CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION
Ph. D. 2025 Brown University, Department of History of Art and Architecture
Dissertation title: Material and Memory: Rewriting Colonial Architecture from Rubble in Contemporary Colombo
M.A. 2025 Brown University, Department of Anthropology
M.Phil. 2018 University of Queensland, School of Architecture
B.A. 2015 Bryn Mawr College
Magna cum laude. Growth and Structure of Cities and Fine Arts (Sculpture)
PUBLICATIONS
Peer-reviewed
2023 “The Debris Within: Negotiations of the Past within Colonial Mansions of Ceylon,” Architecture Beyond Europe, Issue 21.
2018 “Dwelling on the Colonial Dichotomy – Comparison of Elite Colonial Dwellings in Colombo, Sri Lanka and Brisbane, Australia.” MPhil Dissertation, Brisbane, Australia: University of Queensland.
Conference Proceedings
2017 “Narrative of the Bungalow – Literary Depictions of the Colonial Bungalows of Colombo, Sri Lanka.” Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand Conference Proceedings. Canberra, Australia.
Other Publications
2024 “Collaborative Seedings: Grounded Artistic Practices, Pedagogies and Questions,” ASAP | Art.
2024 “Constructing Worlds: Ruwangi Amarasinghe’s Fantastical Forests,” ASAP | Art.
2024 “Kompagngna Veediya, Colombo,” in Crazy Fish Sing, edited by Simone Brioni, Yogurt Editions Press.
Forthcoming
2025 Contributing Writer (Asia), Global Encyclopedia of Women in Architecture, 1960-2015, edited by Karen Burns and Lori Brown, Bloomsbury Academic Press.
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2024 Scott Opler Graduate Scholar Fellowship, Society of Architectural Historians.
2023 Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia Fellowship, Brown University.
2023 Moholt Vanel Travel Award, Brown University.
2022 International Dissertation Research Fellowship, Social Sciences Research Council.
2021 Center for Contemporary South Asia Fellowship, Brown University.
2020 Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship in Open Graduate Education Program, Brown University.
2019 The Kermit S. Champa Travel Award, Brown University.
2017 The paper titled Colonial Revival Comparison was selected as one of the Top 8 papers submitted by Early-stage researchers. International Conference on Preservation, Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Historical Buildings and Structures. Braga, Portugal.
2016 Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship, University of Queensland.
2016 University of Queensland Centennial Scholarship, University of Queensland.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
2024 Mirroring Form: Stories from/of/with(in) the Rubble of the De Soysa Building. Society of Architectural Historians Conference. Albuquerque New Mexico.
2022 Ruination, Decolonization, and Aestheticization: An Art Festival Amidst the Colonial Architecture of Colombo, Sri Lanka. SLiGroup PhD and Early Career Researcher Workshop at the Asian Studies Association of Australia Conference (via Zoom).
2021 The Persistent Ruin: Negotiation of the Past within Colonial Bungalows and Mansions of Ceylon. Graduate Lightning Talks presented by the Society of Architectural Historians Conference (via Zoom).
2017 Narrative of the Bungalow – Literary Depictions of the Colonial Bungalows of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand Conference. Canberra, Australia.
2017 Colonial Revival Comparison. International Conference on Preservation, Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Historical Buildings and Structures. Braga, Portugal.
CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION
2022 Co-chair, Graduate Lightning Talks presented by the Society of Architectural Historians Conference, Pittsburgh.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2024 Visiting Lecturer. Designed in European Style: Colonial Architecture of the Global South, History of Art and Architecture, Brown University
2024 Teaching Assistant. Right to the City, Urban Studies (Global Experiential Learning and Teaching), Brown University.
2022 Head Teaching Assistant. Contemporary Architecture, History of Art and Architecture, Brown University.
2021 Teaching Assistant. Architecture of the House through Time and Space, History of Art and Architecture, Brown University.
2020 Teaching Assistant. Architecture and Urbanism of Africa, History of Art and Architecture, Brown University.
2019 Teaching Assistant. Modern Architecture, History of Art and Architecture, Brown University.
2017 Tutor. Architecture in Asia, School of Architecture, University of Queensland.
CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE
2018 Co-liberate, Art Connect, Colombo Fashion Week.
PEDAGOGICAL TRAINING
2020 Sheridan Teaching Seminar – Reflective Teaching, Brown University.
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2018 Graduate Research Assistant, LIRNEasia, Sri Lanka.
2015 Research Executive, Quantum Consumer Solutions, Sri Lanka.
2013 Research Intern, Urban Development Authority, Sri Lanka.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING
2022 Brown Executive Scholars Training Program, Brown University.
UNIVERSITY SERVICE
2021-22 Graduate Liaison to the Faculty, History of Art and Architecture, Brown University.
2020-22 Coordinator – Techne Workshops, History of Art and Architecture, Brown University.
2019-22 Mentor – Graduate-Undergraduate Mentorship Program, History of Art and Architecture, Brown University
2019-20 Departmental Representative – Graduate Student Council, Brown University.
2018-19 Graduate Student Council – Nominations Committee, Brown University.
2018-19 Graduate Student Council – Social Committee, Brown University.
AFFILIATIONS
2019-25 Society of Architectural Historians
2016-18 Society of Architectural Historians Australia and New Zealand
LANGUAGES
Sinhala: Native fluency in speaking; Advanced reading
Tamil: Beginner speaking; Beginner reading
PAMUDU TENNAKOON 