ancient Bengal” by Dr. Nilan Cooray
Monthly Lecture No-96
Thursday 29th June 2017 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Sinhala Attitude to Knowledge” by Dr. G. Usvatte-aratchi.
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Monthly Lecture No-95
Thursday 25th May 2017 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“The Story of Ceylon’s Railway – A Saga of over 150 Years” by Mr. Ravindra Ratnapala
Monthly Lecture No-94
Thursday 27th April 2017 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“The Fort of Colombo – From a Stockade to a City” by Mr. Chryshane Mendis and Archt. Ismeth Raheem
Monthly Lecture No-93
Thursday 30th March 2017 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10. “Elephant Conservation Amidst Development” by Mr. Jayantha Jayewardena
Monthly Lecture No-92
Thursday 23rd February 2017 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10. “The Story of the Kastane” by Mr. Anandalal Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law
Monthly Lecture No-91
Thursday 26th January 2017 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10. “Herbal Medicinal Plants” by Dr. Nimal Karunasiri
Monthly Lecture No-90
Thursday 24th November 2016 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Sri Lanka’s Forest Types and Their Services” by Profs Emeriti Savitri and Nimal Gunatilleke.
Monthly Lecture No-89
Thursday 27th October 2016 at the At HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“INSIGHT TO ENDEMIC BIRDS” by Prof. Sarath Kotagama
Monthly Lecture No-88
Thursday 29th September 2016 at the At HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“43 GROUP – First Modern Art Movement in Ceylon.” by Mr. Rohan De Soysa.
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Monthly Lecture No-87
The 87th Session of the Monthly Lecture Series of The National Trust – Sri Lanka was held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday the 25th August 2016.
“SIGIRIYA – The Most Prestigious Architectural Heritage of Sri Lanka, The Past, Present and Future” by Prof. Nimal De Silva.
Monthly Lecture No-86
The 86th Session of the Monthly Lecture Series of The National Trust – Sri Lanka was held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday the 28th July 2016.
“The Nagas of Sri Lanka” by Prof. S. Pathmanathan
Monthly Lecture No-85
The 85th Session of the Monthly Lecture Series of The National Trust – Sri Lanka was held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday the 30th June 2016.
“Avalokitesvara as Venerated by the Mahayana and Theravada Communities”
by Dr. Nandana Chutiwongs.
Monthly Lecture No-84
The 84th Session of the Monthly Lecture Series of the National Trust – Sri Lanka was held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday the 26th May 2016.
“The Sacred Garden: Recent Problems & Prospects in the Conservation of Lumbini” by Dr. K Locana Gunaratna
Monthly Lecture No-83
The 83rd Session of the Monthly Lecture Series of the National Trust – Sri Lanka was held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday the 28th April 2016.
“Trade Routes and Services for the Traveler” by Archt. Ashley de Vos
Monthly Lecture No-82
The 82nd Session of the Monthly Lecture Series of the National Trust – Sri Lanka was held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday the 31st March 2016.
“An Astronomical view of the Buddha s visit to Sri Lanka” by Dr. Kavan Ratnatunga
Monthly Lecture No-81
The 81st Session of the Monthly Lecture Series of the National Trust – Sri Lanka was held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday the 25th February 2016.
“Two Millenniums Of Coins In Sri Lanka” by By Brigadier B. Munasinghe
Monthly Lecture No-80
The 80th Session of the Monthly Lecture Series of the National Trust – Sri Lanka was held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday the 28th January 2016.
“Saving the Blue Whales of Sri Lanka to Save our Oceans” by Dr. Asha de Vos
Monthly Lecture No-79
On Thursday 26th November 2015 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Words of Sri Lankan Origin in the Oxford English Dictionary, Especially those introduced by Robert Knox” by Richard Boyle
Monthly Lecture No-78
On Thursday the 29th October 2015 at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10
“The Pasts Of The National Flag: Some Unorthodox Views On The Invention Of Tradition” By Prof. Gananath Obeysekere Ph.D
Monthly Lecture No-77
On Thursday 24th September 2015.
“Heritage without Borders: re-defining temple murals of Southwestern Sri Lanka” by B.D. Nandadeva Ph.D. Professor, Department of Fine Arts, University of Kelaniya.
Monthly Lecture No-76
On Thursday 27th August 2015 at the At HNB Auditorium , 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“The use of historical buildings in urban areas” by Archt. Plnr. Pali Wijeratne
Monthly Lecture No-75
On Thursday 30th July 2015 at the HNB Towers, Colombo 10.
“Leopards of Wilpattu- The Study of Individual Leopards” by Mr. Kithsiri Gunawardane.
Monthly Lecture No-74
“Interesting episodes from Sri Lankan history” By Frederick Medis
Monthly Lecture No-73
28th May 2015 – “Class & ethnic prejudice in Sri Lanka in the 19th-20th century” by Dr. Michael Roberts.
Monthly Lecture No-72
“30th Apr. 2015 – “Kandy the last cultural capital of Sri Lanka – a world heritage” by Prof. Nimal de Silva.
Monthly Lecture No-70
“26th Feb. 2015 – “Wit between Hulftsdorp and Parliament” by Ranjan Gooneratne. The lecture held on Thursday the 26th Feb. 2015 at 6.30p.m at the HNB Towers Auditorium. 479, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
Monthly Lecture No-69
“29th Jan. 2015 – “Evidence of a Sri Lankan School of Hindu Sculpture” by Sirinimal Lakdusinghe The lecture held on Thursday the 29th Jan. 2015 at 6.30p.m at the HNB Towers Auditorium. 479, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
Monthly Lecture No-67
“30th Oct. 2014 – “Origins of Drinking & Smoking” by Prof. Carlo Fonseka. The lecture was held on Thursday the 30th Oct. 2014 at 6.30p.m at the HNB Towers Auditorium. 479, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
Monthly Lecture No-66
“25th Sep. 2014 – “Two Topographers & Illustrators in mid 19th C Ceylon” by Archt Ismeth Raheem. The lecture was held on Thursday the 25th Sep. 2014 at 6.30p.m at the HNB Towers Auditorium. 479, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
Monthly Lecture No-65
“28th Aug. 2014 – “Maritime Archaeology in Sri Lanka” by Somasiri Devendra, Malik Fernando & Rasika Muthucumarana. The lecture was held on Thursday the 28th Aug. 2014 at 6.30p.m at the HNB Towers Auditorium. 479, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
Monthly Lecture No-64
“31st Jul. 2014 – “Kovils of Sri Lanka” by Prof. S. Pathmanathan. The lecture was held on Thursday the 31st of Jul. 2014 at 6.30p.m at the HNB Towers Auditorium. 479, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
Monthly Lecture No-63
“26th Jun. 2014 – “Excavation And Conservation of the Royal Stupa at Uda Aludeniya- (Gampola Period)” by Prof. Nimal de Silva. The lecture was held on Thursday the 26th of Jun. 2014 at the HNB Towers Auditorium. 479, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
Monthly Lecture No-62
“29th May 2014 – “Sri Lankan Heritage : A Gateway to the World Map” by Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya. The lecture was held on Thursday the 29th of May 2014 at the HNB Towers Auditorium. 479, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
Monthly Lecture No-61
“24th April 2014 – “Cultural Mathematics” by Prof. J.B. Disanayake. The lecture was held on Thursday the 24th of April 2014 at the HNB Towers Auditorium. 479, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
Monthly Lecture No-60
“27th March 2014 – “ A Voyage in Sri Lankan design” by Archt Tilak Samarawickrema. The lecture was held on Thursday the 27th of March 2014 at the HNB Towers Auditorium. 479, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
Monthly Lecture No-59
“27th February 2014 – “Rekhawa – waking the slumbering Sinhala cinema” by Prof. Asoka de Zoysa. The lecture was held on Thursday the 27th February at 6.30p.m at the HNB Towers Auditorium. 479, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
Monthly Lecture No-58
“30th January 2014 – “Sri Lanka’s Nature – Red Alert” by Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala. The lecture was held on Thursday the 30th January at the HNB Towers Auditorium. 479, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
Monthly Lecture No-57
“28th November 2013 – “The Art of making Srilankan Masks” by Prof. Lionel Bentarage. The lecture was held on Thursday the 28th November 2013 at 6.30 p.m. at the HNB Auditorium and was held presented in Sinhala.
Monthly Lecture No-56
“31st October 2013 – “Tesavalamai and its Application” by K.Kanag-Isvaran PC.
Monthly Lecture No-55
“26th September 2013 – “Indigenous Freshwater Fish Species and their Export Trade” by Samantha Gunasekara.
Monthly Lecture No-54
“August 29th – “ Evolution of Music in Sinhala Theatre” ( Sinhala Vedhikanatya Sangeethaye Vikashanaya” by Dr. Jayalath Manorathna, Snr Lecturer Mahanama Wickramasinghe , Artiste Nisshanka Diddeniya and others.
Monthly Lecture No-53
“July 25th – Ananda & Ethel Coomaraswamy and the making of Mediaeval Sinhalese Art ( 1908) by Archt Ismeth Raheem
Monthly Lecture No-52
“27th June – “The Language of Coins and Bank Notes in Lanka” by Dr. Kavan Ratnatunga
Monthly Lecture No-51
” 30th May – “Aubrey Collette – art, life and politics; a profile of my father” by Cresside Collette.
Monthly Lecture No-50
“24th April – “Oru and Maha Oru : their techno-cultural aspects” by Prof Vini Vitharana and Lt Cdr Somasiri Devendra
Monthly Lecture No-49
“28th March – “Sri Lanka: Ancient and early maps – some visual notes” by Prof Senake Bandaranayake
Monthly Lecture No-48
“28th February – “Flags of ancient Sri Lanka” by Prof. Nimal de Silva
Monthly Lecture No-47
“31st January – “Sigiriya in the Global Landscape Context” by Archt Nilan Cooray.
The lectures was held at the HNB Auditorium at 6.30 p.m. with simultaneous transmission at the E.L. Senanayake Children’s Library, Kotugodella, Kandy
Monthly Lecture No-46
“Water that flows through our culture” By Prof. J.B. Disanayaka on 29th November 2012.
Monthly Lecture No-45
“Some Evidence on Proto Historic Burial Practice in Sri Lanka” by Prof Raj Somadeva on 25th October 2012.
Monthly Lecture No-44
“South asian art of the last decades of the 20th century” by Jagath Weerasinghe – 27th September 2012.
Monthly Lecture No-43
“An Anecdotal Survey of street and place names in the District of Colombo” by Frederick Medis – 30th August 2012.
Monthly Lecture No-42
“Portuguese- Speaking Communities in Sri Lanka” by Dr. Shihan de Silva Jayasuriya – 26th July 2012
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Portuguese footprints in the sand
Portuguese Burghers
Monthly Lecture No-41
“A Walk Through Anuradhapura with Ashley de Vos” – 28th June 2012.
Monthly Lecture No-40
Lecture by Dr. Brendon Gooneratne on “Robert Knox in the Kandyan Kingdom” – Lecture No 40.
Monthly Lecture No-39
“The Butterfly Fauna of Sri Lanka” by Dr. Michael Van der Poorten at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor HNB Towers, 479 T,B, Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 , at 6.30 p.m on 26th April 2012.
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Monthly Lecture No-38
“Covering the Female Body in Buddhist Murals , 18th -20th Century” by Dr. Asoka De Zoysa
Monthly Lecture No-37
“Sigiriya Mirror Wall and the Graffiti” by Prof Nimal De Silva.
Monthly Lecture No-36
“George Keyt of Sri Lanka and Picasso of France” by Prof Tim Scott at the HNB Towers Auditorium.
Monthly Lecture No-35
“Tradition of Ivory Carvings” by Arch Ashley de Vos
Monthly Lecture No-34
A Twelfth Century Hospital in Polonnaruva and The Surgical Instruments found Therein by Professor PL Prematilleke & Professor Arjuna Aluwihare.
Monthly Lecture No-33
“Mantai” the great emporium of Cosmas Indicopleustes by Dr. Roland Silva
Cosmas Indicopleustus, a 6th century Greeek merchant and monk highlighted the strategic importance of the island of Sri Lanka in ancient sea routes and trade in his reference to the port of Mantai, as a Great Emporium.
In an informative lecture, Dr Roland Silva, former Commissioner of Archaeology, takes us on a voyage of discovery through historical references and illustrations which highlight the strategic position and relative importance of the island in maritime trade in ancient times. His lecture highlights the initial use of the Port of Mantai ( now referred to as Mannar) and Adam’s Bridge as northern route before the increased draft of ships forced the use of the more southern route.
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Monthly Lecture No-32
Gateway to Mutual Heritage of Jaffna with special reference to Grid City by Archt. Jayatissa Herath, Archt. Deepal Wijethilaka & Ms. Suganya Vinasithamby
Monthly Lecture No-31
An Overview of the Flowering Plants of Sri Lanka by Dr. Siril Wijesundara, Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala & Dr. Janki Galappatti
Monthly Lecture No-30
The Evolution of Primate Society- the longest by Dr. Wolfgang Dittus
research conducted on this subject in Sri Lanka
Monthly Lecture No-29
Some facets of our Legal Heritage by Prof.Savitri Goonesekere
Monthly Lecture No-28
Sri Lanka – Best for Big Game Safari Outside Arfica by Mr. Gihan de Silva Wijeyeratne
Monthly Lecture No-27
Art of the Last Decade of the 20th Century by Prof. Jagath Weerasinghe
Monthly Lecture No-26
The Lion Mountain and the Palace in the Sky by Prof. Senaka Bandaranayake
Notes on the Identity of the Royal Complex at sigiriya
Monthly Lecture No-25
Lesser known Fortifications of Sri Lanka by Arch Ashley de Vos & Arch D.P. Chandrasekere
Monthly Lecture No-24
Coral Reefs of Sri Lanka by Mr. Nishan Perera
Monthly Lecture No-23
Hindu Art and archtecture in Sri Lanka by Prof. Nagaraja Rao
Monthly Lecture No-22
Traditional Jewellery of Sri Lanka by Dr. Hiranthi Pathirana
Monthly Lecture No-21
Management of Built heritage- Your responsibility by Arch Pali Wijeratne
Monthly Lecture No-20
Andare in Ink and film by Arch Thilak Samarawickrema
Monthly Lecture No-19
Ancient Sea and River Craft of Sri Lanka by Prof. Vini Vitarana
Monthly Lecture No-18
Understanding the Technological Achievements of Ancient Sri Lanka by Dr. Premala Sivaprakasapillai
Monthly Lecture No-17
Dances of Sri Lanka by Prof. Tissa Kariyawasam
Monthly Lecture No-16
Hundred Waterfalls of Sri Lanka by Justice Sunil de Costa
Monthly Lecture No-15
Hindu Art and Architecture of Sri Lanka by Dr. Nagraj Rao, former Director General of Archeaology of India.
Monthly Lecture No-14
“Facets of Social History in Sri Lankan Coins and Currency” by Mr. Frederick Medis
Monthly Lecture No-13
“Performers, Broadcasters, Producers &. Copyright” by K. Kanag-Isvaran P.C
Monthly Lecture No-12
Flags and Flag Traditions by Professor Nimal de Silva
Monthly Lecture No-11
Archaeology and Photography the Early Years 1868–1880 by Ismeth Raheem
Monthly Lecture No-10
The Origins of Human Settlement in Sri Lanka by Dr. Siran Deraniyagala
Monthly Lecture No-09
Twentieth Century Paintings of Sri Lanka by Professor Senake Bandaranyake and Professor Albert Dharmasiri
Monthly Lecture No-08
Wild Elephants of Sri Lanka by Srilal Mitthapala
Monthly Lecture No-07
Heritage Buildings of Sri Lanka by Professor Nimal de Silva
Monthly Lecture No-06
Birds of Sri Lanka by Gehan de Silva Wijeyaratne
Monthly Lecture No-05
The Heritage of Sinhala Music by Dr. Tissa Abeysekera
Monthly Lecture No-04
The Paintings of the Tivanka Pilimage, Polonnaruwa by Professor Albert Dharmasiri
Monthly Lecture No-03
The World Heritage City of Galle by Architect Ashley de Vos
Monthly Lecture No-02
Earliest Photographic Records of Sri Lanka Monuments by Architect Ismeth Raheem
Monthly Lecture No-01
Is Sigiriya the Oldest True Tourist Site in Sri Lanka by Dr. Roland Silva