Centre for Heritage Studies University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka
http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/18943
2024-03-28T19:18:13ZUse of heritage for personal image building by politicians of Sri Lanka: A few case studies
http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/23061
Use of heritage for personal image building by politicians of Sri Lanka: A few case studies
Manatunga, Anura
Heritage is being used or misused by politicians throughout the world for their personal image building while promoting or dealing with heritage pretending to safeguard heritage with regard to mass interest about the past. This study is an observation of how some Sri Lankan politicians in the recent past used heritage for their personal image building, despite their political ideology or policies and actions regarding heritage preservation. A few case stuides such as
S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s interest about Anuradhapura and Attanagalla, D.S. Senanayake’s work on Dedigama and Mahiyanganaya, J.R. Jayewardane’s move of shifting the capital city from Colombo to Sri Jayawardenapura, Gamini Dissanayaka’s ambitious project on reconstruction of Mirisawetiya and several other cases will be examined critically to understand how they utilized heritage as soft power to build their personal image when they were active in politics. Similar activities of present politicians will not be considered here due to perspective nearness and ethical considerations.
2019-01-01T00:00:00ZFlags and banners in Sri Lanka:A study on symbolizing the power and identity of individuals and communities
http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/23060
Flags and banners in Sri Lanka:A study on symbolizing the power and identity of individuals and communities
Embuldeniya, Piyumi
In Sri Lanka, from ancient times to date, flags and banners are used for various reasons. There are many flags and banners used in Sri Lankan history from ancient time to the present by kings, queens, ministers, presidents, and various communities. In addition, in order to represent different kingdoms, various flags were used from the ancient period to the colonial period. In the post-colonial Sri Lanka, each and every elected president had also designed their own flag to represent themselves and their attitudes. Moreover, to the province, chieftain or the group, various symbols had been there in these flags and banners which represented traditional motifs. Most of these flags were creative and they showcased the talent of the designers. Thus, the main objective of this research paper is to explicate how heritage is being used as a soft power for flags and banners in ancient Sri Lanka to present. The research is conducted by analyzing the collected data from literature survey and field research method. From the analyzing, it was evident that in these flags, cultural and natural heritage is emphasized along with the power of political, economic, and social stability of whom the flag belonged.
2019-01-01T00:00:00ZThe practice of heritage as soft power by overseas Sri Lankans: A case study of Sydney, Australia
http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/23059
The practice of heritage as soft power by overseas Sri Lankans: A case study of Sydney, Australia
Manusinghe, G. P. P. G.
This research is a case study into the practice of heritage as soft power by the people of Sri Lankan origin living overseas, with special attention to Sydney, Australia. Common or shared heritage is a binding factor as well as a tool of soft power for the diasporic communities. Power, as the ability to affect people and events to obtain a desired outcome, is threefold; threats of coercion, inducements/payments and attraction/ persuasion. The aforementioned third, attraction and persuasion is also called soft power. According to Joseph Nye, a country's soft power rests on its resources of culture, values and politics. Therefore, culture and heritage is seen as a facet of soft power, utilised not only by states but also by non-state actors and public.UNESCO, one of the pioneer multilateral organisations to promote intercultural dialogue to build world peace after the II World War, defines cultural soft power which is sometimes referred to as cultural diplomacy as a form of soft power that foster the exchange of views and ideas, promote knowledge of other cultures, and build bridges between communities, to promote cultural diversity, as a source of innovation, dialogue and peace.
For Sri Lankans living overseas culture and heritage is the umbilical code to their motherland and the resort to return one day. They utilise heritage as soft power to bring the community together, build up a cultural identity overseas and influence the authorities in the host country for the benefit of the community. The host country on the other side sees cultural diversity as wealth and strength for inclusive development. The research looks into the use of soft power by the overseas Sri Lankans, in the context of the host State utilising soft power to win over migrant communities and incorporate them to one national identity.
2019-01-01T00:00:00ZLiterature and the content of dramas as a potent source of heritage- A case study
http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/23058
Literature and the content of dramas as a potent source of heritage- A case study
Bandara, K. B. R. P.
This paper is based on a case study that was done as a small scale investigation. This study aimed to examine the impact of dramas and literature as a source of heritage. Two dramas of William Shakespeare; Othello and Macbeth were used as the sample of the study. Secondary data was used to collect data for this study. The immense contribution given by Shakespeare to Literature and the contemporary context as a source of heritage can be explicitly identified through this case study. Nothing is known about how Shakespeare became involved in the theatre and became a writer, but he apparently was becoming known as an actor and playwright by 1592, judging by a comment from a rival then about an "upstart crow" His first published works, however, were the long poems Venus and Adonis (1593) and The Rape of Lucrece (1594). His famous sonnets were also likely begun in the early 1590s, though they were not collected and published together until 1609. The tragedies, Othello and Macbeth are considered as two masterpieces in English Literature. Furthermore, the themes elaborated in such tragedies are strongly relatable to the past and contemporary contexts. The themes such as jealousy, race, gender, sex, marriage, manipulation and hatred are strongly discussed in the tragedy Othello. Moreover, the drama Macbeth which is centered around the tragic hero Macbeth demonstrates the themes like, dichotomy and equivocation, prophecy, death, war, etc. This study further elaborates on the significance of the above mentioned tragedies as a source of heritage and their impacts on contemporary society.
2019-01-01T00:00:00Z