http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/3442 2025-12-29T04:16:50Z 2025-12-29T04:16:50Z Nishanthi, H.D.M. Chandani, J.G. Konpola, K.W.A.M. Kumara, H.U.C.S. http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/13062 2025-10-29T05:18:09Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

The contribution of Buddhist Monks to the Creation of Palm Leaf Manuscripts Nishanthi, H.D.M.; Chandani, J.G.; Konpola, K.W.A.M.; Kumara, H.U.C.S. Attached

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Nishanthi, H.D.M. Chandani, J.G. http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/13061 2025-10-29T05:06:39Z 2025-10-01T00:00:00Z

The Contribution of Buddhist Monks in the Preparation of Palm Leaf Manuscripts Nishanthi, H.D.M.; Chandani, J.G. In the past, writing on palm leaf manuscripts has been a rich and enduring tradition in Sri Lanka, and these manuscripts are among the country's foremost historical sources. However, natural palm leaves are not suitable for scribing, and it is a challenging task to make them suitable for writing. Several steps must be taken to writing a palm leaf manuscript, from marking the palm tree for palm leaves to writing on the palm leaf using a steel point and blackening it. The contribution of Buddhist monks in this respect has been very high since ancient times, from the first century B.C. The leaf was the normal material on which Sri Lankan books were written. However, a review of investigations, research articles, and surveys on the subject showed that there was no discussion of Buddhist monks' potential contributions to many aspects of the process of creating palm leaf manuscripts. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate in detail the contribution of Buddhist monks to the preparation of palm leaf manuscripts. Sources such as books, journal articles, conference papers, websites and case studies published on palm leaf manuscripts were used to conduct this literature review. All literature selected for research was analysed based on the process of preparing palm leaf manuscripts. After the Tripitaka was written completely in the text on the palm leaves in the first century BC at Aluvihara (also known as Alokavihara in Pali), many palm leaf manuscripts were prepared and spread throughout the island. In Sri Lanka, a lot of Tipitaka manuscripts are written in the Pali language using Sinhalese characters. It is evident from the analytical literature that both laypeople and priests worked at the temple to prepare the palm leaf manuscripts. However, the study revealed that Buddhist monks have made significant contributions to the writing of palm leaf manuscripts in Sri Lanka and that the preparation of palm leaf manuscripts is a Buddhist religious activity. Large-scale religious writing first appeared in the country when Ven. Buddhaghosa composed the Aṭṭhakathā (commentaries) in the fifth century AD. The Buddhist manuscripts such as Chullavaggaya and Visuddhimaggaṭīkā, Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna-suttha, Abhidhammapiṭaka, Dhammapada atthakatha, Dhammapada, Dighanikaya, Theragāthā and Vimānavatthu show that the Buddhist monks have contributed to the creation of Buddhist manuscripts by widely using palm leaves.

2025-10-01T00:00:00Z Chandani, J.G. Nishanthi, H.D.M. http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/13059 2025-10-29T04:57:41Z 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z

Analysis of Automated Circulation Data Patterns in Academic Libraries: Chandani, J.G.; Nishanthi, H.D.M. The study aimed to examine the automated circulation services and features and patterns in the library of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. A key issue identified was the significant disparity in students’ knowledge and experience regarding library circulation services across different faculties. Circulation data covering the period from May 2024 to April 2025 were retrieved from the university library management system and quantitatively analyzed to address the objectives of this study. A total of 36,575 circulation records were analyzed during the review period and findings revealed that students from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences accounted for most of the circulation activity, representing approximately 55.6% of the total. University staff followed with 15.3%, and the Faculty of Management and Commerce ranked third with 10.1%. Monthly usage trends indicated peak circulation activity among students in January, February, March, October, and November. In contrast, staff members consistently borrowed and returned throughout the year. The top ten most borrowed items were predominantly Sinhala-language academic texts, reflecting localized academic needs in disciplines such as social science, economics, and history. Based on these findings, the study recommends enhancements in faculty-specific resource allocation, digital access expansion, targeted outreach for underutilized groups, and calendar-aligned service optimization. These insights support evidence-based decision-making to strengthen the library's role in advancing institutional teaching and learning goals.

2025-11-01T00:00:00Z Chandani, J.G. Nishanthi, H.D.M. http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/13057 2025-10-29T04:47:21Z 2025-03-01T00:00:00Z

65-Year Retrospective on Social Sciences Research in Sri Lanka Chandani, J.G.; Nishanthi, H.D.M. This article analyzes 65 years (1952-2024) of research conducted by Sri Lankan scholars in the field of Social Sciences. The study's objective was to assess the research contributions of authors in Social Sciences (SS) affiliated with the 17 public universities overseen by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Sri Lanka. The bibliometric method was employed to evaluate the research performance of authors linked to Sri Lankan universities. The Elsevier Scopus database was chosen for extracting data, using the search term "Sri Lanka" for affiliations. Data was gathered from 17 universities categorized under "Social Sciences." A total of 3,953 research articles (6.1%) were retrieved from the database about SS. Each entry was verified twice, leading to the removal of 29 duplicate records. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 65 years of social science research in Sri Lanka, focusing on scholarly publications from 17 public universities in the country. Utilizing the Elsevier Scopus database provides insights into the research output, development trends, and growth patterns among Sri Lankan scholars in the Social Sciences. The results indicate a rising trajectory, with a significant increase in publications following the COVID-19 pandemic. This research will aid future scholars in pinpointing less-explored areas and support policymakers in determining research funding priorities. It represents the first comprehensive analysis of the social science research landscape in Sri Lanka.

2025-03-01T00:00:00Z