ICOMOS Thailand International Conference 2013 FULL PAPER 1 The “Sense of Place” and diminishing living heritage in the World Heritage site of Galle Fort, Sri Lanka Theme 3: Conservation of historic community Mrs. Amanda Rajapakse Senior Lecturer, Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka 6A1, Terrence Avenue, Mt.Lavinia, Sri Lanka. Tel :00 94 773017733 E-Mail:amandaraj@gmail.com ABSTRACT The study is on the World Heritage site of Galle Fort in Sri Lanka, its authentic sense of place and diminishing living heritage. The Galle Fort was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1988 on the basis of criterion IV of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), having to meet the condition of authenticity, focusing on the “physical” exceptionality of the site. The Galle Fort is and has been a living heritage site for the past three and a half centuries. Its identity is also characterized by the people living there and the natural processes involved in inhabiting the place. The site faces issues related to gentrification since gaining World Heritage status. Excessive gentrification could disrupt the authentic sense of place of this living heritage site. Even though the sense of place of Galle Fort is not defined as a dimension of its heritage as of now, the concept of ‘sense of place’ or ‘spirit of place’ has been understood as a critical component of “authenticity” and a representation of the authentic identity in communities maintaining tradition and cultural continuity of a historic place (UNESCO Operational Guidelines 2012: 22). The study incorporates the concept of “sense of place” as a theoretical construct to analyse the Galle Fort by developing a framework based on the definitions and components of “place identity”. Historical data were collected; structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews were conducted with a cross section of the community; and, cultural practices and social tempos observed and analyzed for this purpose. The “Core dimensions” in the identity and sense of place and prevailing threats or “Risk dimensions” to the authentic sense of place of Galle Fort were established, to enable a sustainable conservation and heritage management approach to conserve the place for posterity. KEYWORDS: Sense of Place, Authenticity, Community Values, Gentrification, Sustainable Conservation and Heritage Management