The management of official records in public institutions in Sri Lanka, 1802-1990
This study examines the management patterns of public records in Sri Lanka and their impact on administration during the period 1802 to 1990. This covers the period of British colonial administration and four decades of the post independence era. The study shows that during British colonial administration the administrators did not have an adequate understanding of the necessity of developing a proper record-keeping system to support the efficiency of the administration. The failure of repeated attempts at improving the management of current records testifies to the shortfalls entrenched in the system such as the inadequacy of suitable training for the subordinate staff and the lack of attention to the semi-current phase of records. These were not properly detected by the authorities even up to the date of independence. A significant drawback of the system was that its scope was not extended to cover the entire life cycle of the records. It was assumed that semi-current and non-current records would not be useful to the administration. This situation led to the accumulation of records in the creating agencies which in turn caused long term problems in terms of retrieval and dissemination of information. The
Wickramanayaka, Sarath Sisira Kumara
History
The management of official records in public institutions in Sri Lanka, 1802-1990. This study examines the management patterns of public records in Sri Lanka and their impact on administration during the period 1802 to 1990. This covers the period of British colonial administration and four decades of the post independence era. The study shows that during British colonial administration the administrators did not have an adequate understanding of the necessity of developing a proper record-keeping system to support the efficiency of the administration. The failure of repeated attempts at improving the management of current records testifies to the shortfalls entrenched in the system such as the inadequacy of suitable training for the subordinate staff and the lack of attention to the semi-current phase of records. These were not properly detected by the authorities even up to the date of independence. A significant drawback of the system was that its scope was not extended to cover the entire life cycle of the records. It was assumed that semi-current and non-current records would not be useful to the administration. This situation led to the accumulation of records in the creating agencies which in turn caused long term problems in terms of retrieval and dissemination of information. The
management official_record public institution sri_lanka study_examines management pattern public record sri_lanka impact administration period_cover period british_colonial administration post_independence era study_show british_colonial administration administrator adequate necessity develop proper record_keeping system support efficiency administration failure repeat attempt_improve management current record shortfall entrench system inadequacy suitable training subordinate staff lack attention semi current phase record properly detect authority even date independence significant drawback system scope extend_cover entire life_cycle record assume semi current non current record would useful administration situation lead accumulation record create agency turn cause long_term problem term retrieval dissemination information