Archives and records management is a critical foundation of any society, but especially in information societies that are emerging now. Unfortunately, this subject tends to be neglected.
Sri Lanka’s first National Policy on Archives and Records Management received Cabinet concurrence on 7 April 2025, following a multi-year drafting process led by a committee appointed by the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. The committee was chaired by Nigel Nugawela (Archivist) and included several experts, such as LIRNEasia Chair Prof. Rohan Samarajiva. Other members included Nadeera Rupesinghe (Director General, National Archives), Piyatissa Ranasinghe (Former Director General, RTI Commission), and Ravindra Priyantha Lal (Lecturer, University College of Ratmalana).
The need for a National Policy on Archives and Records Management was first identified by the committee appointed to revise the National Archives Law No. 48 of 1973. The committee recognised that the absence of a clear policy had led to decades of low priority and uncoordinated records management practices across public authorities. It was therefore decided that a national policy should be developed before revising the law. Subsequently, the same committee was tasked with drafting the policy.
Consultations were held with ministries, technical agencies, and the public during the policy drafting process in mid-2023, including a public hearing in Colombo on 25 August 2023. The policy was drafted in November 2023, revised to align with the national policy template of the Department of National Planning, and finalised in December 2024.
The National Policy attempts to address some of the long-standing shortcomings in the management and conservation of public documents, including inconsistent information practices across public authorities and the absence of a shared national vision. It highlights the importance of well-managed archives in strengthening public administration, transparency, and accountability, and recognises systematic record-keeping as essential for efficient governance and the preservation of institutional memory. The policy also promotes the use of new technologies, in line with global archives and records management standards, to improve access to public records and enhance transparency.
Access to records of public authorities
The National Policy on Archives and Records Management is available for download on the website of the Department of National Archives.
A video of Prof. Samarajiva talking about the National Policy on Archives and Records Management is available here.
