The Palm leaf manuscript Mahāvaṁsa (Circa 4th Century AC)

Sri Lanka is a repository of important historical sources even before the Christian Era. They are enshrined in the palm-leaf manuscripts covering historical documents, traditional knowledge, literary sources, tenets of Buddhism and aesthetic values. The palm-leaf manuscripts collection comprising more than 3500 items now preserved in the National Museum Library in Colombo, Sri Lanka, established in 1877. This is considered the largest and the most valuable collection in the country and possibly in the world written in Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit and in Burmese, Cambodian, Tamil and Telugu languages.

The proposed item in this collection is the Great Chronicle Mahāvaṁsa (Circa 4th Century AC) compiled by Ven. Mahanama of Anuradhapura in Pali verse, carrying the history of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) from early times up to the reign of Kirti Sri Rajasingha (1747-1780). This entire Mahāvaṁsa contains the unbroken history of Sri Lanka for over twenty two centuries. The proposed palm-leaf manuscript copy has been prepared under the supervision of Committee comprised erudite scholars for the Colombo Oriental Library established in 1870, later transformed into Colombo Museum Library by the British Governor Sir William Gregory.

The awareness of the historical heritage of Sri Lanka was immeasurably enhanced worldwide with the publication of the English translation of Mahāvaṁsa by the British Civil Servant George Turn our in 1837. Since then the Mahāvaṁsa became an indispensable source for researchers and historians to the understanding of the island’s past.