{"title":"Lorna Dewaraja","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"the-kandy-asala-maha-perahara","title":"The Kandy Asala Maha Perahara","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg\u003eDr Lorna Srimathie Dewaraja (1929-2014) was former Associate Professor of History at the University of Colombo and Director General of the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) (2006-2008), Colombo, as well as Sri Lanka's first woman to be selected to the prestigious Rhodes Fellowship at the University of Oxford.\u003cbr\u003eDr Lorna Dewaraja (nee Fernando) was among the pioneering generation of women graduates of the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya where she completed her undergraduate studies in History. She then proceeded to London for post-graduate studies obtaining her PhD from the University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies). Her doctoral thesis on the \"Kandyan Kingdom\" remains the most authoritative historical work to date.\u003cbr\u003eDr Dewaraja was appointed Associate Professor in History at the University of Colombo. In 1977 she was awarded the prestigious Rhodes Fellowship by the University of Oxford, at St. Anne's College. After her University career, she worked briefly as an International Civil Servant, working at the UNESCO regional office, Bangkok. Upon retirement, she joined Dr. Vernon Mendis former senior diplomat, to set up the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI), Colombo. Dr. Dewaraja served as the Director of the BIDTI from 1995 to 2006 and succeeded Dr. Vernon Mendis in 2006 as the Director General and served in that capacity till 2008.\u003cbr\u003eDr Dewaraja's authoritative historical work includes the history of the Muslims in Sri Lanka as well as the lesser known aspects of the French colonial incursion in Sri Lanka in the 18th century. Dr Dewaraja has written and lectured extensively on the historical antecedents of Sri Lanka's international relations, the role of women and on many aspects of Buddhism. In the last years of her life she collaborated with other eminent historians to edit the third volume of the \"History of Sri Lanka\", which chronicles the history of Sri Lanka from the very inception. Among the many active leadership positions she held included the Royal Asiatic Society.                                       \u003cbr\u003eShe was married to Amarawansa Dewaraja, a Sinhala and Pali scholar and former Director of Sri Lanka's National Archives, who shared her love for the country's rich historical heritage. She made many trips to Kandy to watch the annual Perahara with her family and enjoyed reliving the associated history with her children and grandchildren. This book, dedicated to her grandchildren and written as a tribute to the Kandy Asala Perahara, was completed just months before she passed away in 2014. Sri Lanka bestowed upon her the national Honour of \"Kala Keerthi for her contribution to the nation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vijitha Yapa Bookshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44445303275607,"sku":"171038","price":950.0,"currency_code":"LKR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/5517\/6535\/files\/THEKANDYASALAMAHAPERAHARAF1.webp?v=1791863337"}],"url":"https:\/\/seevalibooks.lk\/collections\/lorna-dewaraja.oembed","provider":"Seevali Bookshop (Pvt) Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}