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Sri Lanka secures Grant for research on colonial Palm Leaf manuscripts

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Sri Lanka secures Grant for research on colonial Palm Leaf manuscripts
Sri Lanka’s Department of National Archives has won a competitive Dutch grant to lead research into the palmleaf collections in the Netherlands of Sri Lankan origin, with a view to restitution.

The Dutch Research Council has awarded funding to 11 research within the call ‘Research into collections with a colonial context’.

Dutch museum collections may contain looted objects with a colonial context. This programme aims to redress injustice and strengthen trust and cooperation with the countries of origin.

Under this program, Sri Lanka’s Department of National Archives secured a consortium grant : Whose Knowledge, Whose Values? Palm Leaf Manuscripts and the Question of Colonial Collections in Dutch Heritage Institutions.

Dr. N. T. Rupesinghe of the National Archives of Sri Lanka is the main applicant, Consortium partners are Kurt de Belder (Leiden University), Prof. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri (Colombo University), and Dr. Tanuja Thurairajah (Collective for Historical Dialogue and Memory).

This project addresses the questions of how to come to terms with the colonial past in the present and the role that objects can play in such reconciliation.

Taking the Palm Leaf Manuscripts recently requested for restitution by the Sri Lankan state as a case study, the project asks what role objects collected in the colonial past can play in reconciling us to our complex and difficult history.

The Dutch Research Council is interested in how these processes of reconciliation may be different in Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, and, moreover, how they weigh the value that these objects may have for different communities across the (post)colonial divide.

Sri Lanka also secured a consortium grant under : Whose Law? Addressing Injustice in the entangled histories of Sri Lanka- the Netherlands and advancing the practices of provenance research.

Prof. Dr. N. Kamardeen (University of Colombo) is the main applicant, with Prof. Dr. Wayne Modest (Wereldmuseum), Dilip Tambyrajah (Netherlands-Sri Lanka Foundation) as the consortium partners.

The research explores alternative viewpoints of justice and legality, as understood and applied in the Netherlands and Sri Lanka at various periods of time in relation to colonial cultural property.

It will also examine the methodology of provenance research in an attempt to advance its effectiveness in helping states to decide on matters of restitution and return.

Additionally it will consider the possibilities for digitization of cultural objects by examining the factors that impact such an activity.

It will propose a more inclusive framework for deciding the future of colonial cultural property, advancing provenance research and digitizing cultural objects.

(News 1st)

(This story, originally published by News 1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

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“If this continues, country will end up like the KDU bus”: Ex-President Ranil warns

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe reiterated that people with political experience should be appointed as parliamentary representatives in the upcoming General Election.

Joining a press conference held in Colombo, Wickremesinghe further stated that if not, the country will go into another crisis situation.

Responding to a question, the former President also spoke on not seeking to enter the parliament in the coming election.

“Now it is enough that I was in the Parliament. I believe we need to form a new group from within our alliance representing the ‘Gas Cylinder’ because these are the only experienced people in the country.”

Today, the government lacks experienced individuals, he claimed. “These people have been working consistently for the past three or four years, helped me turn this around in two years.”

He further added, “Sri Lanka could be the fastest country to emerge from bankruptcy, but the path forward is uncertain. Without capable leadership, the situation could spiral—just like the KDU bus veered off the road. That’s why I urge everyone to send knowledgeable and experienced individuals to Parliament.”

(AdaDerana)
(This story, originally published by AdaDerana has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Distribution of polling cards for general election continues today

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The Department of Posts has designated today as a special day for distributing polling cards for the upcoming 2024 general election. 

Senior Deputy Postmaster General Rajitha Ranasinghe announced that 2,090 distribution offices will be open, with 8,000 staff assigned to the task.

Polling cards will be distributed from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and the public is urged to cooperate throughout the process.

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Landslide warning issued for eight districts

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The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued early landslide warnings for eight districts due to the ongoing heavy rainfall.

The warnings have been issued, effective from 05 pm today (02) to 05 pm tomorrow (03).

Accordingly, the warning notices under Level 02 have been issued to the Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara and Ratnapura districts.

Early landslide warnings have been issued to Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Udapalatha and Yatinuwara in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya, Mawanella, Dehiowita and Kegalle in the Kegalle district, Pasgoda in the Matara district and Ratnapura, Eheliyagoda, Elapatha, Kuruwita, Kahawatta, Godakawela and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

Meanwhile, Level 01 early landslide warnings have been issued to Welimada and Haldummulla in the Badulla district, Elpitiya in Galle district and Polgahawela in Kurunegala district.

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