Second Folklore Research Conference organised by Art Assembly and Cultural Centre of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura was successfully held on 15th December 2017. This years conference was chaired by Dr. Praneeth Abeysundara, Senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, with the support from the secretary, Prof. Charmalie Nahallage, Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. The coordinator of the conference was Ms. Mayuri Thennakoon from the Cultural Centre. The main objective of the conference was to encourage the undergraduate students and academics to conduct research and to present them in an academic forum thereby giving the opportunity to develop the research culture.

Inauguration Ceremony of the conference was graced by Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Mr. A. Senanayaka, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs and by the Guest Speaker of the Conference; Dr. Jayantha Jayasiri, Senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and Dr. Janak Kumarasinghe, Treasurer of the Conference.  Academic and Non Academic members of the University also participated in the event.

The theme of this year conference was “Former Wisdom and Qualities for Today’s Coexistence”. The tracks ranged from Food Culture, Folk life – Folk Songs, Folk Dancing, Folk Tales, Folk Drama, Folk Medicine, Traditional art and Craft, ,Folk Religion, Rituals and Magic, Plant and Animal Lore etc. From the submitted 250 abstract represented at about 13 Universities and Institutions of the country at about 150 abstract were presented in the conference.

Evening of the conference day cultural show and award ceremony was held with traditional mask performances such as “Naga Raksha”, “Anabera Kolama”, “Salu Paliya” etc. This years ‘Best Poster Presentation Award’ won the poster titled “සුව දිවියට ජනශ්‍රැතියේ දායාද” presented by Dr. Gamini Ranasinghe from the Department of History and Archaeology in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Sri Jayewardeneura.

Ms. K. H. M. Rasika Darshani Malkanthi from the University of Ruhuna awarded with the ‘Best Abstract Award’ for her research abstract titled “Ancient Village Society evidenced from the Sokari Drama; with reference to the Ridimaliyadda Grama Niladhari Division”.