Appreciating a senior most Archaeologist of Sri Lanka

Sirinimal LAKDUSINGHE

Prof P L Prematilleke remains the senior-most Archaeologist in the country today. He excels in both Theoretical and Field Archaeology. He is also a much sought after Museologist. He was the first and the only Lecturer in Archaeology to work with Prof Senarat Paranavitana from the inception of the Archaeology Department at the Peradeniya University in 1960. Having been the first Sri Lankan academic to follow the course in Museology at the Museum Association in London, during his postgraduate studies leading to the Ph.D degree at the Institute of Archaeology, University of London, Prof Prematilleke had the capacity and know-how to reorganize the University's Archaeological Museum which Prof Paranavitana and he established initially in 1960 as soon as the Department was founded.

Prof Prematillake played a vital role in the restoration of Nalanda Gedige

During Paranavitana's tenure (1960-1964) as Professor and Head, the Department limited its archaeological teaching only to postgraduates and provided supportive courses to other disciplines such as History, Oriental Languages and Buddhist Civilization. The commencement of Archaeological courses at General Arts Qualifying General Degree and Special Degree levels at the Peradeniya University lies to the credit of Prof Prematilleke. Overcoming many difficult situations year by year, he was able to increase the staff from one to seven, who excelled in different archaeological disciplines and Peradeniya Archaeology Department remains to this day one of the premier institutions of international repute in archaeological studies.

Prof Prematilleke served the University for 29 years and made an impression on his students as one of the best and versatile University teachers. His pupils serve in the Universities as senior Professors and Lecturers and some hold high State offices. He serves as a Senior Examiner in Archaeology at the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya and other institutions. Prematilleke did not limit his teaching to the confines of the class-room.

His students adored their teacher for his untiring efforts to provide them with field training, which finally resulted in his appointment as Archaeological Director of two of the six sites of the well-known UNESCO-SRI LANKA Cultural Triangle Project (Polonnaruwa and Kandy).

In appreciation of Prof Prematilleke's humane demeanour, a senior don comments:

Students evaluate an academic course not merely by the job prospects it offers. They so take into consideration the quality of teaching and the quality of teachers in terms of the interest they display in the welfare of the students. Here it is well-known that the Archaeology Department under Prematilleke has come high up in the scale of student evaluation for he has not only recruited a highly competent staff but - also demonstrated in many instances that students of Archaeology will be well looked after academically as well as personally. (Perspectives in Archaeology - Leelananda Prematilleke Festschrift 1990, ii).

Prof Prematilleke is also an Architectural Conservator of the first order. Besides the conservation of the 12th Century hospital at Polonnaruwa, the remains of which he excavated with his team of University graduate officers, the restoration of Nalanda Gedige of Mahabalipuram architectural style, in rescuing it from being inundated with the waters of the river Mahaweli, was is epitome of outstanding feats in the field of architectural conservation.

Above all, Prof Prematilleke has carved a deep niche among prolific academic researchers. His research publications date from the year he joined the University in 1960 to this day. His publications show beyond doubt the calibre of his class of academics who did not believe in quantity but quality of the contents of research. Sometimes alone and sometimes as Co-author with highly recognized local and foreign academics. Prof Prematilleke has earned international repute as a Man of Letters. The 30 major publications in the form of albums of large magnitude on Sri Lanka Paintings, in which venture he played the pivotal role of Team Leader, have been recognized the world over as a rare and acclaimed series. In the same capacity and the same magnitude, he has now commenced a new series on Sculpture of Sri Lanka of which the first volume on Buddha is already published. Prof Prematilleke's contributions to the academic society included research on Sri Lankan Archaeology, Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, Numismatics, Heritage Management, Technology and many other subjects. The ancient technical text, Manjusrivastuvidyasastra, which he co-edited, constitutes a highly acclaimed piece of research, (vide, List of publications).

In the field of dissemination of knowledge throughout the world, Prof Prematilleke has made special presentations at many international forums. The Archaeological Museums he has organized at Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Kandy and the National Museum, Colombo, are considered virtual educational institutions visited by thousands of students, public and many researchers. As a Visiting Professor or Senior Fellow to Universities of UK, The Netherlands and Japan, Prof Prematilleke has contributed more than his share in the field of archaeological education.

In the years to come, when lesser individuals like us have played their insignificant part and vanished into the limbo of the forgotten, I am sure, the history of archaeology in this country will place him on a colossal pedestal due to him.

The writer is the former Director Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya and the National Museums Department.