Ama H Vanniarachchy

Journalist / Deputy Features Editor / Archaeologist / Writer

Colombo District, Western Province, Sri Lanka

About

Award-winning journalist, archaeologist, researcher, and writer specialising in Sri Lankan cultural heritage, history, and archaeology. My areas of interest include cultural history, Buddhist archaeology, Buddhist art, feminist heritage studies, and gender perspectives in cultural heritage. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Archaeology from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and am currently pursuing an MPhil in Archaeology. I previously served as Deputy Editor – Features at Ceylon Today, where I worked extensively in feature journalism, cultural reporting, and heritage writing. My work brings together the fields of heritage and journalism, a unique interdisciplinary combination in Sri Lanka. As one of the few professionals actively working at this intersection, I seek to bridge academic research and public engagement through journalism, publications, research, and heritage initiatives. I am committed to documenting, preserving, interpreting, and promoting Sri Lanka's rich cultural legacy while making historical and archaeological knowledge accessible to wider audiences.

Experience

  • Head of Administration at Bauddhaloka Foundation
    Mar 2026 - Present · 5 mos

    Heritage Preservation and Conservation.

  • Ceylon Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd (6 yrs 2 mos)
    • Deputy Features Editor Ceylon Today
      Dec 2024 - Mar 2026 · 1 yr 4 mos

    • Senior Journalist
      Aug 2023 - Jun 2025 · 1 yr 11 mos

    • Journalist
      Feb 2020 - Aug 2023 · 3 yrs 7 mos

  • Visiting Lecturer at University of Vocational Technology - Sri Lanka
    Mar 2021 - Mar 2022 · 1 yr 1 mo

  • Visiting Lecturer at SLIIT
    Feb 2014 - Jul 2020 · 6 yrs 6 mos

  • Archaeology Resaerch Officer at Central Cultural Fund
    May 2017 - Feb 2020 · 2 yrs 10 mos