The National Trust - Sri Lanka will be hosting a captivating lecture titled "Prehistoric Sri Lanka" as part of their Monthly Lecture Series No: 150. Renowned archaeologist Dr. Nimal Perera will be delivering the lecture, which will take place on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 6:00 pm. The event will be held at the Auditorium of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, located at No. 6, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7.

The lecture will shed light on the rich prehistoric record of Sri Lanka, spanning from the Middle Pleistocene to the Mid-Holocene, making it one of the most significant in South Asia. With archaeological evidence dating back as far as India, Sri Lanka has seen extensive exploration and excavation of numerous sites, conducted to high standards. Notably, the island's lowland southwest region is home to exceptional late Pleistocene rock-shelters that have been extensively studied. Moreover, Sri Lanka possesses valuable ethnographic records of contemporary hunter-gatherer communities, providing insights into plant usage, hunting techniques, land utilization patterns, and material culture.

As a strategically located landmass approximately midway between Africa and Australia, along the northern rim of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka played a crucial role in the evolution and dispersal of modern humans. The prehistoric record of the island also offers valuable information on technological advancements and the development of symbolism. Dr. Nimal Perera's lecture will focus on the abundance of Sri Lanka's prehistoric heritage and its significant contribution to the evolution and dispersion of modern humans.

Dr. Nimal Perera, a highly esteemed archaeologist, obtained his B.A. in Archaeology, Geography, and Political Science from the University of Peradeniya. He went on to earn his M.A. (First Class) in Archaeology from the University of Pune, India, and a Ph.D. from the Australian National University in Canberra. Having joined the Department of Archaeology in 1982, Dr. Perera served as the Deputy Director General until his retirement from the Department in 2013. Regarded as an expert in Sri Lanka's Pleistocene sites, he has led various excavations in late Pleistocene-early Holocene rock shelters and open-air sites, where he pioneered the application of geoarchaeological and bioarchaeological methods.

Enthusiasts of archaeology, anthropology, and the history of human civilization will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights into Sri Lanka's prehistoric heritage through this enlightening lecture by Dr. Nimal Perera, an esteemed authority in the field.