Sanjeewani Upaka Widyarathne

Biography

Having achieved a BA degree in History from the University of Kelaniya; a post-graduate diploma in Archaeology; a post-graduate diploma in museology and an MA in Archaeology, Sanjeewani joined as the National Museum, Colombo as an Education Promoting Officer in September 2005. In this role it is Sanjeewani’s responsibility to organise educational programmes and guided tours to provide knowledge on the history, heritage and museological methods of the Colombo National Museum to both local and foreign visitors. Sanjeewani plays an active role in the arrangement of exhibits and dealing with the requirements of objects in the permanent exhibition galleries. She also gets involved in temporary and mobile exhibitions and takes care of 16 gallery registers and databases of historical exhibits in the museum.

Sanjeewani is always partaking in various workshops, courses and conferences. She has written multiple research papers on a wide range of topics and participated in the 21st General conference and 22nd General Assembly of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in Vienna, Austria in 2007. At present Sanjeewani is doing research to introduce a system of accessibility and usability of museums in Sri Lanka for differently-abled people.

At the British Museum

During her time on the International Training Programme Sanjeewani was based in the Department of Asia and she spent her partner placement at National Museums Northern Ireland.

Sanjeewani worked with Nagwa Bakr (Egypt) on her Object in focus project. Their exhibition proposal was titled Spiritual Journey.

Sanjeewani’s place on the International Training Programme was generously supported by the Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Charitable Trust.

ITP Newsletter Publications
ITP Newsletter Issue 7 (2020), Your collection in focus: Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara: a masterpiece of Sinhalese Sculpture
ITP Newsletter Issue 7 (2020), Teaching Museums Audiences: the backbone of our museum