By: Staff Writer
July 31, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Department of National Archives has received a Dutch grant to lead research into Sri Lankan-origin palm-leaf collections in the Netherlands, aiming for restitution. The Dutch Research Council funded 11 projects under the call ‘Research into collections with a colonial context’. This initiative seeks to address historical injustices and bolster cooperation with the countries of origin.
The National Archives of Sri Lanka secured a consortium grant for the project “Whose Knowledge, Whose Values? Palm Leaf Manuscripts and the Question of Colonial Collections in Dutch Heritage Institutions.” Dr. N. T. Rupesinghe is the main applicant, with consortium partners Kurt de Belder (Leiden University), Prof. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri (Colombo University), and Dr. Tanuja Thurairajah (Collective for Historical Dialogue and Memory).
The project focuses on reconciling with the colonial past and understanding the role objects play in this process, using the palm leaf manuscripts requested for restitution by Sri Lanka as a case study.
Palm leaf manuscripts are one of the vital types of documents containing the indigenous knowledge of Sri Lanka. Treated and seasoned Palmyra leaf was widely used for writing before paper was utilized as writing material. Ancient people were not hesitant to write down their wealth of local knowledge in these palm leaf manuscripts. This gigantic task is important in preserving indigenous knowledge for future generations.
The Dutch Research Council is particularly interested in how reconciliation processes differ between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands and the value these objects hold for various communities across the (post)colonial divide.
Sri Lanka also secured a second consortium grant under the project “Whose Law? Addressing Injustice in the Entangled Histories of Sri Lanka and the Netherlands and Advancing the Practices of Provenance Research.” Prof. Dr. N. Kamardeen (University of Colombo) is the main applicant, with consortium partners Prof. Dr. Wayne Modest (Wereldmuseum) and Dilip Tambyrajah (Netherlands-Sri Lanka Foundation).
This project explores different perspectives on justice and legality regarding colonial cultural property in the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. It aims to improve provenance research methodologies to assist in decisions about restitution and return of cultural objects.
Additionally, it will examine the potential for digitizing cultural objects and propose an inclusive framework for deciding the future of colonial cultural property, advancing provenance research, and digitizing cultural artifacts.
These initiatives reflect a growing commitment to addressing the legacies of colonialism and ensuring that cultural heritage is appropriately managed, respected, and returned to its rightful origins. The Dutch Research Council’s interest in these projects highlights the importance of understanding and reconciling the colonial past with the present, fostering cooperation and mutual respect between nations.
