This is one of the first conferences held by a Sri Lankan University under the field Anthropology and focusing mainly on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Sri Lanka. A special session was allocated for the presenters in Tamil medium with Tamil abstracts, where many scholars from Jaffna and Eastern University presented papers in Tamil medium on Tamil customs and rituals in Sri Lanka.

250 papers including 20 posters were presented in all three languages in six parallel sessions. The organizers connected to Anthropological background gave prominence to respect and regard the unique cultures of the country and for the first time a conference was conducted in all three languages; Sinhala, Tamil, and English respectively. Best research abstracts representing each of the tracks were awarded gold medals and certificates.

The keynote speech was delivered by Kalakeerthi Rohana Baddage and the Guest of Honour was Dr. Publis Silva. The chief guest was the Acting Vice-Chancellor Senior Professor Sudantha Liyanage accompanied by Prof. Shirantha Heenkenda Dean/FHSS. The conference was chaired by Dr. Praneeth Abhayasundara and secretary Prof. Charmalie Nahallage.  Prof. Yasanjali Jayathilake, Dr. Nelum Kanthilatha (treasurer), Dr. Sepala Samarasekara, Dr. Jayantha Jayarisi headed the main organizing team and Dr. Tharaka Ananda as the coordinator of the conference.

Researchers from more than 15 state Universities, Institutes, and Departments of the Country, as well as foreign universities, participated in the conference which opened the platform to share their research findings in the fields of intangible cultural heritage.

Image Courtesy: Anthropology Crew, Department of Anthropology

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In addition Mr. A. B. Weliwita; Registrar of the USJ, Dr. Nayana Wijayasundara, Librarian; USJ, Dr. Kelum Gamage; Director AHEAD project, Ms. Samantha Geeganage; Senior Assistant Registrar of the FHSS, Ms. Lalani Priyanthika; Assistant Bursar of the FHSS participated in the inauguration ceremony.

More than 200 research papers were presented in 25 sessions under the tracks of Folk Religion, Folk Language, Folk Medicine, Folk Art, Folk Life and Culture etc. through the Zoom platform.

This year, the conference is chaired by Dr. Nelum Kanthilatha with the assistance of the Secretariat Dr. Tharaka Ananda and advisory committee members; Snr. Porf. Yasanjalie Jayathilake, Head of the Department of Anthropology, Prof. Charmalie Nahallage, Dr. Praneeth Abheysundara and other committee members including Dr. Jayantha Jayasiri, Dr. Sepala Samarasekara and Dr. Raveendra Kumara, Mr. Kanishka Wijerathna, Ms. Bhagya Dilhani etc.

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3rd International Conference on Intangible Cultural Heritage organized b the Department of Anthropology of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura was held successfully on 22nd and 23rd December 2021 though an online platform. Inauguration was held on 18th December 2021 from 9.oo am onwards. Sessions were started from 1 .00 om inwards on 22nd December 2021.

Prof. Shirantha Heenkenda; Dena of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Praneeth Abhayasundara; Head of the Department of Anthropology, Snr Prof. Yasanjalee Jayathilake, Mrs. Samanthaa Geeganage; Assistant Registrar of the Faculty, Dr. Harendra Kariyawasam; Coordinator of the AHEAD project participated in the inauguration ceremony.

This year conference was chaired by Prof. Sepala Samarasekara with the assistance of the Secretariat Dr. Ravindra Kumara.

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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.

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