RASSL

Today we are having our 4th Research Conference where we try to create in the humanities and the social sciences the substance and essence of the Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science and other specialised conferences in the natural sciences. We hope that, we are thus covering at one place some of the areas in the humanities and social sciences essential for Sri Lanka. In this, we believe we are inspired both by the spirit of the European Enlightenment as well as of the world's first universities namely the Buddhist universities of South Asia including our own. We hope we will present our findings, discuss and debate vigorously. When our Royal Asiatic Society was formed in 1845, it was both a creature of its times as well as of its knowledge base and its prejudices. Our beginnings were to study the culture, history, philosophies and sciences of Sri Lanka. Since that time, formal institutions have grown in the West and in India where serious regular discussions and debates in the humanities and social sciences take place. Unfortunately in Sri Lanka, this has not occurred to the extent that our natural sciences have achieved. Our natural sciences including their applied ones are directly linked to centres of excellence and debate in the world resulting in them being more on their intellectual toes than in the humanities and social sciences. In the 19th century and early 20th century, our academics especially those linked to the RASSL were in the frontiers of discussions on Buddhism, philosophy, history and archaeology of not only Sri Lanka, but also of South Asia. These may have taken place under the rubric of colonial and Christian domination - our first RASSL secretary was Rev. Gogerly who was well known for 1

NEWSLETTER Vol. 11 No. 1 May 2011

ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY OF SRI LANKA, 96, ANANDA COOMARASWAMY MAWATHA, COLOMBO 07.

(RASSL PRESIDENTS SPEECH AT OPENING OF THE 4TH ANNUAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE) attempts to use the RASSL for his project of Christian proselytization. But in answer, we also had as our members Hikkaduwe Sumangala Thera who founded Vidyodaya Pirivena, Ratmalane Dhammaloka Thera who founded Vidyalankara Pirivena, Rhys Davids and Wickremasinghe who founded in London and Oxford, Pali, Sanskrit, Tamil and Sinhalese studies, and Leonard Woolf with his Bloomsbury group who redefined Western social thought. At that time, there was a linking of local civilization with Western debates. For the first time, the then RASSL helped the flow of major South Asian ideas into the West. As a Western commentator on the Panadura Debate in 1873 was to declare Some of the Buddhist priests are thoroughly versed in the works of modern scientists. Forty Sinhala Buddhist scholar monks in the 19th C linked themselves to the West (US, UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Russia, Austria etc) and to Asia (Burma, Cambodia, China, Japan, India, Thailand). These Buddhist monks transferred key Pali and some Sanskrit texts to the West, and contributed to the founding of the Pali Text Society. Their Western compatriots included Childers (Pali dictionary), Rhys Davids (founder Pali Text Society), Hermann Oldenberg (first authoritative German text on Buddhism) and Max Muller (leading German Pali and Sanskrit Scholar). As with other organizations, RASSL is moving towards digital communication. Already, we communicate with 350 of our membership by email. Those with email addresses, who do not get our notices by email, please inform us. If you do not have an email address, please make arrangements to give the email address of a family member or a friend.

STATE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH

Consequently, Buddhist influences were seen on American philosophers such as William James, Charles A. Moore, Santayana, Emerson, Irving Babbitt, Charles Pierce, John Dewey, William James, Alfred North Whitehead and Charles Hartshorne. Paul Carus journals The Open Court and The Monist became a platform for EastWest dialogues (and indirectly perhaps brought Ernst Mach to a Buddhist epistemological position which resonated with the epistemological searches of an Albert Einstein). That golden promise was subverted through the separatist war begun in 1973 as well as recent academic vulgarities that distorted our reality. Factual, theoretical and methodological fantasies were weaved by the fictional Buddhism of anthropologists like Obeyesekera who claimed that a Protestant and rational strand was brought to us by that band of irrational mystics, the Theosophists. The followers of such anthropologists were later to demand that Western powers interfere in Sri Lanka. In the 19th and early 20th century the Royal Asiatic Society together with our Buddhist monks made our history alive again by exploring the ruins of Anuradhapura. But unfortunately one Kumari Jayawardene of Colombo University was to sponsor a book "Unmaking the [Sri Lankan] Nation" where it was claimed that Anuradhapura was discovered for us by Europeans. She and her followers clearly did not know the many gathas let alone the Mahavamsa through which every child knew of Anuradhapura. Not to be outdone, in a similar ludicrous vein, one Mihindukulasuriya Susantha Fernando authored a book stating that Anuradhapura stupas were built by aliens! This book was praised by among others Dr. Chandana Jayaratne. Not to be outdone, Prabhakaran supporters invented an exclusive traditional Tamil homeland replete with an exclusive Tamil

Buddhism in Jaffna. The findings of the 1917 RASSL archaeological survey of Jaffna conducted by Paul Peiris and Rasanayagam which found Sinhalese Buddhist remains were now renamed as Tamil Buddhist by Jaffna academics. Not to be outdone in the Prabahakaran Trail, Nirmal Devasiri from Colombo University declared that the "concept of a Tamil Homeland is not mythology but a fact and was prepared to prove it. He had not read the authoritative text by K.M. de Silva. And in an insult, the major excavations of Anuradhapura have been handed over completely to a Conningham who declares Anuradhapura to be a theocracy with parallels to the Mayas who used their large structures for human sacrifice. Recently we had rented our investigations and minds to the intellectually doubtful. Much water has flown under the bridge during the last few years. The false depiction of the RASSL 1917 Jaffna finds has been stopped. With LTTE guns having stopped, Sinhala Buddhist remains in the North and East are being discovered, further throwing out the traditional homeland fiction. The time is now ripe for us to retake this land for truth and for the future. The future is increasingly Asian and multidisciplinary where soft power becomes crucial for the nation. This conference we hope will help position our soft power within Asia. The RASSL must demand back our rented minds. And what better to open the conference except through a digital depiction of Anuradhapura's Jethvanaramaya complex, a confident digital future brought to our ancient past. No, it was not built by Nirmal Devasiri, Conningham, Fernando, Kumari Jayawardene or Prabhakaran. It was built by our digital team of Prasad Samarajiva, Chandima Ambanwela and Anuradha Piyadasa.

LIBRARY SERVICES
Instructions to facilitate Members remote access to, and usage of, the Librarys On-Line Catalogue are available on-line. In the meanwhile planning to re-organise the Librarys space, re-arrange the books stock to 2 facilitate use and to provide more comfortable and attractive furniture continue. Although an apparently simple operation, it is not so because the books are old and valuable and any movements of them need to be handled with care

- hence the need for careful deliberations and cautious planning. During the period the following additions were made to the Library by purchase and from gifts by generous donors. Purchases
A Descriptive Catalogue of Sanskrit and Prakrit Manuscripts, compiled by H.D. Velankar, published by the Asiatic Society of Bambay, 1998 Buddhism in India: Challenging Brahmanism and Caste , by Gail Omvedt, 2003 From Untouchable to Dalit: Essays on the Ambedkar Movement , Eleanor Zelliot, New Delhi, 2010 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, from 194849 to 2008 , 18 vols. Hela Flora , Sirisena P. Samarakoon, Godage, 2009 Index to postgraduate theses 2001-2006 Vol. I Index to postgraduate theses 2001-2006 Vol. II Index to postgraduate theses 1981-2000 Vol. II Index to postgraduate theses 1981-2000 Vol. III 1" maps of provinces of Sri Lanka 71 maps, published by the Survey Department of Sri Lanka Prehistoric Sri Lanka: Late Pleistoncene Rockshelters and an Open- Air Site by Nimal Perera.- BAR Series, 2010

History of Technology: Vol 12 and 17, 1990 and 1995, ed. G. Hollister-Short & F.A.J.L. James.- Mansell The Phenomenon of man, Teilhard de Chardin, Collins, 1983 Patamala Niyamawaliya ha Vishaya Nirdesha 1992- 1995 , University of Kelaniya, Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies Dr. Hema Goonatilake Ruhunu Ramba Viharaya, Gamini Dodamvala.- CCF, 2009 (text in Sinhala) Abstracts: 6th National Conference on Buddhist Studies, Sat 4th Sunday 5th December 2010 The Dhammapada, K. Sri Dhammananda.- Sasana Abhiwardhi Wardhana Society, 1988 A Fresh Dawa: Sri Lanka's rich Buddhist heritage.- Nov 2010, Buddhist Studies Review, Vol 17, 18, 20, 22 Dr. Susantha Goonatilake A 16th century clash of civilization: The Portuguese presence in Sri Lanka, by Susantha Goonatilake.-Vijitha Yapa, 2010 Proceedings of the Theme Seminar, 7th December 2010: Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science Kukavivada Thathva Sathya Prakashani, Bemtota Enulasiri Dharmawardhana.- Godage, 2010 Mr. Pradeep Jayatunga Nittaewo: The hobbits of Sri Lanka: An analysis of the legend, Pradeep A. Jayatunga.- Neptune, 2010 Prof. Tissa Kariyawasam Ramayana in the arts of Asia, Kapila Malik Vatsyayan, Asian Documentation Centre fro Unesco,1975 Brig. Siri Munasinghe Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the earliest times to the Sixth century A.D., by Iravatham Mahadevan, Chennai, 2003 Minting of Coins: collection of facts published so far by T.G. Kulatunga, Condrington etc. Prof. Merlin Peris The Descent of the Deps, Merlin Peirs

Donations
Dr. Raja de Silva The Phenomenon of Man, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin; with an introduction by Sir Julian Huxley, Collins, 1959 Studies in Ancient Technology: Vol 4, R.J. Forbes, Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1964 Social Anthropology, Godfrey Lienhardt, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 1966 Some aspects of the History of Archaeology in Sri Lanka, presidential address by James T. Rutnum, Jaffna Archaeological Society, 1974 The Dictionary of Art: notes fro contributors Prehistory since Childe, Grahame Clark, University of London, 1976 Causes of deterioration of mural paintings, Paolo Mora, international centre for the study of the preservation and the restoration of cultural property Sri Ranganathaswami: A Temple of Vishnu in Srirangam, Jeannine Aubouyer, 1969 The Polonnaruva Colosus: A critique of an ancient statue/ James T Rutnam.- Chunnakam, 1979 The Craftmans HandbookCennino Dandrea Cennini, 1933 Painting materials: A short encyclopaedia, Rutherford J Gettens & George L Stout.- New York, 1966

Library services through RAS Website We are in the process of making our Website a portal of libraries around the world. Already you can access catalogues of all the libraries in Sri Lanka as well as libraries around the world. We are also providing the full texts available on e-resources, for example, our members will be given a password to access. Several universities around the world have put their lectures on line. We will give access to them on line.

Mrs. Kamalika Pieris

Ceylon: Its people and its homes, by Ray Blaze.- London: John Murray, 1961 Reflections on the life of Dr. Noel Bartholomeusz: Eminent Surgeon, edited by Nirmali Hettiarachchi and Prof. A.H. Sheriffdeen, 2004 Kolam Nataka Puranaya, K.G. Amarasekera.- Matara: University of Ruhuna, 2002 Jathika Chithanaya, Sankajaya Nanayakkara.- Young Socialist Publication, Some aspects of the cultural dimensions recent socio-political conflicts in Sri Lanka, W.I. Siriweera.- The Sri Lanka Journal of the Humanities, Vol. 17 & 18, (nos 1&2), 1991-92 Economic Review, June, July 2010, Dec 2009/ Jan 2010, April/July 2004, Oct/Nov 2009, Aug/Sept 2009, January 2009, Feb/ March 2009, The Buddha and his message: past and present and future, bhikkhu Bodhi Special BPS supplement for Vesak 2001 India Perspectives, Vol. 24 No 2/ 2010 ( Rabindranath Tagore Number) Bandaranaike Legacies, J.L. Fernando, Times of Ceylon, 1965 Three Prime Ministers of Ceylon: An inside Stor, J.L. Fernando, MD Gunasena, 1963 To the Ralph Pieris collection The golden road to modernity: village life in contemporary Burma, Manning Nash.- New York: John Wiley, 1965 The making of economic Society, Robert L. Heilbroner.New Delhi: M Sundaram, 1964 Sinhalese orthography, Julius de Lanerolle.- Colombo: Times of Ceylon , 1934 Prihistoric India to 1000 BC, Stuart Piggott.- Middlesex: Penguin books, 1950 Primitive Art, Leonhard Adam.- Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1949 Sir William Gregory, formerly member of parliament and sometime governor of Ceylon: an autobiography, ed. Lady Gregory.- London: John Murray, 1894

Proceedings, Eleventh IAHA Conference, International Association of Historians of Asia, Colombo 1- 5 August 1988, Session 1A Proceedings, Eleventh IAHA Conference, The Samurai, H. Paul Varley with Ivan and Morris.Penguin books, 1974 The Sociology of Literature, Diana Laurenson and Alan Swingewod.- Paladin, 1972 International Association of Historians of Asia, Colombo 1- 5 August 1988, Session VI C Proceedings, Eleventh IAHA Conference, International Association of Historians of Asia, Colombo 1- 5 August 1988, Session IX B Mr. Ananda S. Pilimatalauva Recipes from the Cookery Book of the Last Kandyan Dynasty, Ananda S. Pilimatalauva.- Vijitha Yapa,2010 Donald M Stadtner Mang: A magazine of the Arts, Vol 50, No 4, June 1999 Dr. K.D. Wimalaratne A guide to the India Office Library, SC Sutton.- London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1967 Encyclopeadia of Buddhism Vol I-VI (2 CDs) Mr. Dhanesh Wisumperuma Sanka Magazine 5 Volumes Andre L.W. Verhoef - Poland Photographs collection of Forts of Sri Lanka Russell Bowden The Guardian Weekly

Russell Bowden and Sandamale Wijenayake May 2011 Hon Librarian, Librarian

MONTHLY LECTURE SERIES

As at present, the following lectures are scheduled 27th June2011 : Dr. Siran Deraniyagala, 'Archaeological Research in Sri Lanka: Prehistoric to the Early Historic periods'. 25th July 2011: Prof. Sarath Kotagama, Professor of Environmental Science, University of Colombo will speak on 'Forests, Nature at our Service: A Historical Perspective' 4 29th August 2011: Prof. Y. Karunadasa, 'Towards Compiling a History of Sri Lankan Philosophy'. 26th September 2011: Prof Jinadasa Katupotha, Dept. of Geography, University of Sri

Jayewardenapura Indian Ocean Earthquakes and Tsunamis 31st October 2011: Dr. Uttaradevi Widyalankara, Dept. of History, University of Colombo, 'Jataka Stories and Historization of Sri Lanka' 28th November 2011: Mrs. Padma Edirisinghe 'The Role of the Buddhist Educational Movement in changing Lankas History 26th December 2011: Mr. Bandu de Silva, Former Ambassador, An examination of Some Recent

Reinterpretation of Historiography and Epigraphy of Sri Lanka in the Light of the Ethnic Debate 30th January 2012: Prof. Rathnasiri Arangala, Dept. of Sinhala, University of Sri Jayewardenapura, Will be notified 27th February 2012 : Mrs Sarala Fernando, Former Ambassador 'Gardens of Lanka and Foreign Relations from Ancient to the Colonial Period' February

Members interested in delivering lectures are requested to write in to the Hony. Secretary, indicating the title of the lecture. An abstract should be attached.
.

SYNOPSYS OF LECTURES
Sri Lanka Studies Outside Sri Lanka: Challenges and Opportunities Prof Karori Singh -17th January 2011 The Lecture will explain the trends and perspectives on Sri Lanka Studies (SLS) 0utsides Sri Lanka with special reference to India. SLS been undertaken in all parts of the worlds but no Systematic review has been undertaken so far. The lecture would answer the attempt to present state-of-the-art review of SLS outside Sri Lanka and what had been the institutional base, scholarly orientation and methods of the Studies. While identifying the trends, it will explain why Sri Lanka Studies remained fragmented in terms of methods and content of the Studies. Finally, it will highlight the challenges Sri Lanka Studies is facing and opportunities ahead promoting Sri Lanka Studies around. The Buddhist Heritage in Eastern Sri Lanka as Revealed in Sanskrit Inscriptions Ven. Prof. Induragare Dhammaratana 31st January 2011 More than nineteen Sanskrit inscriptions have been discovered but it is not a significant number when compared with nearly 4000, inscriptions discovered by historians in Sri Lanka. However it is a unique when compared with ten Pali inscriptions. 5 Sinhala and Tamil inscriptions are not a part of the especial investigation because these are two spoken languages used by Sri Lankans. Pali inscriptions are also not part of the investigation because Pali is the principal language of Theravada Buddhism but Sanskrit inscriptions are very special and unique.Discovery of Sanskrit inscriptions is a problem that should be investigated because it is not a common or religious language in Sri Lanka. There are handful of books written in Pali but other than one epic, silpa shastras, a few lyric poetries and Sataka poetries written in Sanskrit. Many Sanskrit books may have been lost due to various unavoidable politic and religious conflicts. The discovery of more inscriptions in Sanskrit more than in Pali is of special significan. Generally, inscriptions are established to make the common people aware of the rules and regulations prescribed by the government. There is an evedence that a group of a people in the medieval period in Sri Lanka used Sanskrit language in formidable for their day to day activities. Much like Modern Sri Lankan people use English. Majority of Sanskrit inscriptions show the traits of Mahayna Buddhism. Especially, many Sanskrit inscriptions are influenced of Mahayana Buddhist tradition. It can be seen in Jethavanrma Sanskrit inscription not only significant explanations about

Mahayna tradition but also important facts in connection with contemporary administrative center in Sri Lanka. The inscription of Kucchaveli in the Eastern Sri Lanka and Thiriyya inscription play a major role in Sri Lankan history. Their historical value is priceless.Those two inscriptions demontrative the configurations of Mahayna Buddhist tradition in Sri Lanka. The Jethavanrma Sanskrit inscription was written using Devangari characters but the other inscriptions use modified Sanskrit letters of south India. The influence of Pallava writing called Grantkshara can be seen clearly in those inscriptions in which the significant details about

Mahyana Buddhism are mentioned. On the ground of those facts it can be proved that there wuold have been an important mutual connection between South India and several districts in Sri Lanka such as Trincomalee in that period. According to the ruins discovered near the premises of Girihandu pagoda (Girikhanda) and the location of Kucchaveli inscription, it can be proved that these are probably the powerful principal centers of Mahyana. Today, those historical places are in decay. Therefore, it can be argued that Eastern Sri Lanka in the medeival period had been a principal educational and relegion of Mahyana Buddhism.

The Award of Sir S. C. Obesekere Memorial Medal for Prof Sirimal Ranawella

The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka awarded a its medal to Prof. Sirimal Ranawella in recognition of his valuable services to advancing the knowledge of history and archaeology of Sri Lanka. Here President Dr. Susantha Goonatilake pins the medal on Professor Ranawella.

NEW ENROLMENTS FROM MAY 2010 to MAY 2011

Life Membership Ranaweera, Mrs. H. K. C. K. Gunasekera, Dr. P. M. Samarakone, Dr. S. P. Abhayaratne, Mr. P. W. Mr. Paul Fletcher Kurukulasuriya, Mr. Nimal Veranjan Edirisinghe, Mr. Janaka Senanayake, Mr. S. K. G. Singhakumara, Prof. B. M. P Jayasinghe, Dr. K. S. A. Samarajiva, Dr. P. M. Kulanatha, Dr. I. G. P. R. Dasanayake, Dr. P. N. Liyanage, Dr. Nayana L/1049 L/1050 L/1051 L/1052 L/1053 L/1054 L/1055 L/1056 L/1057 L/1058 L/1059 L/1060 L/1061 L/1062 Kuruppu, Dr. U. S. Walisundara, Miss. D. C. Yasassi, Ven. Panahaduwe Senasekera, Mr. B. C. Koswatte, Dr. M. S. R. Yogeswaran, Ms. De Zoysa Jayawardana, Mr. G. M. C. P. Dahanayake, Mr. S.S. Dahanayake, Mr. S.S. Mapa, Mr. J.P. Senerath, Prof.S. Samarawickrama, Ms. S.S.M.R. Dissanayake, Dr. V.H.W. Mendis, Mr. AM.N.W. Fernandopulle, Ms.N. L/1065 L/1066 L/1067 L/1068 L/1069 L/1070 L/1070 L/1071 L/1072 L/1073 L/1074 L/1075 L/1076 L/1063 L/1064

Wijetunge,Mr. M. N. R. Sobhitha Thera, Ven. M. Perera, Mr. G. P. I. Chandawimala Thera, Ven. K. Gamage, Ms. A. G. D. S. P. Kusumaratne, Dr. K. L. S. Mr. K. P. De Zoysa Pannarathana Thera, Ven. G. De Costa, Mr. M. S. N. L. Dhammarathana, Thera Ven. I. Kelegama, Dr. Saman Alahakoon, Miss. C. N. K. De Silva, Mr. S. S. M.

L/1077 L/1079 L/1080 L/1081 L/1082 L/1083 L/1084 L/1085 L/1086 L/1087 L/1088 L/1089 L/1090

Senaratna, Dr. B. C. V. Pathmanesan, Mr. S. Tennakoon, Dr. M.U.A. Silva, Mr. M.A.T.D. Conversion to Life Membership Weeraratne, Mr. S. K. Ordinary Membership Perera, Dr. A. A. D.

L/1091 L/1092 L/1093 L/1094

L/1078

O/388

Condolences It is with deep regret that we report the death of the following members of the Society during the period under review.
Mr. Gaston Perera Prof. R.A.L.H. Goonawardane Mr,. Gamini Perera Mr. George Hodges Dr. D.J.V.C. Hapuarachchi Prof. Bertram Bastiampillai Prof. B.A. Jayawickrama

An Invitation to "Recreate" Ancient Anuradapura

existing ruins and descriptions in literature. This digitally recreated Jetavanaramaya can be seen today by accessing the Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka website (http://www.royalasiaticsociety.lk/). The basic techniques have been mastered, and as has been the case in construction of other ancient cities, the RASSL is now calling for volunteers with access to the Internet to collaborate with them. By such popular collaboration, it hopes to recreate all the Anuradhapura and Polonaruwa sites so that from home a person could see and explore ancient Anuradhapura. The RASSL experts have simplified the techniques to an easily explainable level and will guide others who would join with them. By collaborating with a large number of persons in Sri Lanka with access to a computer and Internet, it is hoped that the heritage of our forefathers will be preserved. The Royal Asiatic Society is requesting those interested in helping recreate our ancient sites to contact it at info@royalasiaticsociety.lk. 7

Over the last few years, computer techniques have been developed to digitally recreate on the Internet ancient cities. For example, parts of ancient Rome and Greece have been recreated and can be today explored by anybody on the Internet. Over the last one year, the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka RASSL by bringing together experts from Sri Lanka, the USA, Canada and Australia have attempted to digitally recreate ancient Anuradhapura. In its first exercise, it has recreated ancient Jetavanaramaya complex from

List of Office Bearers and Council Members of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka
Office Bearers President Dr. Susantha Goonatilake Vice Presidents Prof. M.U. de Silva Dr. Malini Dias Hony. Jt. Secretaries Prof. Ratnasiri Arangala Mrs. K.H.D. Perera Hony. Treasurer Mr. H. Kalu Banda Hony. Editor Dr. Hema Goonatilake Hony. Librarian Prof. Russell Bowden

susanthagoona@gmial.com malinidias@sltnet.lk pradeepa33@hotmail.com khdperera22@gmail.com

hgoonatilake@gmail.com russell@slt.lk

Council Members Prof. Oliver Abeynayake Mr. G.W. Jayantha Aravinda Mr. Bandusena de Silva Rev. Olaganwatte Chandrasiri Thera Prof. Uda Hettige Dr. I.G.P.R. Kulanatha

Prof. Anura Manatunga Mr. J.D. Anuradha Indiaka Piyadasa Mr. W.S. Perera Mr. L.M. Samarasinghe Prof. S.P. Samarakoon Dr. W.M.K. Wijetunga Dr. Anuththaradevi Widyalankara Ven. Dr. M. Wijithadhamma

RASSL Journal Vol. 56, 2010 Contents: Articles: Resurgence of Buddhism during the Colonial Period by M.U. de Silva Wolvendaal: An Etymological Study by Pradeep Jayatunga The Ancient City of Kotte and its Fortification by Prasad Fonseka Anamaduva Maha Usvava Pillar Inscription by Sirimal Ranawella Citation: Award of the Society's Medal for the Year 2010 to Prof. Sirimal Ranawella Book Review: A 16th Century Clash of Civilization: The Portuguese Presence in Sri Lanka by Susantha Goonatilake, reviewed by W.I. Siriweera Tributes: Mr. C. Gaston Perera, by Susantha Goonatilake Porf. R.A.L.H. Goonewardena, by K.N.O. Dharmadasa List of Office Bearers of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka New Series Vol. LVI (2010) has been released. The members are kindly requested to collect their copy from Ms. Sajeeva Weeraratne during office hours from Sunday to Thursday 9.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

If undelivered please return to: To: Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka 96 Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha Colombo 07 Sri Lanka
Telephone/Fax: 011-2699249 8 Email: rassrilanka@gmail.com, info@royalasiaticsociety.lk www.royalasiaticsociety.lk