Finding local historians or guides for maritime/colonial history deep dives?

Some independent guides and historians in Galle, Colombo, and Jaffna specialize in colonial and maritime history. They can often be found through cultural centers, universities, or recommendations from heritage hotels. Galle Fort has several knowledgeable people who offer walking tours with deeper historical context. For more specialized interests, reaching out to local historical societies or asking at museums can yield good contacts. These guides are often not heavily advertised online — word of mouth and local connections work best.