Research

Interior View, St. Mary’s Church, Delft Island, Jaffna
Books Conferences Documentations Editorials Exhibitions Journal Papers
Over the last decade, Sagara has been able to disseminate the acquaintance to the community of architecture through several published books, conference papers, public lectures and journal articles on art and architecture in both local and overseas contexts. In 2014, as a beneficiary of the scholarship programme of Fundação Oriente, Portugal he was engaged in a much deeper study on religio-cultural affairs of Sri Lanka during the overseas expansions of 16th and 17th centuries.

In accolade of Sagara’s authorship in his publications of the significant works on the art and architecture of Sri Lanka’s ecclesiastical heritage, he won the Sri Lanka Institute of Architect’s annual award for Architectural Publications twice in 2008 & 2013 together with the Architectural Research Gold Award in 2017.
Remains of Dark Days:
The Architectural Heritage of Oratorian Missionary Churches
in Sri Lanka
Sagara Jayasinghe, Joaquim Rodrigues dos Santos and Helder Carita.
Artis Press, School of Arts and Humanities, University of Lisbon, Portugal, 2019
ISBN: 978-989-54585-0-9

“This small book opens a wide perspective by introducing the reader to the churches of Portuguese influence built in Sri Lanka by Oratorians from India”

Sacred Architecture Journal

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The book is a narrative of the turbulent, historical, cultural and artistic context of the Goan Oratorian architectural tradition, adopted to the temporal and spiritual needs of the native Catholic population of Sri Lanka, during the 18th and 19th centuries, through various form of Indo-Portuguese influences. While analyzing in detail the growth and the current situation of the “Oratorian Church Models” which is unique to Sri Lanka, the passages trace the historical background of the Portuguese missionary church architecture from which it emerged. The book also looks at the diversity of architectural traditions of the Oratorians (formally known as Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri) in other Portuguese territories around the world.
The Black Prince’s Chapel:
The church built by a Sinhalese Prince in Portugal
Sagara Jayasinghe.
Vijitha Yapa Publications, Colombo, 2014 ISBN: 978-955-665-248-2

“A full description of the architecture of this church is available in the beautifully produced book...”

Sri Lanka at the Crossroads of History

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One of the objectives of this publication is to portray architecture as a living record and its positive contribution towards transnational identity. This idea is explored through the church of “Our Lady of the Gate of Heaven”, Telheiras in the suburbs of Lisbon that spans over four hundred years. This church is historically unique in relation to the political and religio-cultural affairs of Sri Lanka and Portugal during the Portuguese overseas expansions of 16th and 17th centuries. It goes down in history as the one and only building erected in overseas by a member of a Sri Lankan royal family. It was originally built by Dom Joao of Kandyan Kingdom, known as the Black Prince in historical chronicles. An attempt has been made to document all available evidence for the benefit of future research and also for archival purposes. It is the first time a formal documentation including a set of measured drawings has been made on the architectural style of the church.
Santhanadeepaya:
Heritage Catholic Churches of the Kalpitiya Peninsula
Sagara Jayasinghe.
Talwila, St. Anne’s National Shrine, 2012 ISBN: 978-955-4529-0-8

“The book is timely for it demands that without being bias to look at historical validity...”

Daily News

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The book is a historical and architectural survey of the Catholic churches of the Kalpitiya peninsula which is located in the North-Western province of Sri Lanka. While analysing in detail the historical evolution of art and architecture of the centre of devotion of the peninsula; the St Anne’s Shrine, one of the most ancient Christian shrines in Sri Lanka, it also traces the diversity of architectural design in other church buildings in the peninsula. The book also narrates the often-turbulent history of the unfolding and institutional growth of Catholicism in the Kalpitiya peninsula from the Portuguese Padroado to present day.
Dwelling of Faith:
Art & Architecture of the Catholic Churches in the Galle Diocese
Sagara Jayasinghe.
Galle, Bishop’s House, 2007 ISBN: 978-955-1792-00-8

“...magical and evocative record of a part of our architectural heritage not previously told so lovingly”

The Architect

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Church architecture in southern Sri Lanka evinces an affinity to the physical context rooted in a community of faith that created it and continues to nurture it. The book presents a record of the art and architectural heritage of catholic churches in Southern Sri Lanka, which is not widely known outside the province. Care and attention has been given to presenting the details of twelve church buildings in the Southern province, from the majestic St. Mary’s Cathedral (1874) in Galle to the quaint little Church of Our Lady of Sorrows (1867), Hambantota. Furthermore, the work describes the social and physical context from the Padroado system of colonial era to present day that gave rise to such a heritage.
Reviews
Recording the art and architectural heritage of churches
Domus Sri Lanka, October-November, 2015
The architect inspired by the Black Prince’s chapel
Sunday Times, December 21, 2014
Heritage Catholic Churches of the Kalpitiya peninsula
Daily News, December 03, 2012
Valuable contribution to promote art and architecture in churches
Daily News, September 26, 2007
Nostalgia: Down memory lane through the ‘serious houses’ in the Galle Diocese
Sunday Observer, November 18, 2007
Dwellings of Faith
The Architect, October, 2007