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Galle Fort Library: A treasure trove of rare books

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The ‘Galle Fort Library’ built during the Dutch era (1638 – 1796) is an archive of historical documents and contains many rare books dating back to the year1832.
The library is is a national treasure and needs to be preserved.

Pix by Gamini Mahadura

Identified as the first library of the country, it houses the first journal published in Sri Lanka -the ‘Colombo Journal’ published in 1832- and also houses historical documentation dating back to1871.

The building first used as the official residence of the Post Master General was subsequently used to as a ‘Reading Hall’ for soldiers of the Malay Rifle Regiment. This practice was halted after the uprising of the Malay Rifle Regiment.

It was renamed ‘Galle Library’ in 1845 by Governor Sir William Gregory, who was also the consultant to the library. The first committee that managed the library comprised Secretary R.P. Lensi and three other members J.H. Rubinel, H.B. Benley and William H. Trant.

The first Sri Lankan President of the library was Dr. Peter David Anthony, a member of the British Medical Association in whose honour the Galle clock tower was built within the Galle Fort.

In the period 1919 and 1932, Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara the father of free education of the country, held the post of secretary of the library. He was also its vice president.

Today the library houses around 8,000 books in Sinhala, English and other languages. Among its priceless possessions are ‘An account of the Island of Ceylon’ written by Robert Percival and the ‘Description of Ceylon’ authored by James Cobdiner in the 1800s.

The over 400-page books with a plethora of photographs give us a glimpse of ‘Ceylon’ during the colonial era.

The present Governor of Galle, Dr. Hemakumara Nanayakara the present President of the Library Committee has raised a sum of Rs.2.5 million for the development of the building. But maintenance of this treasure deserves a bigger infusion of finances.