Celebrating the 61st anniversary of the Archaeology Museum of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, a special Museum exhibition was organized by the Archaeology Museum and the Department of History and Archaeology, USJ, on the 10th and 11th of October 2023.
The Museum exhibition was preceded by the opening ceremony at the Sumangala Auditorium, graced by the Vice Chancellor of the USJ, Senior Prof. Pathmalal M. Manage, the Dean of the FHSS, Prof. Shirantha Heenkenda, and other dignitaries. Following that, this special Museum exhibition was launched by the Archaeology Museum of the Department of History and Archaeology, collaborated with the National Museum of Natural History (Colombo) and the Zoology Museum of the Department of Zoology of the USJ.
Accordingly, the visitors could experience specimens of preserved animal species provided by the aforesaid collaborating institutions. The gallery had been set as a forest, to let visitors experience the appropriate setting for the exhibiting specimens. In addition, diverse galleries of the Archaeology Museum were open to the public, such as Pre and Proto-history of Sri Lanka, clay and terracotta artifacts, traditional traps, stone carvings, mural paintings, local and foreign coins, etc. Each gallery was properly interpreted to the visitors by our own undergraduate students of the department, allowing them to gain experience in the role of a Museum Officer, which is a prospective job role for them in the future. In addition, upon the request of the Department of History and Archaeology, a publication stall of the Central Cultural Fund and the National Library and Documentation Services Board had been set for the bibliophile.
The Archaeology Museum of the Department of History and Archaeology would like to thank the Department of National Museums, the Central Cultural Fund, the Vice-Chancellor of the USJ, the Dean of the FHSS, the Department of Zoology of USJ, and every other party for the support extended, to make this event a success.
