4th International Conference on Intangible Cultural Heritage Organized by the Dept. of Anthropology Held Successfully

4th International Research Conference on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICICH 2023) organized by the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura was held successfully on 21st and 22nd of September 2023.

The inauguration ceremony of the conference was held on 21st September 2023 at the senate board room with the participation of Senior Prof. Pathmalal M. Manage; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura as the chief guest, Dr. Tim Curtis; Chief of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Section of UNESCO, as the Guest of Honor (virtually), Prof. Sirimali Fernando; Secretary-General of the Sri Lanka National Commission of UNESCO as the honorary guest, Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya; UNESCO Facilitator for the Intangible Heritage Convention, as the keynote speaker; Prof. Shihan De Silva Jayasuriya; Chair of the National Scientific Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage, ICOMOS Sri Lanka, as the Plenary Speaker (virtually). Additionally, Prof. Gamini Weerasinghe; Acting Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Charmalie Nahallage; Head of the Department of Anthropology, A.B. Welivita; registrar of the university, Dr. Nayana Wijayasundara; librarian of the university, deans of other faculties, and heads of the other departments graced the event.

This years conference was chaired by Prof. Jayantha Jayasiri with the assistance of the secretariat Dr. Nelum Kanthilatha.

The Department of Anthropology organized this years conference in collaboration with UNESCO – Sri Lanka National Commission . More than 563 Abstracts were received under the main theme of ‘Preserving and Safeguarding Cultural Heritage through Traditional Insights’ and tracks:  Cultural Tourism, Oral Traditions and Expressions, Performing Arts, Social Practices, Rituals and Festive Events, Traditional Craftmanship, Traditional Food and Agriculture, Traditional Medicine and Traditional Technologies. About 250 selected abstracts were presents in 26 parallel sessions in Sinhala, English and Tamil Languages. Specially two Tamil sessions on ICH were  conducted.