Department of National Archives
Encyclopedia
The Department of National Archives is a non-ministerial government department
in Sri Lanka
which is the repository of the non-current records of the Government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters
of the National Archives is situated along Reid Avenue in close proximity to Independence square, Colombo
and has a branch office in Kandy
.
in Sri Lanka can be traced to the ancient Sri Lankan Kingdoms dating far back as third century BC, when officers were appointed to maintain Royal Archives of the Kings. In the 19th century Hay Macdowall noted that in the Kandian Court
there was an officer called Maha Mohotti, who maintained the archives of the Royal Palace
during the 18th and 19th centuries.
During the Monarchial period (3rd B.C to 1815 A.D) there had been an officers who was in charge of the royal (kings) archives and the 19th century account of Hay Macdowall reveals an officer called ‘Maha Mohotti’ as the officer who maintained the kandyan archives of the Royal palace during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The modern archives keeping started in the island by the Dutch
, who maintained an archives in Galle
. The current department was formed with the creation of the post of Government Archivist in 1901 by the Government of Ceylon
and was part of the Chief Secretaries Office (also known as the Colonial Secretary
). The Department of the Government Archivist was formally established in 1947. Following the enactment of the National Archives Law No. 48 of 1973 the department was re-named as the Department of National Archives.
1796-1947; copies of Crown Grants, Grain Tax Registers, Nila Pangu & Praveni Pangu Registers. Records since independence 1948; Government, Semi Government and of other institutions.
Apart from these there is a large collection of donated or purchased papers, manuscript
s and books from institutions and individuals such as the Horagolla library, which is the Bandaranaike
family records; the Times of Ceylon Collection; manuscripts from temples and private individuals; collection of election literature; Maps of the Portuguese, Dutch and British periods (1505-1947); Maps of Sri Lanka since Independence (Surveyor General's Maps). Also stored are government publications such as Ordinances 1796-1947; Government Gazettes 1802; Blue Books 1821-1937; Sessional Papers 1860 onwards; Administration Reports 1867 onwards; Hansards 1870 onwards and other publications (1885 onwards).
Non-ministerial government department
A non-ministerial government department is a department or ministry of a government that is not headed by a Government Minister or Government Secretary, and answers directly to a legislature ....
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
which is the repository of the non-current records of the Government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters
National Archives Building
The National Archives Building, known informally as Archives I, is the original headquarters of the National Archives and Records Administration...
of the National Archives is situated along Reid Avenue in close proximity to Independence square, Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
and has a branch office in Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
.
History
The current department operate under the regulations of the National Archives Law No. 48 of 1973, and National Archives (Amendment)Act No. 30 of 1981. The duties of archivistArchivist
An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media...
in Sri Lanka can be traced to the ancient Sri Lankan Kingdoms dating far back as third century BC, when officers were appointed to maintain Royal Archives of the Kings. In the 19th century Hay Macdowall noted that in the Kandian Court
Kingdom of Kandy
Kingdom of Kandy was an important independent monarchy of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century...
there was an officer called Maha Mohotti, who maintained the archives of the Royal Palace
Royal Palace of Kandy
The Royal Palace of Kandy in Kandy, is a the last royal residence of the Kingdom of Kandy and in Sri Lanka. The last King to reside in it was King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha until he was overthrown by the British in 1815 with the aid of Kandian chieftains...
during the 18th and 19th centuries.
During the Monarchial period (3rd B.C to 1815 A.D) there had been an officers who was in charge of the royal (kings) archives and the 19th century account of Hay Macdowall reveals an officer called ‘Maha Mohotti’ as the officer who maintained the kandyan archives of the Royal palace during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The modern archives keeping started in the island by the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, who maintained an archives in Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
. The current department was formed with the creation of the post of Government Archivist in 1901 by the Government of Ceylon
British Ceylon
British Ceylon refers to British rule prior to 1948 of the island territory now known as Sri Lanka.-From the Dutch to the British:Before the beginning of the Dutch governance, the island of Ceylon was divided between the Portuguese Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy, who were in the midst of a war for...
and was part of the Chief Secretaries Office (also known as the Colonial Secretary
Colonial Secretary
Colonial Secretary may refer to:* Secretary of State for the Colonies, British Cabinet minister who headed the Colonial Office, commonly referred to as Colonial Secretary...
). The Department of the Government Archivist was formally established in 1947. Following the enactment of the National Archives Law No. 48 of 1973 the department was re-named as the Department of National Archives.
Records
The records holdings in the Department of National Archives are records of the Portuguese period; Records of the Dutch period 1640-1796: Land Tombo, Head Tombo and School Tombo Council Minutes and practically all records of the Dutch administration in the Island; Records of the British PeriodBritish Ceylon
British Ceylon refers to British rule prior to 1948 of the island territory now known as Sri Lanka.-From the Dutch to the British:Before the beginning of the Dutch governance, the island of Ceylon was divided between the Portuguese Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy, who were in the midst of a war for...
1796-1947; copies of Crown Grants, Grain Tax Registers, Nila Pangu & Praveni Pangu Registers. Records since independence 1948; Government, Semi Government and of other institutions.
Apart from these there is a large collection of donated or purchased papers, manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
s and books from institutions and individuals such as the Horagolla library, which is the Bandaranaike
Bandaranaike
Bandaranaike might be one of the following people:*Solomon Dias Bandaranaike, Head Mudaliyar to the Governor of Ceylon*S. W. R. D...
family records; the Times of Ceylon Collection; manuscripts from temples and private individuals; collection of election literature; Maps of the Portuguese, Dutch and British periods (1505-1947); Maps of Sri Lanka since Independence (Surveyor General's Maps). Also stored are government publications such as Ordinances 1796-1947; Government Gazettes 1802; Blue Books 1821-1937; Sessional Papers 1860 onwards; Administration Reports 1867 onwards; Hansards 1870 onwards and other publications (1885 onwards).