A group of twenty two from Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia, comprising faculty and students, scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka, recently called on Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Washington, D.C. Mahinda Samarasinghe. The group is conversant in the traditional art forms of Sri Lanka including kandyan dance.
The visiting team will be led by the 11th President of Randolph College, Prof. Sue Ott Rowlands, who believes in the importance of global partnerships, and cherishes Sri Lanka since her first visit in 2010. She was introduced to the country by Sri Lankan academic, geopolitics and foreign policy analyst, Asanga Abeyagoonasekera. Prof. Rowlands has a widely consequential career in leadership in the performing arts in several colleges across the US, with acclaimed expertise in drama and theatre. She has also delivered remarkable solo performances in a number of countries.
The visit will cover the UNESCO heritage sites in Anuradhapura, Kandy and Galle, and the group anticipates a highly rewarding and meaningful cultural experience, with an expert in the subject from Peradeniya University to accompany them. They hope to visit several architectural masterpieces of Geoffrey Bawa, one of the most influential Asian architects of his time. The academics also hope to pay a visit to the village of Sirambiyadi off Puttalam, to learn about the Kaffir traditions of the last clan of versatile Africans in Sri Lanka. During the sojourn in Colombo, they hope to interact with the University of Visual and Performing Arts and lay a firm foundation for greater cultural collaboration in the future.
Moreover, two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the University of Peradeniya, and Sri Palee Campus of the University of Colombo focused on student and cultural exchanges, and demography-related research programs are scheduled to be signed. Specific projects in relation to the two general MOUs will be followed later.
The Randolph College offers kandyan dance for academic credits, for the first time in its history and perhaps for the first time in the history of Liberal Arts in the US. This initiative was spearheaded by permanent Faculty Member at the University of Peradeniya, and Quillian Visiting International Scholar at Randolph College, Dr. Sudesh Mantillake. He also organized the Movement Rhizome: Quillian International Symposium on Sri Lanka, which delved into Sri Lanka’s culture, history, and resilience through performances, workshops, and academic discussions. The highlight of the symposium was a unique “docu-dance” performance “Contextualizing My Devil Dance,” led by Mantillake himself, accompanied by Chinthaka Bandara on percussion and vocals, and Vajira Mantillakein on dance and vocals. The event was a critical exploration of art, culture and history of the country.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington, D.C.
05 March 2025
