The Department of Anthropology has launched a Certificate Course for Employees in Tourism. The students of the course undertook a field school of Sigiriya, Ibbankatuwa and Polonnaruwa for three days from 13th to 15th November 2021.
The first day of this field school consisted of practical studies on the heritage tourism associated with Sigiriya. Prof. Raj Somadeva gave a very informative presentation to the students on the outer and inner ramparts of Sigiriya, water, rock, and terrace gardens.
The second day of the field school consisted of a number of activities. That morning the birds were watched under the guidance of Dr. Ravindra Kariyawasam, an environmentalist. It covered the natural tourism of the tourism industry. The students then engaged in yoga practice while gaining experience in the spiritual tourism. That evening we were taken to the villages of Thalkote and Kalapura around Sigiriya to experience the Ayurvedic tourism and the craft tourism.
This night provided an opportunity for the students to have fun and they displayed their artistic talents by singing and dancing.
On the last day we went to Polonnaruwa with Mr. Sameera Malagala, Officer of the Central Cultural Fund. He made an excellent analysis of the Polonnaruwa city, its ruins and the Parakrama Samudraya.
After studying the Ibbankatuwa Cemetery belonging to the pre-Megalithic period, the students who followed this course completed their field school, endowing them with a wealth of knowledge.
