The Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura organized a study visit to the Colombo National Archives and the National Library and Documentation Services Board, for the 2nd year undergraduates following the B.A. (Honours) in History degree program, on the 18th of August 2023.
Upon the guidance of the Head of the Department, Sen. Lect. (Ven.) Dambara Amila, Prof. Pathmasiri Kannangara, Sen. Lect. (Dr.) Sanjeewi Manthrirathna, Sen. Lect. U.N.K. Rathnayaka and Lect. Damith Ranagala of the same department requested a guided study program for the undergraduates at the above two institutions. The main objective of this study visit was to make the undergraduates aware of the sources available for their study and research purposes, especially their final year undergraduate dissertations.
Accordingly, the students were made aware of the role and function of the Colombo National Archives, and the types of documentary evidence they possess in their collections/ repositories, such as Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial administrative records (official letters, tombos, treaties, manuscripts, etc.), legislative and parliamentary records, newspapers, maps, private collections and audio-visual materials. In addition, the students were delivered a practical demonstration on how to conserve old documents at their Conservation unit. Furthermore, at the Library and Documentation Services Board, the students were first introduced to the role and structure of the institution, followed by the collections and how to use the catalogue. In addition, the students were made aware of how to apply for the membership of the Colombo National Library.
The Department of History and Archaeology would like to thank the Vice-Chancellor of the USJ, Prof. Pathmalal M. Manage, and the Dean of the FHSS, Prof. Shirantha Heenkenda, for granting necessary permission to realize this study visit. Furthermore, the department would like to express its gratitude to the Director-General of the Department of National Archives, Dr. Nadeera Rupesinghe, the Chairman of the National Library Services and Documentation Board, Prof. Nanda Dharmarathna, and all the staff members of the two institutions for making arrangements to make this study visit a fruitful one to our students.
