Publications
Selective nostalgia: development through ‘shared heritage’ diplomacy in post-colonial Sri Lanka
Heritage conservation of UNESCO-listed sites often serves dual diplomatic and developmental agendas, as demonstrated by Sri Lanka's Old Town of Galle. This study reveals that the Dutch ancestry of Galle Fort is selectively prioritized to neutralize colonial narratives—boosting achievements while downplaying exploitation—for Dutch interests, while Sri Lankan authorities leverage this 'shared heritage' for tourism-driven economic growth. However, such reinterpretation fuels gentrification and marginalizes local communities. The research employs interviews, observational data, and documents to expose how heritage becomes a tool for divergent agendas, reshaping socio-spatial dynamics in post-colonial contexts.
Widowhood and female agency in the Dutch-colonial Indian Ocean World. Rethinking social networks through local women’s lives (1750–1800)
This research reveals how widows in Dutch-colonial port cities, particularly Galle (Sri Lanka) and Melaka (Malaysia), exercised agency within patriarchal and racially hierarchical colonial societies. By analyzing testamentary decisions and social networks, the study demonstrates that these women actively participated in informal credit systems and maintained familial relationships, contributing to urban cohesion despite socioeconomic differences. The findings challenge traditional narratives of VOC societies as isolated enclaves dominated by European settler families and male authority, instead highlighting the significance of intimate relationships in sustaining colonial economies and connecting households across continents.
Business and Community Resilience in Times of Crisis: Lessons from Galle Fort (Sri Lanka), a Living World Heritage City
Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and tourism-dependent city in Sri Lanka, demonstrated both vulnerabilities and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study reveals that while over-reliance on heritage tourism exposed local micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to severe economic disruptions, the crisis also spurred innovative mitigation strategies among entrepreneurs. These lessons highlight the need for people-centred sustainable policies to foster resilience in living World Heritage cities facing similar challenges. The research employed questionnaire surveys and interviews with local businesses to assess pandemic impacts from 2020 to mid-2022, offering actionable insights for balancing heritage conservation with economic sustainability.
Conservation status, crop damage and distribution of the Hog Deer (Axis porcinus Zimmermann, 1780) in Galle District, Sri Lanka
The Hog Deer (Axis porcinus), critically endangered and the rarest deer species in Sri Lanka, is confined to a small region between the Bentota and Gin rivers in the Galle District. Despite its restricted range, the species faces significant threats, including habitat loss and crop damage, primarily to cinnamon plants (Cinnamomum verum). A year-long study from 2021 to 2022 recorded 306 adult Hog Deer and 22 fawns, with 175 confirmed locations documented through surveys of 246 participants across seven divisional secretariats. Additionally, 27 injured or disabled individuals were reported, highlighting the species' precarious conservation status. While crop damage was noted, it was minimal for cinnamon, suggesting other factors may be more critical to their survival. The findings underscore the urgent need for community-based and institutional conservation efforts to protect this species in its last stronghold.
From Plantations to Military: Heritage of Galle Fort in Sri Lanka
Galle Fort in Sri Lanka serves as a testament to the complex colonial history of the Indian Ocean trade. A key finding from this study is the revelation that enslaved Africans, listed in an early 19th-century British manuscript, were not only laborers on plantations but also transitioned into soldiers within the Ceylon Regiments. This shift highlights the demand for African military skills in the region and raises questions about the timing of slavery's abolition. The research approach involves analyzing heterogeneous names of enslaved Africans to uncover their ethnic backgrounds and the intricate world of plantation labor, while also drawing attention to the often-overlooked Portuguese heritage in Galle, overshadowed by Dutch and British imprints.
On solid ground? Manumitted slaves, land ownership and registration in eighteenth-century Sri Lanka
Eighteenth-century Sri Lankan manumitted slaves occasionally secured land ownership through colonial-era donations, challenging the assumption that slavery precluded such rights. By analyzing Dutch-language wills (1702–1765) and cross-referencing them with suburban land registers near Colombo and Galle, researchers identified patterns of temporary or permanent land grants to freed individuals. These findings reveal how manumission could confer tangible economic stability, despite colonial constraints. The study also examines the social implications of bureaucratic registration, highlighting tensions between emancipation status and Dutch administrative labeling. This work sheds light on the nuanced intersections of slavery, land tenure, and colonial governance in a pre-industrial society.
Activity Economy and Cultural Heritage Tourism in Sri Lanka(Special Reference in Galle and Kandy)
A well-managed activity economy could significantly enhance cultural heritage tourism sustainability in Sri Lanka, particularly at UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Galle and Kandy. This study identifies the untapped potential of integrating theoretical and practical value into tourism marketing strategies to drive economic growth while preserving heritage. Using qualitative methods—document analysis and secondary data from online media—the research highlights gaps in current practices, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts between government institutions and private entities. Such collaboration, supported by robust human and physical resources, could unlock long-term sustainability benefits for Sri Lankan tourism.
China, the Maritime Silk Road, and the Memory of Colonialism in the Asia Region
China's expanding economic and political influence, particularly through initiatives like the Maritime Silk Road, is reshaping the historical narratives of colonialism across Asia. This study reveals that while China presents a nationalist interpretation of its colonial past, it seeks to export this vision globally, influencing how other nations perceive their own histories. By analyzing permanent exhibitions in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Galle Fort (Sri Lanka), the research demonstrates how these museums reflect or resist China's growing neo-colonial power. The findings highlight the tension between transnational communist ideology and nationalist historical narratives, showing that China's influence extends beyond its borders, potentially altering post-colonial identities in former British colonies.
Conceptual Framework for On-site Digital Interpretation Developments in Cultural Heritage Sites
A conceptual framework for selecting appropriate digital interpretation techniques for UNESCO World Heritage Sites has been developed, addressing the lack of global guidelines. This study, focusing on six Sri Lankan sites, categorizes 24 criteria under five phases—'Prepare', 'Assess', 'Design', 'Implement', and 'Sustain'—to guide digital integration in cultural heritage preservation. The framework was derived from qualitative and quantitative data, including interviews, field observations, literature reviews, and visitor surveys, ensuring context-specific recommendations. It aims to enhance visitor engagement while preserving the integrity of these sites.
Imageability and Legibility: Cognitive Analysis and Visibility Assessment in Galle Heritage City
Research on Galle Heritage City reveals a strong correlation between imageability and legibility, two key concepts in urban design. Imageability, reflecting people's perception of landmark salience, is primarily influenced by semantic properties, while legibility, related to spatial configuration visibility, depends more on structural properties. Both visual properties play an equally significant role in both concepts. The study employed cognitive mapping with 100 participants to assess imageability and a visibility assessment process for legibility, comparing results through a concurrence matrix.
Land Use Change and Its Impacts on Land Surface Temperature in Galle City, Sri Lanka
Over the past two decades, Galle City, Sri Lankahas experienced a significant 3.2 °C increase in land surface temperature (LST), driven by rapid urban expansion and land use changes. Built-up areas, which grew by 38%, now exhibit the highest mean LSTs (ranging from 22.7 °C to 26.3 °C between 1996 and 2019), while vegetation cover declined by 26%. The study, using multi-temporal satellite data and post-classification change detection techniques, reveals that newly developed built-up areas—often replacing vegetated land—show the most pronounced LST increases (5.5 °C). Conversely, new vegetation patches exhibit minimal temperature changes. These findings underscore critical challenges for urban planners in mitigating heat-related impacts on livability within this historic coastal city.
Simulation of 2004 Tsunami Inundation in Galle City in Sri Lanka and Revisit the Present Evacuation Measures
A simulation of the 2004 tsunami's inundation in Galle City, Sri Lanka, using Delft3D-Flow and Delft Dashboard Tsunami Tool validated existing hazard maps. The study found that current early warning systems and evacuation preparedness are effective but identified gaps in proposed buildings and routes for safer horizontal evacuation, while suggesting vertical evacuation points to mitigate future risks. This research enhances tsunami resilience by addressing critical infrastructure deficiencies highlighted during field investigations.
Rules for Maldivian Trading Ships Travelling Abroad (1925) and a Sojourn in Southern Ceylon
A rare glimpse into Maldivian maritime trade and cultural exchange is revealed through the translation of two 1925 documents: a 12-page manual outlining rules for Maldivian trading ships traveling abroad, primarily to Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka), and a personal account by an elderly Maldivian trader detailing his experiences in Galle. The manual provides unprecedented insights into the logistical and social protocols governing long-distance trade during this period, while the trader's narrative offers vivid descriptions of conditions in Ceylon's harbor and inland towns, as well as accounts of cross-cultural friendships. Together, these documents illuminate the historical significance of Galle as a key hub for Maldivian commerce and cultural interaction, contributing to our understanding of pre-colonial trade dynamics in the Indian Ocean region.
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