Samudra de Silva | University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (original) (raw)

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Papers by Samudra de Silva

Research paper thumbnail of Artefacts of Culture; Vesak Postage Stamps of Sri Lanka

Springer Series in Design and Innovation, 2022

Postage stamps are an integral part of a communication system, the postal service of a country. T... more Postage stamps are an integral part of a communication system, the postal service of a country. Technically they are fiscal receipts of the prepayment for a postage service. Although postage stamps are less encountered in daily lives today, they remain as primary sources of global material and visual culture. Being a product made by humans of a specific community, for an intentional communication, and inherent of purposeful and symbolic content, a postage stamp can be identified as an artefact of the culture that it was produced in. When looking at philatelic practices of Sri Lanka, issuing a Vesak commemorative stamp annually has been the longest continuing tradition. The Vesak postage stamps of Sri Lanka have its roots in Buddhist culture. Vesak is the combined commemoration of the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Buddha, celebrated by 506 million Buddhists worldwide, which is approximately 6% of the world population. It is an international holiday for United Nations member countries in South East Asia. Propagating the message of compassion and devotion to the service of humanity, various philanthropic activities, religious observances, as well as Vesak decorations, happen during Vesak. Complementing the state sponsored national Vesak celebrations, Sri Lankan government issues a Vesak postage stamp, annually. A total of 86 Vesak stamps have been issued by the Philatelic Bureau of Sri Lanka from 1969 to 2020. This research analyses Vesak stamps and its application as artefacts of Sri Lankan Buddhist culture. Three case studies with three sets of Vesak stamps were investigated to learn how the information intrinsic to culture is inscribed within them. Through the study if was found that Vesak commemorative stamps of Sri Lanka depict both material and non-material aspects of Vesak culture as well as Vesak stamps are planned to act as carriers of ideological meanings and values in Buddhism, to the audiences.

Reports by Samudra de Silva

Research paper thumbnail of Survey Report on Transboundary Marine Litter in the Western Province of Sri Lanka

Transboundary marine litter (TBML) refers to any persistent manufactured or processed solid waste... more Transboundary marine litter (TBML) refers to any persistent manufactured or processed solid waste that ends up in the marine environment, crossing international borders. These marine debris made up of materials such as plastic, metal, and rubber and can come from various land based activities, shipping and fishing. What is compelling about TBML is that, how the waste of one country could affect the environment and citizens of another country. Through Ocean currents, TBML can travel from areas of high abundant pollution to areas of less pollution making any ecologically sensitive areas vulnerable. TBML can entangle, suffocate and otherwise harm marine animals, degrade the quality of marine and coastal habitats, and often act as a carrier for invasive species. TBML of peculiar characteristics than those of local litter can impose additional risks on environment and human health. In order to mitigate these impacts, it is essential to understand the various forms in which TBML occurs, and their pathways. This study was conducted to address the knowledge gap regarding TBML in the Indian Ocean region, and to establish a baseline for comprehending the accumulation of TBML along Sri Lanka's Western Province over time. The study comprised of two components; the main survey and the citizen science survey. For the main survey, 9 locations from the districts of Kalutara, Colombo, and Gampaha were selected based on the accessibility, visibility, and prevalence of marine litter in the area. The survey focused on stranded liquid containers, and the debris of products which cannot be purchased locally is considered TBML. The Citizen Science survey was aimed at involving students from academia, coastal communities, and beachgoers in scientific research, through an online data gathering platform accessible to the public. The accumulation of TBML was analyzed according to the location found, monsoon season and the country of origin. The study revealed that India is the major contributor of TBML in Sri Lanka, followed by China. The majority of TMBL encountered in the survey originated from the Asian continent. Sometimes it can be challenging to trace back to the source of TMBL, making it hard to understand the cause of litter and to take targeted measures to lessen its impact. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of effective strategies for addressing the issue of TBML in the Indian Ocean region.

Research paper thumbnail of Artefacts of Culture; Vesak Postage Stamps of Sri Lanka

Springer Series in Design and Innovation, 2022

Postage stamps are an integral part of a communication system, the postal service of a country. T... more Postage stamps are an integral part of a communication system, the postal service of a country. Technically they are fiscal receipts of the prepayment for a postage service. Although postage stamps are less encountered in daily lives today, they remain as primary sources of global material and visual culture. Being a product made by humans of a specific community, for an intentional communication, and inherent of purposeful and symbolic content, a postage stamp can be identified as an artefact of the culture that it was produced in. When looking at philatelic practices of Sri Lanka, issuing a Vesak commemorative stamp annually has been the longest continuing tradition. The Vesak postage stamps of Sri Lanka have its roots in Buddhist culture. Vesak is the combined commemoration of the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Buddha, celebrated by 506 million Buddhists worldwide, which is approximately 6% of the world population. It is an international holiday for United Nations member countries in South East Asia. Propagating the message of compassion and devotion to the service of humanity, various philanthropic activities, religious observances, as well as Vesak decorations, happen during Vesak. Complementing the state sponsored national Vesak celebrations, Sri Lankan government issues a Vesak postage stamp, annually. A total of 86 Vesak stamps have been issued by the Philatelic Bureau of Sri Lanka from 1969 to 2020. This research analyses Vesak stamps and its application as artefacts of Sri Lankan Buddhist culture. Three case studies with three sets of Vesak stamps were investigated to learn how the information intrinsic to culture is inscribed within them. Through the study if was found that Vesak commemorative stamps of Sri Lanka depict both material and non-material aspects of Vesak culture as well as Vesak stamps are planned to act as carriers of ideological meanings and values in Buddhism, to the audiences.

Research paper thumbnail of Survey Report on Transboundary Marine Litter in the Western Province of Sri Lanka

Transboundary marine litter (TBML) refers to any persistent manufactured or processed solid waste... more Transboundary marine litter (TBML) refers to any persistent manufactured or processed solid waste that ends up in the marine environment, crossing international borders. These marine debris made up of materials such as plastic, metal, and rubber and can come from various land based activities, shipping and fishing. What is compelling about TBML is that, how the waste of one country could affect the environment and citizens of another country. Through Ocean currents, TBML can travel from areas of high abundant pollution to areas of less pollution making any ecologically sensitive areas vulnerable. TBML can entangle, suffocate and otherwise harm marine animals, degrade the quality of marine and coastal habitats, and often act as a carrier for invasive species. TBML of peculiar characteristics than those of local litter can impose additional risks on environment and human health. In order to mitigate these impacts, it is essential to understand the various forms in which TBML occurs, and their pathways. This study was conducted to address the knowledge gap regarding TBML in the Indian Ocean region, and to establish a baseline for comprehending the accumulation of TBML along Sri Lanka's Western Province over time. The study comprised of two components; the main survey and the citizen science survey. For the main survey, 9 locations from the districts of Kalutara, Colombo, and Gampaha were selected based on the accessibility, visibility, and prevalence of marine litter in the area. The survey focused on stranded liquid containers, and the debris of products which cannot be purchased locally is considered TBML. The Citizen Science survey was aimed at involving students from academia, coastal communities, and beachgoers in scientific research, through an online data gathering platform accessible to the public. The accumulation of TBML was analyzed according to the location found, monsoon season and the country of origin. The study revealed that India is the major contributor of TBML in Sri Lanka, followed by China. The majority of TMBL encountered in the survey originated from the Asian continent. Sometimes it can be challenging to trace back to the source of TMBL, making it hard to understand the cause of litter and to take targeted measures to lessen its impact. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of effective strategies for addressing the issue of TBML in the Indian Ocean region.