Dutch Records Project National Archives of Sri Lanka

The National Archives of Sri Lanka (SLNA) keeps 310 metres of Dutch records created by the Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC; the Dutch East-India Company) on Ceylon. Most of these records differ considerably from records originating from Ceylon found in the VOC-archives in The Hague or Jakarta and are therefore unique. Although all these records contain interesting information on the history of Sri Lanka, Sri Lankans are mostly familiar with the Tombos, the registers of landholdings. To improve the physical condition and accessibility of these Tombos and the other Dutch records, the SLNA successfully applied for MCH-funding from the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Colombo. In addition, the Sri Lankan government covers 40% of the total project costs. The role of the Nationaal Archief is to provide advice and support to the SLNA and to the Royal Netherlands Embassy regarding the Dutch records in Colombo.