It is with profound sadness that the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASSL) announces the passing of its esteemed President, Dr. Malani Dias, on August 31, 2024, at the age of 81. Dr. Dias was a distinguished archaeologist and an expert in Epigraphy, whose contributions to the field and to the RASSL have left an indelible mark on Sri Lankan history and heritage.
Dr. Dias began her remarkable career at the Department of Archaeology in 1968, where she served for 35 years, culminating as the Director of Epigraphy and Numismatics. Her academic journey took her from Weragoda Vijayaba Vidyalaya to Southlands College in Galle, and then to Visakha Vidyalaya in Colombo. She earned her BA in Oriental Languages from the University of Ceylon in 1967, her MA in Sinhala Language from Kelaniya University in 1985, and her Ph.D. in Sinhalese Epigraphy from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London in 1989.
Dr. Dias was a prolific scholar, authoring numerous publications including Epigraphia Zeylanica Vol. VIII and Epigraphical Notes. Her research, particularly on the growth of Buddhist monastic institutions in Sri Lanka, has been widely recognized and respected both nationally and internationally.
Throughout her career, Dr. Dias held several prestigious positions, including Vice President and Chairperson of various standing committees of the World Fellowship of Buddhists. She was also a Fellow of the Sri Lanka Council of Archaeologists and received multiple awards for her contributions to archaeology and heritage, including the Swarna Award from the Ministry of National Heritage in 2014.
Dr. Dias’s leadership at the Royal Asiatic Society began in 2009 as Joint Secretary, later serving as Vice President, and ultimately as President from March 2021 until her passing. Under her guidance, the Society continued to flourish as a beacon of scholarly excellence in Sri Lanka.
Her funeral will be held on Monday, September 02, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at the General Cemetery, Kanatte. The Council of Archaeologists of Sri Lanka, along with the broader academic and archaeological community, mourns the loss of a true pioneer and a dedicated servant of Sri Lankan history and culture.
May she attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.