India, Sri Lanka launch palm-leaf manuscript digitisation initiative

The South Asian Manuscript Histories and Textual Archive (SAMHiTA) Palm-Leaf Manuscript Digitisation Project was formally launched at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo on October 23, marking a significant collaborative effort between Indian and Sri Lankan cultural institutions.

The India International Centre, based in Delhi, partnered with the historic Gangaramaya Temple to undertake the ambitious preservation initiative. The project has received financial support from the Government of India, underlining New Delhi's commitment to protecting the region's rich textual heritage.

India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, attended the launch event, highlighting the diplomatic importance of the bilateral cultural initiative. The project aims to create a comprehensive digital archive of palm-leaf manuscripts, which represent invaluable records of South Asian scholarly, religious, and historical traditions.

The digitisation effort is expected to enhance access to these fragile historical documents, ensuring their preservation for future generations while making the collections available to researchers and scholars across the region. Palm-leaf manuscripts constitute a critical component of South Asia's literary heritage, containing ancient texts on philosophy, medicine, astronomy, and religious teachings.