Go to …. https://itihas.lk/contact/ … Note that the presentation here is a re-cast selection by The Editor of Thuppahi who has also imposed his colourings on the text
Mission: What we hope to achieve
Itihas aims to equip Sri Lankan youth with the ability to think critically about their past, present, and future. It specifically aims to debunk mythological understandings of history that afford to particular ethno-religious groups a sense of superiority or authenticity over others. Rather than acting as a gatekeeper of knowledge, Itihas seeks to empower future generations of students, scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to learn about, research, and make informed decisions on divisive issues such as conflict, discrimination and violence in a manner that advances a more inclusive Sri Lanka.
Photo by Tashiya De Mel
Itihas – Advancing history education reform in Sri Lanka
Vision: What we envision
Itihas envisions a future in which Sri Lankan youth acknowledge and engage with multiple, contesting, and complex historical narratives with regard to identity, colonialism, power and citizenship. In this future, there is no ‘one truth’ or more valid version of history; instead, there is space for multiple experiences and realities to coexist.
About Itihas
Itihas is a non-profit organisation that promotes a more inclusive Sri Lanka through a better understanding of its recent history.
It was founded in October 2022 by Sri Lankan historian Shamara Wettimuny in the midst of a new wave of civic and political consciousness among Sri Lankan youth in the context of the 2022 protest movement. The organisation’s roots, however, predate the protests, and stem from the founder’s research on the severe shortcomings of Sri Lanka’s public-school history curricula and the lack of proper resources for meaningful historical research.
Shamara Wettimuny
