Dr. WMTB Wijepala

Senior Lecturer

tbwijepala@ssh.rjt.ac.lk

+94 718578188

Biography

WMTB Wijepala received his Bachelor of Arts (Special in Archaeology) degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2007, and he entered the University of Ruhuna as an Assistant Lecturer in the same year and served there for three years. After three years of service at the Central Cultural Fund (2010-2013), he joined the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka as a Probationary Lecturer of the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Management. In 2016, he graduated from the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, with a Master of Science in Archaeology. He has been serving as a Senior Lecturer in that Department since 2018. He enrolled in the Department of Earth Science, Interdisciplinary Faculty of Science and Engineering, Shimane University of Japan in 2019 and received his Ph.D. in 2022. During this period, he served as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Ruhuna and the Buddhasravaka Bhikshu University of Sri Lanka

Educational qualifications

Ph.D. (Shimane University – Japan)
MSC in Archaeology (PGIAR – UOK)
Postgraduate Diploma in Museology (PGIAR – UOK)
BA in Archaeology (USJP)

Research Interests

Geo-archaeology, Museology, Field Archaeology, Heritage Management

Research Publications

Paper Articles

2018 – A Cultural Sequence for Middle Yan-oya Basin, (In Sinhala) Proceedings of the National Archaeology Symposium, Department of Archaeology, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo, (32-43pp).
2018 – An archaeological study of architectural construction of ancient period of the Andarawewa and periphery, (In Sinhala) Settlement Archaeology of middle Deduru Oya and Mee Oya, Research and Publication Fund, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, (341-374pp).
2018 – An Archaeological and Historical study of the Preparations and Interventions process for Ancient largest stupas of Anuradhapura, (In Sinhala) Nenesa Refereed Journal, (Eds.) M. Seelaananda, and T. Indavimala, Vol. 15, Issue II, Asgiri Vihara, Kandy, Sri Lanka, (297-317pp).
2017 – A Historical Study of Preparation Process and Later Interventions of Ruwanweli stupa, (In Sinhala) Samodhana, Vol. 6 (I), The Journal of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, (65-95pp).
2017 – An Archaeological Assessment of Architecture and Built environment of Buddhist Monastic site of the Kahatagasdigiliya, Kok-ebe monastic site, (In Sinhala) Middle Yan-oya basin Settlement Archaeology, (Eds.) C.R. Withanachchi and D.T. Mendis, Research and Publication Fund, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, (258-274pp).
2016 – Importance of the Recommendations of The Venice Charter (1964) for the Conservation of Old Largest Stupa in Anuradhapura, (In Sinhala) The Journal of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Vol. 3, Issue II, Department of Archaeology & Heritage Management, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, (183 – 199 pp).
2015 – Using Clay Coil Technique for Making Clay Jars, (In Sinhala) Samodhana, Vol. 4 (II), The Journal of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, (33-46 pp).
2015 – Historical and Archaeological investigation of changes of the Road and Lanes, Old Colombo Fort and New Colombo City area after 1505, (In Sinhala) “Shasthra Loochana”, Published by; Welfare Association of Bhikshu Students’, Bhikshu University of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, (520 – 534 pp).
2015 – Ancient Architecture and Built Environment of Middle Yan-Oya basin, (In Sinhala) The Journal of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Vol.2, Department of Archaeology & Heritage Management, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, (79 – 104 pp).
2013 – Technological Parameters of Iron Production of Ancient Sri Lanka, (In Sinhala) “The Journal of Archaeology & Heritage Studies”, Department of Archaeology & Heritage Management, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, (1 – 16 pp).
2013 – Photography is a Supportive Technique for Archaeology, (In Sinhala) “Vidarani” Academic Journal (2014), Vol. 1, No. II, The Society of History and Archaeology, Department of History and Archaeology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, (159 – 190 pp)
2012 – Techniques of Preserving and Collection of Zoological Specimens in the National Museum of Natural History, (In Sinhala) Paper Presented at the Palaeo biodiversity Symposium – 2012, “Sausiripaya” Colombo 07, Sri Lanka [Conducted by: Ministry of Environment, Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology – University of Kelaniya, Central Cultural Fund].
2011 – The Study of Some Vaharala Inscriptions at the Polpithigama – Galketiyagama Selamandalarama Temple at Kurunegala, (In Sinhala) Paper Presented at the National Archaeological Congress, Department of Archaeology, Colombo, Sri Lanka. [Full paper published in the Proceeding, Department of Archaeological Survey]
2010 – Challengers for Archaeological Heritage Management in Manthai area in Post-conflict era, (In Sinhala) Paper Presented at the National Archaeological Congress, Department of Archaeology, Colombo, Sri Lanka. [Full paper published in the Proceeding, Department of Archaeological Survey]
2009 – National natural Science Museum for National Level, (In Sinhala) Paper Presented at the National Archaeological Congress, Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka. [Full paper published in the Proceeding, Department of Archaeological Survey].
2008 – Promotion of Rural Archaeological Sites in the tourism aspect : Special Reference to Dambadeniya, Arankele, Ridi-Vihara & Ritigala Archaeological Sites, (In Sinhala) Paper Presented at the National Archaeological Congress, Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka. [Full paper published in the Proceeding, Department of Archaeological Survay].
2007 – History of Making Clay Jar and It’s Preparation Technology, (In Sinhala) “Vidharani”, Annual Magazine, Society of History & Archaeology, Department of History & Archaeology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
Wijepala, W.M.T.B., Young, S.M., Ishiga, H., (2023) Ancient metalworking at Yodhawewa site, Sri Lanka: tracing the archaeological and geochemical relationship by analyzing soil and slags, Archaeol Anthropol Sci 15, 10, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-022-01704-1
Hiroaki ISHIGA , Takuya MATSUMOTO, Shunsuke ENDO, Tikiri Bandara WIJEPALA, (2022) Smelting temperature determination using iron slags from Sri Lanka, Earth Science (Chikyu Kagaku) 76 (4), 155-160 pp. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15080/agcjchikyukagaku.76.4_155
Wijepala, W.M.T.B., Young, S.M., Ishiga, H., (2022) Reading the archaeometallurgical findings of Yodhawewa site, Sri Lanka: contextualizing with South Asian metal history, Asian Archaeology 5, 21-39 pp. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41826-022-00046-0
Wijepala, W.M.T.B., Young, S.M., Ishiga, H., (2022) Ancient crucible steel production of Sri Lanka: Special reference to Yodhawewa archaeological findings, The Past International Journal of the Department of Archaeology Sri Lanka 1 (1), Department of Archaeology Sri Lanka, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo, 79-92 pp.
Wijepala, W.M.T.B., Young, S.M., Ishiga, H., (2021) Preliminary results of the Yodhawewa Archaeological Research in Sri Lanka – 2018: Exploration, Excavations, Findings, and Radiocarbon Datings, TRIVALENT ත්‍රිසංයුජ : Journal of Archaeology, Tourism & Anthropology, 2 (1),43-69 pp. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/tjata.v2i1.50

Abstracts and Extended Abstracts

W.M.T.B Wijepala, H. Ishiga, Sansfica M Young (2019) Early glass productions of Anuradhapura period: special reference to Yodhawewa archaeological investigation in Mannar, Sri Lanka, FOTARS, Annual Research Symposium, University of Colombo
Wijepala, W.M.T.B., Ishiga, H. and Young, S.M., (2019) Investigations and Assessment of Ancient Glass Producing Parameters at Yodhawewa Area in Mannar, Sri Lanka, 7th Conference of Sir Lanka-Japan Collaborative Research, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, (41 p.)
2018 – Impact of Post-war Development Programmes and Environmental Changes on the Archaeological Record at Yoda Vava, Mannar: Lower Malvathu-Oya Basin Archaeology (LMBA) Project 2018, 4th International Research Symposium of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Investing in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (ISIBES-2018), Organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, (101p)
2014 – Physical & Mental wellness Management of Ancient Buddhist Monasteries in Sri Lanka: In Special Reference to Janthaghara and Chankamana (Extended Abstract), Second International Research Symposium (IRSYRU), October 29th – 30th, Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, (109 – 111 pp).
2013 – Tourism & Ambalama an Investigation on Archaeological Heritage Management: Special Reference on Selective Fourth Ambalama’s of Gampaha District (Extended Abstract), The Proceeding of Annual Research Symposium, 18th December 2013, Department of Archaeology & Heritage Management, Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale (235 – 238 pp).
2013 – Preserving Zoological Specimens as Archaeological Reference Collection – a Case Study from National Museum of Natural History, Sri Lanka, The Second International Research Conference on Humanities & Social Sciences, December 4th – 5th, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, (48 p).
2012 – Pethmaga: Interpretation, Construction Format, Technology & Usage (In Sinhala), 5th Research Conference, March 30th-31st, Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka, 173-174 pp.
2011 – The Vanni Tradition in Sri Lankan Paintings, (eds) Anura Manathunga, Ranjith Bandara, Amalka Wijesuriya, International Association for Asian Heritage (IAAH), Central Cultural Fund, Ministory of Cultural and Arts, Sri Lanka. 1p..
2010 – The Study of Chankamanaghara at Sathkoorala Area on Buddhist, Architectural and Archaeological Context (In Sinhala), 6th National Conference on Buddhist Studies, Organized by: Dept. of Pali & Buddhist Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, The Buddhist Times Trust & Bodu Sahana Aramudala, – Abstract Presented at All Ceylon Women’s Buddhist Congress Hall, No.400, BAUDDHALOKA Mw., Colombo 7, Sri Lanka.
2011 – Some Unpublished Vaharala Inscriptions (In Sinhala), Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka, 199-200 pp..

Appointments

Student counsellor of the faculty of social sciences and humanities (01.01.2019-06.06.2019)
Director (Acting), Industrial Training Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities (2017)
Faculty Coordinator – International Relations, Students, and Collaborations (2023)
Student counselor of the faculty of social sciences and humanities (2019)
Director (Acting), Industrial Training Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities (2017)