Attitudes and influences of modernism on Sri Lankan architecture

Abstract

This dissertation examines Modernism in Sri Lanka by the way of what kind of attitudes and how to influences on Sri Lankan architecture as the criteria for evaluating in architecture. It studies the period identified as Modernism in Sri Lanka from independence up to the present day. The period surrounding independence with the feeling of nationalism had provoked an overt expression in architecture was ignored. This is seen as a mere reaction to colonialism rather than to modernism. The rejection of this overt nationalism by the pioneers and their attempt to create a contextual modernism based on the vernacular is examined. It also analyses to see whether reviving the past in a positive sense could categorise them as 'Modernism '. By examining the attitudes and influences on contemporary Sri Lankan architecture and other examples seen as expressing modern identities it suggests the direction taken by the architecture of this period. It projects and examines their attitudes and influences in the architecture of the future for Sri Lanka.