UNESCO ready to support digitalisation of Ola leaf books

By L.B. Senaratne in Kandy

The visiting UNESCO’s Director General Audrey Azoulay said that digitizing the country’s Ola Leaf books is essential and that UNESCO will provide support if required.

She made these remarks, on Wednesday morning during her visit to the "Ola Book" record room in the University of Peradeniya (UoP) 's new Library wing building.

She had meetings with UoP’s Vice Chancellor Professor M.D. Lamasawsa and Dr. Rasiah Maheswaran, the university's Chief Librarian.

During the inaugural speech, Prof. Rohitha Dissanayake conveyed her appreciation to Ms. Azoulay and UNESCO for safeguarding the historical value of the Old Leaf manuscripts by designating them as a World Heritage Document.

As a historian, Prof. Dissanayake added that it is a great honor to see the Mahawansa's historical significance recognized on a worldwide scale.

According to Professor Dissanayake, the National Library Services Board was essential to this project.  For two years, a committed group of experts from the Board examined more than 100 temples nationwide in great detail to determine which Mahawansa copies were the most authentic.