USJ strengthening ties with the University of Sydney: Collaboration between the University of Sydney, Australia and the Department of History and Archaeology, USJ

Professor Patrick Faulkner, Associate Professor in Archaeology and the Project Director of the University of Sydney, Australia donated valuable research equipment to the Department of History and Archaeology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ) on the 25th of August 2023. This event took place concurrent to the ongoing research project in Bundala, Pathirajawela archaeological site. 

Professor Patrick Faulkner is an outstanding scholar in Archaeology who has also contributed to the historically valued research project “Long-term human-environment interactions in Sri Lanka.” 

This remarkable event was graced by Senior Professor M.M. Pathmalal, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Rev. Dambara Amila Thero, Senior Lecturer and the Head of the Department of History and Archaeology, Dr. Oshan Wedage, Senior Lecturer and the Project Director and Dr. Ruwini Dharmawardene, Director of the International Affairs Division representing USJ. The event was also witnessed by a group of undergraduates from the Department of History and Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in USJ. 

The Department of History and Archaeology of USJ and the University of Sydney, Australia, are willing to enter in to a Memorandum of Understanding in near future, with the aim of fostering international educational and research collaboration between the two institutions. Building on this partnership, both the universities intend to contribute to the archaeological arena in both countries. 

The rich experiences that might be gathered during the fieldwork, combined with conceptual insights will lead to a vast area of History and Archaeology while providing a precious opportunity for USJ students to explore diverse research findings in other parts of the world.