Browsing by Author "Siriwardena, A.S."

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Community Outreach Library Services in Rajarata University Library System in Sri Lanka: A System Approach
(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Harshani, K.R.; Siriwardena, A.S.
The principal purpose of this paper is to explore the role of community service in academic librarianship conducted by the Rajarata University Library System. In this study it is expected to establish the concept of community service as a system approach for enhancing continuous lifetime library use by the communities from their early childhood up to mature age. The other objectives are to evaluate the development and the implementation activities in community service and to peruse the best practices leading to community success and growth.The principal notion of the community service is the exertion done by a person or group of people which benefits one or the others. Librarians can involvewiththe community for identifying their aspirations in advancewith view to offer a very quality service to the same community. Based on this view, Rajarata university library conducts numerous services for their community. In addition to the provision of pertinent information relating to the general functions of the library such as services, sections and resources, it is yet another opportunity to build relationship with students as they begin their school career. Library conducts numerous training programme for the public such as Primary level Student (Grade 1-5) O/L and A/L students, preschool teachers, pregnant mothers in North Central Province. Through these all programmes, it gives students and library officers of the particular library a chance to interact with librarians who are not always visible to the public. Library offers a range of service for children including various type of themes including storytelling, good reading habit, mind mapping concept, getting ready for exam, and the way of organizing home library.Therefore libraries can achieve great effects when they are with the community from their early childhood. Library staff can facilitate and support library efforts because they are linked into communities that libraries may not reach. Libraries have to attempt to show their strengths not only as a reading institution, but as a community services center. It is hoped that this study will be used as a model by other librarians who wish to develop service option in their own suburban communities.
An investigation into the implementation of the modern university concept in the Buddhist Sangharamas concerning the academic development of the Anuradhapura period
(The Library, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Siriwardena, A.S.; Wickramasinghe, N.G.I.M.
The historical exploration of educational institutions in the Anuradhapura era presents a remarkable parallel to the modern university system. While the concept of the university emerged in the Western world during the 9th to 12th centuries AD, ancient South Asia was home to institutions of learning that closely resembled this model. Notably, Nalanda, Jagaddala, and Taxila in India, Mahavihara, Abhayagiriya, and Jethavanarama in Sri Lanka, stand as exemplars of a rich educational tradition. This comparative study aims to identify the educational system prevalent in the ancient Anuradhapura era, specifically within the Mahavihara, Abhayagiriya, and Jethavanarama, by examining historical sources, including the Mahavamsya, Vansatthappakasiniya, Nikaya Sangraha, Fa-Hsien records, inscriptions, archaeological remnains of Anuradhapura city, and previous research reports. Mahavihara, as a stronghold of Theravada Buddhism, represented one fact of this system, while Abhayagiriya and Jethavanarama embraced a syncretic approach, drawing from both Theravada and Mahayana traditions. These ancient learning centres encompassed a broad spectrum of curricula, covering areas such as languages, religion, sciences, mathematics, and the arts. Recognitions and degrees were awarded to scholars, as demonstrated by names like Vagishwara, Kavichakravarti, Kaviraja, Vidyapati, and Kavikala Sarvajna, among others. The educational infrastructure was comprehensive, with provisions for laboratories, libraries, hospitals, Janthaghara (hostels for lay students), and almshouses. These sangharamas were more than just centers of religious learning; they were integrated institutions of holistic education. Moreover, they displayed an outward-facing orientation, engaging in international exchanges similar to their Indian counterparts, Nalanda, Valabhi, Taxila, and others, which held affiliations with countries like China and Java. In summary, this research explicitly confirms the existence of a cultured, university-level educational system in ancient Anuradhapura, anchored in the heritage of the Buddhist Sangharama’s. This historical perspective on education enriches our understanding of this era's intellectual, cultural, and scholarly dimensions.