Primary contact
No. 7, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 07LK 00700
Identity area
Identifier
LK-NA
Authorized form of name
Department of National Archives_CMB
Parallel form(s) of name
- National Archives
Other form(s) of name
- Sri Lanka National Archives, DNA, SLNA. Formerly Department of Government Archivist.
Type
- National
Contact area
Dr. Nadeera Rupesinghe, Director General National Archives
Primary contact
Type
Address
Street address
No. 7, Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 07
Locality
Colombo
Region
Western Province
Country name
ශ්රී ලංකාව
Postal code
00700
Telephone
+947768874158
Fax
+94112694419
Note
Description area
History
The tradition of records management in Sri Lanka has a long history dating back to the reign of the kings. However, the royal records of the kings have been destroyed due to various invasions. The coastal areas of the island were under Portuguese rule from the late sixteenth century onwards until 1638, after which they were conquered by the Dutch within a period of twenty years. During this war, the Portuguese destroyed their records. However, the British seized the documents created by the Dutch administration during their peaceful conquest of the coastal areas in 1796.
Accordingly, the National Archives of Sri Lanka does not hold original documents created during Portuguese rule, but they can be found in Lisbon and Goa. However, more than 7000 volumes of Dutch documents have been preserved over the years. In 1803 the post of “Keeper of the Dutch Records” was created. At the time of British colonial rule, the responsibility for the archives was primarily vested with the Colonial Secretary and the Historical Manuscripts Commission. In 1902, the post of “Government Archivist” was created as an affiliated official post of the Colonial Secretary’s Office. When Sri Lanka achieved independence, the archives was under the purview of the Colonial Secretary.
The Department of Government Archivist was established in 1947 and in 1966 it was renamed the Department of National Archives or National Archives. The title of head of the institution was changed from “Govenment Archivist” to “Director” in 1966. Following the restructuring of the department in 2017, the post was amended to “Director General National Archives”.
The National Archives Act No. 48 of 1973 was amended by the National Archives (Amendment) Act No. 30 of 1981. At present the National Archives is under the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
The Department of National Archives can be described as a repository of the memory of the nation, an institution that imparts knowledge, and a centre for the transmission of information to the public.
Accordingly, the National Archives of Sri Lanka does not hold original documents created during Portuguese rule, but they can be found in Lisbon and Goa. However, more than 7000 volumes of Dutch documents have been preserved over the years. In 1803 the post of “Keeper of the Dutch Records” was created. At the time of British colonial rule, the responsibility for the archives was primarily vested with the Colonial Secretary and the Historical Manuscripts Commission. In 1902, the post of “Government Archivist” was created as an affiliated official post of the Colonial Secretary’s Office. When Sri Lanka achieved independence, the archives was under the purview of the Colonial Secretary.
The Department of Government Archivist was established in 1947 and in 1966 it was renamed the Department of National Archives or National Archives. The title of head of the institution was changed from “Govenment Archivist” to “Director” in 1966. Following the restructuring of the department in 2017, the post was amended to “Director General National Archives”.
The National Archives Act No. 48 of 1973 was amended by the National Archives (Amendment) Act No. 30 of 1981. At present the National Archives is under the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
The Department of National Archives can be described as a repository of the memory of the nation, an institution that imparts knowledge, and a centre for the transmission of information to the public.
Geographical and cultural context
Mandates/Sources of authority
National Archives Act No. 48 of 1973.
National Archives (Amendment) Act No. 30 of 1981.
Ordinances enacted under the National Archives Act of No. 48 of 1973
Printing Presses Ordinance No. 16 of 1902 (Cap. 178) and its amendments.
Printers and Publishers Ordinance No. 01 of 1885 (Cap.179) and its amendments.
Newspaper Ordinance No. 5 of 1839 (Cap. 180) and its amendments.
Regulations of access to public records
• Government Gazette No. 15 of 15.12.1978.
Regulations of access to commission records
• Government Gazette No. 74 of 02.01.1980.
Disposal action for judicial (court) records
• Government Gazette No. 21 of 26.01.1979.
Disposal of Kachcheri (District Secretariat) records
• Government Gazette No. 99 of 25.07.1980
Disposal of housekeeping/ephemeral records in public institutions
• Government Gazette No. 313 of 31.08.1984
Administrative Regulations on disposal records
• Section 9:1 to 9:8 of Chapter 28 of the Establishments Code.
Circulars for preparing of schedules and preservation of public records.
• Public Administration Circular 25/2008 – 17.12.2008
• Public Administration Circular 08/2017 – 29.03.2017.