The Contribution of Library Tradition for Ancient Education System in Sri Lanka

Abstract

After arrival of Arahath mahinda in 3rd centuary BC, different sectors in the country were chaned in to new arena including the education. With inclresing number of Maha Sanga in that period, their educational needs were very complex and vivid. Pirivena education came into seen with the idea of changing the ducation system into proper education. The small room where one or few Bikkus were lived and learned was changed in to larger recidences which became Pirivenas or Buddhist educational centers. Eventually these centers of leaning were opened not only to Bhikkus but laypersons too. Pirivena became the mother for the evelvement of libraries in Sri Lanka. First Pirivena library was established at Mahavihara. According to historical sources there have been sevaral branches of pirivenas to Mahavihara and there were too libraries. Art of writing and writing tradition was started by the then Bhikkus based on Budhism. That was helful to develop library system and tradition in Sri Lanka. Objectives of this paper is to exlore the situation of early Pirivena libraryes, education tradition and ppirivena education