Libraries in Sri Lanka
Published on: Apr 13, 2007
  • Agrarian Research and Training Institute Library (ARTI)
    114, Wijerama Mawatha
    Colombo 7
    Tel: 698539 - 41, 696981
    Fax: 94 - 1- 692423
    Subject coverage: agricultural economics, rural development, rural sociology, agricultural maketing.
    Collection: Book vol 14 400; Per sub 80; research reports, theses, clippings, pamphlets, UN and other international organisations publications.
    Special: Sri Lanka Collection.

  • American Institute for Lankan Studies (AILS)
    5/22 Sulaiman Terrace
    Colombo 5
    Tel: 2508512
    Subject coverage: academic books on Sri Lanka, reference books, Islam, Indian history and politics, Pali Text Society volumes
    Profile: The library holds about 1,500 books. In addition to books on Sri Lanka, the collection includes works on other regions (mainly other countries in South, Southeast, and West Asia) and theoretical works that provide perspectives useful for scholars working on Sri Lanka. The library also offers access to the electronic resources JSTOR and the Bibliography of Asian Studies. For more details on the library collection and library policies, and a link to the online catalogue, go to http://www.aisls.org/library.html
  • Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies Library
    Bauddhaloka Mawatha,
    Colombo 7
    Tel: 691131, Ext 204
    Subject coverage: social sciences and international affairs
    Collection: Book vol 9250; Per sub 140
    Special: Sri Lanka, UN member countries
  • Bank of Ceylon Library
    No 4 Bank of Ceylon Mawatha
    Colombo 1
    Tel: 446790
    Subject coverage: social sciences, agriculture, management, industry
    Collection: Book 7426; Per Sub 75, newspaper clippings.
  • The British Council Library
    49, Alfred House Gardens
    Colombo 3
    Tel: 587078, 580301
    Subject coverage: social sciences and humanities, science and technology
    Collection: Book vol 53,062; Per sub 137; pamphlets, audiovisual materials.
  • The British Council Library
    178, D.S. Senanayake Vidiya, Kandy
    Tel: 08-34284
    Fax: 08-22410
    Subject coverage: All subject
    Collection: Book vol 28 611; Per sub 55
    Special: Sri Lanka
  • Buddhist and Pali University Library
    214 Bauddhaloka Mawatha
    Colombo 7
    Tel: 580609
    Fax: 580610
    Subject coverage: all subject areas
    Collection: Book vol 11,200; Per sub 17
    Special: Rev. Polwatte Buddhadatta Collection, Tripitika Collections of China, Thailand and Burma
  • Central Bank of Sri Lanka Library
    Janadipathi Mawatha
    Colombo 1 Tel: 326474
    Fax: 440353
    Subject coverage: Banking finace, accounting, economics, statistics,data processing
    Collection: Book vol 32,725; Per sub 5000; research reports, theses, pamphlets, UN publications.
    Special: Sri Lanka Collection
  • Centre for Development Information Library
    Department of National Planning
    Galle Face Secretariat
    Colombo 1
    Tel: 449378, 433226
    Subject coverage: Socio-Economic Development
    Collection: Book vol 12,000; Per sub 150; Microfiches 2000; research reports, theses and dissertations, UN publications (depository library for UN publications)
  • Center for Society and Religion
    No 281 Deans Road, Maradana
    Tel: 699972
    Subject coverage: Human Rights, Theology, Social Science, Political Science, Economics.
    Collection: Book vol 10250; Per sub 150; Maps 100; Newspaper clippings 150; Pamphlets, United Nations Publications, Amnesty International Publications.
    Special: Sri Lanka Theology, Human Rights.
  • Centre for the Study of Human Rights
    University of Colombo
    94, Cumaratunga Munidasa Mawatha
    Colombo 3
    Web: www.cmb.ac.lk

    Profile: The Centre for the Study of Human Rights (CSHR), is a small library, founded in 1992 and located in the University of Colombo. This is a specialised library focused on Human Rights Law, and has approximately 1,000 books. The archival collection of this library is impressive containing invaluable data of newspaper clippings, governmental and non-governmental reports, documents, conference proceedings and other A/V facilities. The library is open to all students and staff of the University of Colombo. Visitors must meet with the head of the CSHR and obtain permission to conduct research.

  • Colombo National Museum Library
    POB 854
    Colombo 7
    Special:Depository for all Sri Lankan publications since 1885; 618,221 items (incl. 141,703 monographs, 4,500 periodical titles, 3772 palm leaf MSS in Sinhala, Sanskrit, Pali, Burmese, and Cambodian).
    Publications: Sri Lanka Periodicals Index, NML Acquisition Bulletin, Sri Lanka Periodicals Directory, Bibliography Series.
  • Demographic Training and Research Unit Library
    University of Colombo
    P.O.Box 1490
    Colombo 03
    Tel: 586111
    Subject coverage: demography, sociology, economics, statistics, medical sciences
    Collection: Book vol 5000; Per sub 25
    Special: Sri Lanka Publications, census reports
  • Department of Census and Statistics Library
    231 Galle Road,
    Colombo 6
    Tel: 693315, 695962
    Fax: 94-1-687931
    Email: dcensus@lanka.ccom.lk
    Web: www.statistics.gov.lk
    Subject coverage: statistics, computer science, social science, commerce, demography, mathematics, economics, agriculture
    Collection: Book vol 11,866; Per sub 120
  • Department of Labour Library
    Labour Secretariat
    P.O. Box 575
    Colombo 5
    Tel: 94-1-508974
    Subject coverage: industrial relations, labour legislation, social security, labour economics, social development, vocational training, occupational safety and health working conditions
    Collections: Book vol 30,000; Per sub 50
    Special: International Labour Organization publications, Publications of Parliamentary debates, Sessional Papers
  • D.S. Senanayake Memorial Public Library
    Kandy
    Tel: 94-08-23716
    Subject coverage: all
    Collection: Book vol 120,605; Per sub 96
    Special: leaf manuscripts, books on Sri Lanka, law, environment, D.S. Senanayake Collection, Martin Wickramasinghe Collection, Biographies of Sri Lankans, Ayurveda.
  • Eastern University Library
    Vantharumoolai, Chenkalady, Batticaloa
    Tel: 94-065-4490 ext 115
    Fax: 94-065- 2302
    Subject coverage: bio-science, physical science, Agriculture, commerce, Management, Arts and Culture
    Collection: Books 23 878, periodical titles 71.
    Special: Ceylon Collection and Batticaloa Collection
  • International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Kandy
    5541 Peradeniya Road
    Kandy
    Tel: 94-08-23095
    Subject coverage: Ethnicity, Women's Studies
    Collection: Book vol 4235; Per sub 18; microfiches, maps, research reports, theses and dissertations. Newspaper clippings, pamphlets, audio-visual materials, United Nations publications, publications of other international organisations.
    Special:Bryce Ryan collection
  • International Centre for Ethnic Studies,Colombo
    2 Kynsey Terrace
    Colombo 8
  • R. Jayawardene Cultural Centre Library
    191, Dharmapala Mawatha
    Colombo 07
    Tel: 94-1-694250, 94-1-694252
    Subject coverage: Social Sciences and Humanities
    Collection: Book vol 11,483; Per sub 175
    Special: JRW's personal diaries from the year 1932 to 1938, and private papers.
  • Lanka Jathika Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya Library
    Central Library No.98
    Rawathawatte Road, Moratuwa
    Tel: 94-1-647159, 94-1-647195
    Fax: 94-1647084
    Subject coverage: socio-economic development
    Collection: Book vol 12,750; Per sub 65
  • Marga Institute
    10/93 Dutugemunu Veediya
    Kohuwala
    Tel: 94-1-585186, 94-1-581514
    Subject coverage: sustainable development, socio-economic policy planning, international cooperation and regional relations, agricultural economics, political, legal and administrative systems, Demography and Population, Human resource development, industry and trade, infrastructure development, finance banking and credit systems
    Collection: Book vol 35,000; Per sub 37; Maps 200; newspaper clippings 200; pamphlets 2500; United Nations publications 1000.
  • National Institute of Education
    P.O. Box 21
    Maharagama
    Tel: 94-1-851301-05
    Fax: 94-1-851301
    Subject coverage: Education
    Collection: Book vol 85,875; Per sub 80
    Special: Prof. J.E. Jayasuriya Collection, Dr Ananda Guruge Collection, D.M. Hettiarachchi Collection.
  • National Library of Sri Lanka
    Collections: Book vol 196,652; Per sub 762
    Special: Martin Wickramasinghe; UNESCO collection; Library Sciences Collection, Folklore Collection; Ola leaf collection, Braille Collection.
    Legal depository of ISBN, ISMN, ISSN centres; compiles Union Catalogue.
    Publications: Sri Lanka National Bibliography (monthly), Library News (quarterly), Sri Lanka Newspaper Index, Children's Bibliography, Directory of Social Science Libraries, Information Centres and Databases in Sri Lanka, ISBN Publication Directory, Natnet Lanka Newsletter (2 a year), Conference Index, Directory of Govt. Publications.
  • National Museum Library
    P.O. Box 854
    Colombo
    Tel: 94-1-693314
    Subject coverage: Arts and humanities, archaeology, ethnology, anthropology, Museology, Oriental languages, literature, natural sciences, zoology, entomology, geology, Botany.
    Collections: Book vol 1,000,000; Per sub 6000
    Special: ola leaf manuscripts, stamps
  • People's Bank Library
    75, Sir Chittampalam A.Gardiner Mawatha
    Colombo 02
    Tel: 94-1-446316, 327841, 443695
    Subject coverage: economics, commerce, accountancy, rural development, development economics, sociology, agriculture, industry, banaking, law, computer science, management, statistics.
    Collection: Book vol 20,775; Per sub 200
    Special: Sri Lanka collection
  • Peter Pillai Library
    Centre for Society and Religion
    No 281, Deans Road
    Colombo 10
    Collection: books 10 500; periodical titles 150.
    Special: Human Rights, Theology, Sri Lanka Collection
  • Public Library
    14, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha
    Colombo 7
    Tel: 94-1-691968, 696530, 695156
    Subject coverage: social sciences and humanities, science and technology
    Collection: Book vol 578,551; Per sub 1120
    Special:Sri Lanka, Buddhism, FAO documents, fine arts, Braille, Japan, TheoAuer coll.
  • RCSS library
    The Kodikara Library of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies
    2, Elibank Road
    Colombo 5
    Tel: 94-1-599737
    Email: lib@rcss.org

    Profile: The RCSS library contains a growing collection of books and journals related to international affairs and security studies with a specialized collection of security related material on South Asia. A lending library, it also houses a fair collection of regional and international journals and periodicals. The library subscribes to 20 foreign journals on security and strategic studies, national and regional security, ethnicity, human rights, international law etc. The library has a data base with over 2700 analytical entries.

  • Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka
    Royal Asiatic Society Bldg. 96,
    Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha
    Colombo 7
    Tel/Fax: 94-1-699249
    Subject coverage: social sciences and humanities, science and technology
    Collecttion: Book vol 7234; Per sub 279
    Special: Ceylon Journal of the RAS and of other countries.
  • University of Colombo Library
    Reid Avenue
    Colombo 3
    Tel: 94-1-583043, 586432
    Subject coverage: sociology, political science, economics, public administration, law, commerce and management, education, history, geography.
    Collection: Book vol 225,000
    Special: Sri Lanka Collection, research collection
  • University of Kelaniya Library
    Dalugama, Kelaniya
    Tel: 94-1-521918; 521485
    Subject coverage: social sciences and humanities, sciences and technology