Preservation of Information in Sri Lanka: A historical Perspective

Abstract

The article attempts to explore the shape of preservation of information in Sri Lanka, from the Early Iron Age (1000-800 BC) to the beginning of Colonial Rule. Under the qualitative approach, the historical research method is employed in the study, while content analysis was used as a research tool to determine the presence of certain words, themes, or concepts within given qualitative data. Based on my focus, primary sources and secondary data were used to elicit data. Buckland’s concept about information-as-thing was used to streamline the demarcations made by different collections handled. The perspective of the study is limited to the published translations and transcriptions of inscriptions, literary sources, and copper plate charters. Themes and concepts such as selection of media, extending the life span of information, changing the format, or keeping the same information in different formats, and reformatting for information preservation emerged from the literature review and content analysis. Substantiations prove that effective preservation of information has ever been in flow in Sri Lankan history. Well before the cultural institutions were established under colonial rule, ancient Sri Lankans were familiar with the concepts of libraries, archives, and museums. Information was converted, reformatted, and duplicated through different media consciously, while foreign invasions, internal conflicts, natural and man-made disasters as well as the introduction of printing challenged the existence of the indigenous system of information preservation. The study will provide a rich foundation for Archaeology, history, and Information Science students and scholars to understand what happened in the past to determine and expand their research horizons. The research highlights gaps and avenues for future research in this genre.