Department of National Archives

P.O. Box 1414, No. 7, Reid Avenue, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka.

Office Tel : ++94 11 2694523, ++ 94 11 2696917, Office Fax : ++94 11 694419, ++94 11 2688756

E-mail :narchive@slt.lk

Mission

Systematic management and conservation of public records as a Part of Cultural heritage.

Objectives and Functions -:  

Ensure official custody and physical safety for the Archives of all Public Offices and to make them available for reference and study.

Serve as the legal depository material of the Island.

Administration of Presidential Archives and reference service.

Records Surveys in Public institutions

Administer Printing Presses, Printers and Publishers and Newspaper Ordinances.

Conservation of Public Records, Religious places and Private Manuscripts.

Advice for microfilming and Computer Scanning or Records/Manuscripts.

History

History records that during the 5th century A.D. there was an officer who was in charge of the Royal (King's) Archives and the 19th centaury account of Hay Macdowall reveals and officer called "Maha Mohotti" (Chief Secretary) as the officer who maintained the Kandyan Palace archives during the 18th and the first decade of the centaury.

However, the systematic Archives keeping was introduced by the Dutch who occupied the maritime districts of Sri Lanka from 1640- 1796 A.D. In 1640 Archives was housed at Galle and from 1656-1796, it as located in Colombo. in 1901 the post of Archivist was created and in 1947 the Department of Govt. archivist was established. After the dawn of independence in 1948 the National Archives Law No. 48 of 1973 was enacted and the Department of National Archives was established.

 In 1981 the Presidential Archives and reference service was created to preserve the official and semi-official records of the Executive Presidents.

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Services to the Public

Issue of certified extracts from archival records.

Provide facilities for the public use of records and publications.

Search and issue of certified extracts to the public in the following documents.

For the purpose of enabling them to prove their claims in the courts and give evidence in courts.

             Crown Grants (1802-1931)
             Gazette Lands (1802-to-date)
             Land Settlement Records (1867-1900)
             Old Land Grant Sannas (Registered in 1867)
             Grain Tax Registers (1880-1892)
             Temple Lands (1856-1870)
             Service Tenure Registers (1870-1872)
             Dutch Tombos (18th century)
             Genealogical Records (18th century)
             Information Birth on
             Palm Leaves (1806-1812)
             Voters Registers (1965-1992 )

Use of Newspapers and Issue of Extracts

              Sinhala Newspapers (1862-1976)
              English Newspapers (1832-1976)
              Tamil Newspapers (1864-1976)
              Other (1864-1976)

Public could use publications published in Sri Lanka from 1990.

Public could use publications regarding Sri Lanka 1737-1900.

Maps of Sri Lanka from 17th Century.

Registered printing presses in the Island (1980 to-date).

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How to access records and publications

Obtaining permission through the Public Relations Office.

After obtaining permission to the Search Room, a reader could use it and request documents and books.

To obtain true extracts of documents and books, a form should be filled available at the Public Relations Office. Extracts fees for documents are displayed on the notice board outside the Public Relations Office.

For various kind of requests a set of applications is available at the Public Relations Office. After completing the applications and paying the required fees, true extracts could be obtained.

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For more information and downloads of publications visit to www.archives.gov.lk