The History and Archaeology Students’ Association of the Department of History and Archaeology, USJ, organized ‘Shilpa Dayada-2023’, an Advanced Level History Seminar, targeting the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination-2023, on 11th of August 2023, at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, USJ, with the participation of 80+ A/L students from Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya- Colombo 07, Thurstan College- Colombo 07, Gothami Balika Vidyalaya- Colombo 10 and Girls High School- Mount Lavinia.
The event commenced with an introductory video and a speech to welcome and explain the objectives of the seminar, followed by the introductory notes of the Head of the Department of History and Archaeology, Sen. Lect. (Ven.) Dambara Amila and Sen. Lect. Nelum Rathnayaka of the same department. After the refreshments and a brief entertainment item, the educational sessions were taken place.
The educational session on Prehistory by Sen. Lect. (Dr.) Oshan Wedage was followed by a session on map marking by Lect. Damith Ranagala of the same department, based on the A/L History past papers and the syllabuses. Most importantly, the students had the chance to raise questions about the matters that came up during the sessions and from their past papers. In addition, a motivational speech was delivered by the History and Archaeology Students Association to the school students with the aim of inspiring them to study for the exam and making them aware of their opportunities both within and outside the university education.
Next, the Archaeology Museum of the Department of History and Archaeology had organized a museum visit for the students as the second segment of the seminar. The school students were then introduced to the process and techniques of taking an inscription’s stampage through a special session conducted by the Students Association. Finally, the school students were allowed to take a tour of the university premises after the group portrait was taken.
The seminar was deemed successful based on the written feedback and oral speeches and comments given by the participating teachers and students, and they expressed their gratitude to the University, the Department, and especially the History and Archaeology Students’ Association for organizing such an unforgettable seminar.
