The Public Services Division has been established in the year 1990 with the objective of inculcating awareness in the general public on various archaeological activities and research work carried out by the technical divisions of the Department of Archaeology and on the management of archaeological heritage.
The Public Services Division has been established to fulfill the need to communicate the activities carried out by the Archaeological Department (since 1890) to the public systematically through audio visual media. The division has the following as its aims by performing which the division makes its contribution towards offering the nation’s heritage to the posterity.
- Promotion of public understanding and awareness on archaeological heritage.
- Providing infrastructure to researchers.
- Issue of permits to persons to take photographs and for video recording of archaeological sites and monuments.
- Giving publicity to archaeological activities through electronic and printed media
- Conducting workshops to advocate school children and public officers.
- Sale of departmental publications at concessionary rates.
Administrative Hierarchy of the General Services Division
Role of the Public Services Division
Promotion of the knowledge of the public who takes an interest in subject of archaeology for preservatin of the national heritage and providing assistance to those engaged in case study work by means of launching publications and holding exhibitions and conducting seminars.
Launching Publications
- Books relating to the field (Archival Explorations)
- Administration Reports
- “Dayada” newspaper
- Publications of the National Archaeological Society
- Pamphlets
- Picture cards
Exhibitions and Seminars
- Mobile exhibitions for school children and the public
- Archaeological Seminars (for school children / public)
- “Deyata Kirula” exhibition
- National Archaeological conference
Human Resources Development
Human Resources Development is undertaken by means of training departmental officers in professional work and technical skills.
Local Training or General (Short term/ Medium term/ Long term)
- Administrative training
- Tamil Language Training
- Computer Training
- Professional Training
- Technical Training and Workshop
As a special programme in 2011, the Department of Archaeology established a local training centre at the archaeological site at Rajagala and steps were taken to give necessary practical training to officers working in the technical divisions of Explorations, Excavations, Architecture, Chemical Conservation, Archives and Numismatics.
Foreign Training - Specialized Training
Granting training opportunities to departmental officers at the Post Graduate Institute for Archaeology in New Delhi.
Sending departmental officers for post graduate training at the University of Decan in India.
Sending officers for other foreign training course as needed.
Establishment of Archeological societies and their coordination
Preservation of our heritage by using the limited resources directly or indirectly for the protection of the unlimited archeological heritage of Sri Lanka.
- School Archaeological Societies (64 societies have been established by now)
- Civil or voluntary societies or organizations
- Archaeological Heritage Organizations at institutional level
Other Internal and External Services
- Taking photographs
- Coordination of printing work
- Provision of archeological information, data and photographs.
Issue of Permits
Permission of the Department of Archaeology should be obtained for taking any type of photograph or video recording at any historical or archaeological site. For this, an application should be made in writing before one week stating the reason for which the permit is required, in respect of which archaeological sites and the date on which photographs would be taken or video recording would be done. If it is in connection with a film or tele drama, a copy of the script should be submitted. Such applications will be considered and permits will be issued for requests which do not cause any damage to the archaeological site, monuments, antiquities or to the scope of archaeology.
Sub Divisions of the General Services Divisions and their Roles Library
Library
- is a reference library
- Approximately 12,000 publications are available
- is open to Sri Lankans and foreigners
- Books on the Department of Archaeology and on the subject of archaeology are available
- Opening hours - From 8.15 a.m to 4.15 p.m on working days.
Photography Division
- Negatives of photographs taken from the time of Mr. H.C.P. Bell have been conserved and stored.
- More than 20,000 glass negatives including black and white negatives are in possession of the department.
- Copying the old negatives in possession of the department according to the digital technology and storing them under the digital method.
- Storing of old photographs under the digital system
- Storing of new photographs under the digital system
- Taking step by step photographs of explorations, excavations, Conservations, etc. and their maintenance.
- Photographing of ancient murals according to the prescribed sizes.
- Printing and enlargement of photographs
- Issue of photographs for various needs.
Sales Outlet
- The sales outlet of the Department is open on all working days from 8.15 am to 3.00 pm.
- Book are for sale at the international book exhibition.
- Availability of Book outlets parallel to mobile exhibitions.
- Only Department publications are available.
- A discount of 30% for purchases above Rs. 2000/=
දැනට අලෙවිය ඇති ප්රකාශන |
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| Polonnaruwa | Vallipuram (Tamil) |
| Prof. Senarath Paranavitana | Epigraphia Zeylanica Vol.III |
| Diyatilaka Nuwara A | archaeological magazine - Vol. 08 |
| Yapahuwa | Epigraphia Zeylanica I |
| Sigiri Graffitti Saddhamangala Karunaratna | Dictionary of Sinhala |
| Godaladeniya Raja Maha Vihara | Ancient sites and Monuments |
| Vavuniya, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Mannar, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Mulativu, Mahanuwara, Kalutara, Matale. Kegalle Report, Explorations (Vol. I) | Explorations (Vol. 2) |
| Kelaniya | Girihandu Maha Vehera |
| Administration Report 1970, Administration Report 1977, Administration Report 1979, Administration Report 1992, Administration Report 1993,Administration Report 1994, Administration Report 1995, Administration Report 1996, Administration Report 1997. | Epigraphia, Zeylanica |
| Post Cards |
Buddha statues, Post Cards (small) |
| Telecom Cards, Picture Post Card, Pamphlets. | |
| The Pre- History of Sri Lanka I&II | The Pre- History of Sri Lanka II |
| History of the Dept. of Archaeology | Ancient Ceylon No 01 (Occasional Paper) |
| Ancient Ceylon No 02 | Ancient Ceylon No 06 |
| Ancient Ceylon No 17 Ancient Ceylon No 18 | Ancient Ceylon No 22 |
| Epigraphical Notes | Epigraphica Zeylanica Vol. III |
| Epigraphica Zeylanica Vol. IV | Epigraphica Zeylanica Vol. VII |
| Epigraphica Zeylanica Vol. VIII | Inscription of Ceylon Vol. 1 |
| Inscription of Ceylon Vol. II part II | Inscriptions of Ceylon Vol. v part 1 (s/c) |
| Inscription of Ceylon Vol. v Part I (h/c) | Inscription of Ceylon Vol. v part II (s/c) |
| Inscription of Ceylon Vol. v part II (h/c) | Inscription of Ceylon Vol. v part III |
| Inscription of Ceylon Vol. v part III (Index) | Inscription of Ceylon Vol. VIII |
| Thupa - Thupa Ghara and Thupa - Pasada | Dictionary of Sinhala Epigraphical words |
| Pre History& Proto History of Sri Lanka | Buddhist Meditation Monasteries |