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Item Indigenous Medicine for Snake Bites in Palm Leaf Manuscripts in Sri Lanka(Reviewing International Encounters 2018,The Research Center for Social Sciences (RCSS), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Abayarathne, A.H.M.H.Palm leaf manuscript culture in Sri Lanka has a long history. According to Sri Lankan chronicles which were composed around 5th century A.C.E. writing on palm leaves started in the 1st century B.C.E, as mentioned in those chronicles, during the reign of King Vaṭṭagāṃani Abhaya (89-77 B.C.E)' Buddhist monks used palm leaves to inscribe the doctrine of the Buddha. In the later periods, in addition to religious texts, secular subjects were also written on palm leaves, like indigenous medical practices, astrology, palmistry" literature and various kinds of black magic. Indigenous medical practices included medical treatments for human beings as well as animals. Ailments such as diarrhea, vomiting, snakebites, fever, and mental disorders were commonly treated using indigenous medicines. A large number of PLMSRL covers the treatments for snake bites. As an agricultural society even today there are a considerable number of deaths by snake bites. So the situation in the past was very serious. There are various methods for cure of snake bites using indigenous medicine of various kinds. The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka has established a Palm Leaf Manuscript Study and Research Library (PLMSRL) to preserve those manuscripts, especially to preserve manuscripts that are damaged due to various causes. Currently, there are more than 3000 (800,000 images) manuscripts preserved by this library. This research present study was carried out by using these manuscripts. The methodology used for this research is to examine those manuscripts thoroughly and the main objective is to recognize the major areas of the indigenous knowledge which prevailed for more than twenty centuries throughout the history of Sri Lanka.Item Dissemination of Indigenous Knowledge through Modern Agricultural Information Sources and Channels in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Mihirani, P.M.N.; Weerakoon, W.R.W.M.A.P.; Weerakoon, W.R.W.M.S.N.P.; Withana, N.R.P.; Dharmawardhana, M.W.C.; Samaraweera, J.P.U.Information plays a critical role in agriculture where information sources and channels are important for decision making. Agriculture Extension Service (AES) of theDepartment of Agriculture, Sri Lanka facilitates farmer decision making by providing knowledge, relevant and reliable information so as to promote agricultural development. Regrettably, in a position which inapt use of modern expertise caused severe ecological and health issues, approaches allied to Indigenous Knowledge (IGK) receive great attention where there is a need of assessing the existing information dissemination system to promote IGK. Therefore, the study explores the AES,information channels (IC) and information sources (IS) to achieve the objectives of (1) assessing and classifying IC and IS, (2) assessing the current use and usefulness of IC and IS, (3) assessing factors that are vital to disseminate IGK via IS and IC, and (4) assessing and recommending possible methods to propagate IGK. Questionnaire-based interviews (n=500) were held with farmers in Ten DS-divisions in Anuradhapura District. The IC and IS were classified into four groups; Personal localite sources, Personal cosmopolite sources, Personal cosmopolite channels, and Impersonal cosmopolite channels, where both qualitative and quantitative methods were used for the analysis. Progressive farmers, Surrounding folks, extension officers, agro-input dealers, printed and digital media were found important to farmers, while library and scholarly resources whereas wireless technologies such as internet were underused. Despite of the preference, farmers’ use of IC and IS relied on clarity, simplicity, availability, cost-effectiveness whereas on certain socio-economic, cultural and psychological aspects. Constraints allied to assistance, infrastructure, understanding on IGK, resources, whereas complexity of methods, monetary limitations, negative perceptions were faced by both extension offices and farmers that demands well-planned collective programs, supplement of simple resources, computer literacy, assistance and IGK related training to both parties.Item Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Sri Lanka: A Study with Special Reference in the Field of Indigenous Medicine(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Gamage, C.K.Indigenous knowledge, formulated by indigenous people or aboriginal tribes has been handed down from generation to generation for hundreds and thousands of years. Indigenous knowledge is a local knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society. Hence, it can be measured according to the measurements of the same culture itself. The earliest system of medicine that originated or was inherited by people who lived in Sri Lanka before the advent ofAyurveda, was indigenous medicine. This system was handed down from generation to generation, and has a long tradition with its roots traced back to pre Aryan civilization. This study aimed to explore the major information methods used in the system of indigenous medical field in Sri Lanka and how it transmitted this knowledge from generation to generation. The major research tools employed for data gathering were interviews, questionnaires and observation. Indigenous medical practitioners from two districts of Anuradhapura and Colombo were deemed as the study population. From this medical population, three practitioners were selected purposively from each and every ten broad categories of indigenous medicine ie. KedumBidumVedakam (Local orthopaedics), GedievanaPilika (Treatment of abscesses and tumors), DavumPilissumVedakama (Treatment of burns), VishaVedakama (Treatment in toxicology), EsVedakama (Ophthalmology), ManasikaRogaVedakama (Psychiatry), Balaroga (Peadiatrics),PinasRogaVedakama,VathaRogaVedakama and SamanyaSarvanga (Internal Medicine). The study revealed that both of verbal and non – verbal methods are equally used to collect, record, transmit and preserve the indigenous medical knowledge in Sri Lanka. Among them Vedageta, DuthaLakshana, Incantations ( Yanthra – Manthra), and Rituals (Yathu Karma) are the major verbal methods used and ola leaf manuscripts, hand written manuscripts and methods of kem are the major non – verbal methods involved. This study highlights that the ‘Generational succession’ is the main method of transformation of indigenous medical knowledge and relevant expertise to the next generation.Item Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) in Sri Lank: An overview(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Amarakone, L.R.Sri Lanka is rich in Indigenous Knowledge (IK) as is the case in many developing countries in the South Asian Region. The island is yet to be taken proper mechanism to identify, record, protect Sri Lanka’s IK. The islands IK consists of different cultural heritages of main different communities. Therefore, there is a pressing need to establish a mechanism for identification and preserve IK in Sri Lanka and also it becomes a challenge due to Sri Lanka’s complex social, religious and political history that mixes Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Islam beliefs and also the influence of colonization that took place in the 18th century. As seen above this island’s IK consists of many different cultural heritages of above main communities. On the other hand, formation of a viable mechanism in order to identify, locate, record and protect IK in the island becomes crucial in the phase of redevelopment and reconciliation of communities which is ongoing at present. This paper highlights the great achievements obtained by Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in the past history in the areas of Ayurveda, Agriculture, Astronomy, Architecture, Education and sustainability of Sri Lanka’s ecosystem and water management. It also attempts to observe how the Sri Lankan IK system was sufficient and relevant and also supporting in maintaining a balanced healthy, social interaction and how IK need to be researched and adapted to meet the current challenges faced by the island nation. At present Sri Lanka is facing problems of poverty, conflict, inadequate education facilities, damages made to the ecosystem, non-communicable diseases such as high-blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol which increase the financial allocations for the nation’s healthcare system. Hence this paper attempt to analyze the aforesaid issues and proposes that being Sri Lankans need to clearly understand our IK systems and adapt them wisely in order to face the challenges that we are facing today.