Professor Senake Bandaranayake | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1938 (1938) Sri Lanka |
| Died | March 2, 2015(2015-03-02) (aged 76–77) Sri Lanka |
| Occupation | Archeologist |
| Years active | 1974–2015 |
| Title | Vice chancellor, Emeritus professor |
| Spouse | Manel Fonseka |
| Parent | William Dias Bandaranayake |
| Awards | Sahitya Akademi Fellowship |
| Academic background | |
| Education | Ph.D |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Archeologist |
| Institutions | University of Kelaniya |
Senake Dias Bandaranayake (1938 – March 2, 2015) was a Sri Lankan archeologist, who served as emeritus professor and vice chancellor atUniversity of Kelaniya. His research was focused on architecture, art history, and ancient paintings ofSouth Asia, including Sri Lanka.
He was born in 1938[1] to Dora and William Dias Bandaranayake. He was married to Manel Fonseka.[2]
He received his early education atS. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. He graduated fromBristol University and later went to England where he obtained hisBachelor of Letters in 1965 and Ph.D. in 1972 from theUniversity of Oxford. After obtaining his Ph.D., he attendedUCL Institute of Archaeology where he received a post graduate degree.
After returning from Europe in 1974, he joined University of Kelaniya in 1975 as a senior lecturer at its archeology department until he retired as a senior professor in 2003. He later became emeritus professor, head of archeology department, and vice chancellor. He established Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology in 1987 and served as its director until 1997.[1]
Prior to his retirement, he formed archaeological team at University of Kelaniya for graduate students to conduct research. He worked atSigiriya for eighteen years, during which he built monumental work ofHarry Charles Purvis Bell andSenarath Paranavithana.[3]
He served in various capacities during his diplomatic career, includingAmbassadors of Sri Lanka to France and toUNESCO in 1999, and Ambassadors of Sri Lanka to Bhutan.[1] He was also appointedSri Lankan High Commissioner to India from 2000 to 2002.[4] During his diplomatic career, he established National Centre for Advocacy Studies (NCAS), an advocacy resource institute inSouth Asia.[1]
He was one of the three final candidates nominated by thegovernment of Sri Lanka for the post of Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).[3]
He died in his sleep on March 2, 2015.[2]
He was awardedSahitya Akademi Fellowship in 1996 by theSahitya Akademi in recognition of his contribution to archeology, and establishing Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology.[5]
The government of Sri Lanka established Prof. Senaka Bandaranaike Archaeological Field Training School at Sigiriya named after Senaka Bandaranaike. It was inaugurated by theMahinda Rajapaksa, prime minister of the country. The training institute establishment contract is signed by Central Cultural Fund atLKR50 million. The institute is claimed to be the premier training center of Sri Lanka for local and foreign archeological researchers.[6]
