Heritage as Prime Mover in History, Culture and Religion of South and Southeast Asia

6th SSEASR Conference, Colombo, Sri Lanka
June 04-07, 2015
organised bySouth and Southeast Asian Association for Culture and Religion (SSEASR)
Hosted by

University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Joined byInternational Association for Asian Heritage (IAAH)
Sri Lanka Association of Buddhist Studies (SLABS)
Human beings are much more than what we see them externally. While they constitute living organisms, they carrywith them their cultures, religions, ideologies and histories. They belong to some specific space and time, and arebasically product of those spatio-temporal contexts. In other words, all human beings have their multi-form heritage
behind them.
The academic study of heritage in South and Southeast Asia is much relevant as it encompasses various aspects ofculture and religion. The 6th SSEASR Conference aims at encouraging scholars from all parts of the world to delve into
the issues of both tangible/intangible heritage; problems therein, the crisis of widening gap and the fast changing
values in the culture and religion of South and Southeast Asian societies.
The Conference also intends to have a Symposium on Vestiges of Sri Lankan Heritage where the experts would maketheir presentations to make us understand its dynamics. At the same time, the 6th SSEASR, like in the past, is mostwelcomingly open to any other academic presentation on culture and religion which are not covered by thesubthemes as shown above.
Sub-Themes Defining and Understanding of Heritage
 Philosophy, Religion and Heritage Archaeology of Religion
 The Heritage of Indigenous Medicines and Healing Systems
 Sacred Leaves, Trees and Flowers in South and Southeast Asian cultures
 Tools of Communication vis-à-vis Culture and Religion
 Tourism and Pilgrimage Sites in South and Southeast Asia ‘Housing’ Heritage: Museology in Action
 Symbols, Art and Architecture in Regional Cultures
 Language, Literature and ‘Learning’: Linking Culture and Religion
 History, Epigraphy and Numismatics
 Folklore and Oral History as Intangible Heritage

South and Southeast Asian Diaspora: Carriers of Heritage
Individual panel proposals are also welcome. Please send such proposal with the names of participants (minimum 3)
to us by email and online submission for each participant is required to be done afterwards.
Note:
The SSEASR operates under the policies and principles of the parent body International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR), whichseeks to promote the activities of all scholars and affiliates that contribute to the historical, social, and comparative study of religion. As such,
the IAHR is the preeminent international forum for the critical, analytical and cross-cultural study of religion, past and present. The IAHR is not aforum for confessional, apologetical, or other similar concerns.

PATRONSVen. Welimitiyawe Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thero, Chancellor, University of Kelaniya
Prof. Sunanda Maddumabandara, Vice Chancellor, University of Kelaniya
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Prof. Amarjiva Lochan, President, SSEASR (Co-Chair)Ven. Prof. Ittademaliye Indasara Nayaka Thera, Vice Chancellor, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka
Prof. Roland Silva, former Director General, Central Cultural Fund, Sri Lanka
Prof. Athula Ranasinghe, Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo
Ven. Prof. Kollupitiya Mahinda Nayaka Thero, Professor of Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya
Prof. Seneke Bandaranayake, Former Vice Chancellor, University of Kelaniya
Prof. Oliver Abenayaka, Former Dean, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka
Prof. J. B. Dissanayake, Emeritus Professor of Sinhala, University of Colombo
Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda, University of Colombo
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
Prof. Rosalind I.W. Hackett, Professor of Religion, University of Tennessee, USA, President, IAHR( Chair)Prof. Abdul Toyabb, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Vice President, IAHR( Vice Chair)Prof. Ananda W.P. Guruge, USA
Prof. Arvind Sharma, University of Montreal, Canada
Prof. Brian Bocking, Professor of Religion, UCC, Cork, Ireland, Treasurer, IAHR
NATIONAL COMMITTEE
Prof. A. H. M. H. Abayarathna, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya (Chair)Prof. Sophana Srichampa, Secretary General, SSEASR (Co-Chair)
Prof Asanga Tilakaratne, Professor of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Colombo(Co-Chair)Prof. Anura Manatunga, Director, Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya (Secretary)
Prof. A.A.D. Amarasekera, Professor, Dept of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya
Prof. Subhangi Herath, Department of Sociology, University of Colombo
Rev. Uduhawara Ananda Thera, Buddhist Studies Program, University of Colombo, Colombo
Dr. Anuttaradevi Widyalankara, Dept of History, University of Colombo, Colombo (Co-Secretary)
Prof. S. Pushparatnam, Dept of History, University of Jaffna, Jaffna
Dr. Chulani Rambukwella, Dept of Archaeology, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya
Prof. Praneeth Abeysundara, Dept of Sociology, University of Sri Jayawardanepura, Nugegoda
Dr. Pushpa Kulanatha, Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo
Prof. Mapa Thilakarathna, Dept of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya
Dr. Indika Bulankulama, Dept of Social Studies, Open University of Sri Lanka, Colombo
As the Vesak Celebrations ( Buddha Purnima), the biggest Buddhist Festival is on June 01, pre-ConferenceTour is being worked out for the participants. We are also working on a 3 day post conference tours which would takeyou to all marvels of tangible heritage. Other details regarding the accommodation, the amount of registration fees
and the mode of payment would be announced very soon. For details, and registration form online filling, please visit
the link: www.sseasr.org/registration-form-wsc.php
Important Dates
Early Registration Deadline: February 28, 2015
Last Submission of Abstract: April 30, 2015

REGISTRATION FEESLocal Participants
Early Registration: 4500 SLR
Late Registration: 5000 SLR
Full Time Students: 3000 SLR

Foreign Participants
Early Registration: US$ 300
Late Registration: US$ 350
Full Time Students: US$ 250

Developing Countries Participants
Early Registration: US$ 250
Late Registration: US$ 300
Full Time Students: US$ 200

Overseas Persons: US$ 200
Retired Academicians: US$ 250
Retired Academicians: US$ 200
SSEASR/IAAH/SLABS Life Member: 3000 SLR SSEASR/IAAH/SLABS Life Member: US$ 250
SSEASR/IAAH/SLABS Life Member: US$ 200
Registration fee covers conference day meals, dinners, coffee break and conference publications. It does not include air tickets, hotels,
and other personal expenses. We are working on airport pick-up and drop service at a nominal cost.

ACCOUNT DETAILSAll payments for the Conference are required to be made at the SSEASR regional Office bank Account in Bangkok;
Name of the Account: SSEASRBank Name: SIAM COMMERCIAL BANK PUBLIC LIMITED
Sub branch: Mahidol University, Nakhonpathom, Thailand
Bank Account Number: 3332 165037
Swift Code: SICOTHBK(Please cover all transaction cost while transferring the money.)

HOTEL AND TOUR DETAILS
Already Posted (http://sseasr.org/images/pdf/6th_SSEASR_conference_second_announcement.pdf)