Itihas ·

Advancing history education reform in Sri Lanka.

Itihas ·

Advancing history education reform in Sri Lanka.

Itihas ·

Advancing history education reform in Sri Lanka.

Itihas ·

Advancing history education reform in Sri Lanka.

Itihas =

Ithihāsa
History

+

Adahas
Ideas

Tamil
Ithihāsam

Sinhala
Ithihāsaya

Sanskrit
Itihāsa

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.

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.

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.