Historical Records: Some Thoughts in April 2026-by Michael Roberts
Source:Thuppahis
Over the last 6-9 months Roshan Samarawickrema has been cataloguing my books in a long-term project. As it happens, a chance finding in my computer files led me to a Note [undated] to Nishan de Mel, a good friend who is the Director of VERITE RESEARCH in Colombo, which is entitled “RARE MATERIAL –NEW” …..
DEAR NISHAN et al
Given the aging process and the right-royal mess my study arena is in, I fear that there is a corpus of rare items that may disappear when I am cremated at some point in the near future. Some of the rare books will be available in university libraries and in the stock maintained by collectors.
PK Balachandran …. & …. Genl Shavendra Silva
But
A = my stock also contains some slim pamphlets and leaflets which are quite rare and are just the ‘scale’ of items that disappear beyond any horizon.
B = and my new scan disks contain recorded interviews with Sri Lankan personnel in key positions during the recent conflicts. **
B includes military personnel and journalists and will demand confidentiality and embargoes. Because many of the recent recordings are digital, they can be easily transmitted by internet and emails. To provide some examples
- Interview with Sister Rubarani in Mannar [re long march to Nandhikadal etc]
- …with Corporal PiYARATNE of special forces
- .. with Commander Ralph Nugara who led one of the pinzer arms that penetrated Nandhikadal Lagoon
- … with General Shavendra Silva
- … with Indian journalist PK Balachandran who was in Colombo for about 20 years
Having worked out an agreement with you personally Nishan …. THEN I cd transmit the digital material at some point in the future – on the understanding that VERITE will then take steps to place the items via an embargo agreement in the NLSB.
The rare pamphlets/leaflets will be a more cumbersome exercise, one calling for (A) a hired hand to list/catalogue them …. And (B) using a firm to digital copy them.
Michael
PS, April 2026: After a recent trip to Melbourne, I am seriously considering the Jaffna Public Library as a repository for my stock or part of my stock. THAT decision can be addressed in due course
** The stock of taped interviews from the ROBERTS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT of the period 1965-69 are already in the National Library Services Board in Colombo
