What we do

The department houses the largest educational library in Sri Lanka and South Asia. The comprehensive collection of educational literature, periodicals and books prove to be an invaluable information resource that supports educational researchers, teachers and academics. The library facilitates a source for upgrading knowledge of personnel attached to the National Institute of Education and other educational institutions in the country. This knowledge resource has been upgraded to be easily accessed digitally. The department also undertakes the training of school librarians and its staff and acts in an advisory capacity to enhance skills and knowledge in library science.

The department also maintains the only national educational museum and is the main conservation centre of education history in Sri Lanka. The museum houses artefacts relating to general education which includes ancient manuscripts, ancient writing equipment, education circulars, teaching-learning materials, and past curricula. Amongst the collection is the memorial belongings of the late Dr C.W.W. Kannangara, who is hailed as the father of Sri Lanka’s free education system. The Museum is opened to the public since 2015.