Sri Lanka is reeling from the devastating aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which has left more than two million people affected, thousands of homes destroyed, and hundreds dead. Yet, as the floodwaters recede, another crisis is emerging: the nation’s inability to safeguard its most important documents from disaster.
The Department of National Archives has issued an urgent appeal for freezer facilities, revealing that hundreds of cubic metres of irreplaceable public records—including land registries, court documents, and historical archives—are now water-damaged and at risk of permanent loss due to mould. Without immediate freezing, these documents, which underpin legal rights, property ownership, and the very identity of millions, may be destroyed forever.
“Freezing water-damaged documents is the only way to halt mould and buy time for proper conservation,” said Dr Nadeera Rupesinghe, Director General of the National Archives. “Without freezing capacity, we will lose vital records, land registries, court documents, historical records, and the evidence millions of citizens need to rebuild their lives.”
The appeal highlights the scale of the problem: public institutions across Sri Lanka urgently need access to freezer facilities and mobile freezers. The National Archives is calling on the business community and organisations with freezer capacity to step forward, offering national recognition and documentation of their contribution for CSR reporting.
“These are not abstract historical records. These are the records our citizens need to prove who they are, what they own, and what they are owed,” the statement reads. The loss of court records, personnel files, financial documents, and administrative history would have far-reaching consequences for families, businesses, and the government.
The floods have exposed a critical vulnerability in Sri Lanka’s disaster preparedness—the lack of infrastructure to protect documentary evidence from natural calamities. As the country works to recover and rebuild, the preservation of its documentary foundation is essential for justice, accountability, and the restoration of rights.
Organisations able to provide freezer space are urged to contact Mr Anuradha Adikaram, Senior Archivist, at 077 6815551, available 24 hours. “Time is the enemy. Every hour without freezing capacity means more records lost to mould. Every day of delay means more families without proof of their homes, their citizenship, their rights,” the appeal warns.
As Sri Lanka faces this unprecedented challenge, the call to action is clear: safeguarding the nation’s documentary infrastructure is as urgent as rebuilding its physical one.
The letter fellows:
Department of National Archives
PRESS RELEASE
URGENT APPEAL FOR FREEZERS
Sri Lanka faces an unprecedented crisis. The recent flooding has submerged not only our homes and infrastructure but also documentary evidence, in particular the public records of legal value of our nation. Hundreds of cubic metres of irreplaceable public records are now water-damaged. We have no time before mould renders them permanently destroyed.
Freezing water-damaged documents stops mould growth and stabilizes materials until proper conservation treatment is possible. It buys time. Without freezing capacity, we will lose vital records, land registries, court documents, historical records, and the evidence millions of citizens need to rebuild their lives. These public institutions urgently need access to freezer facilities and mobile freezers across the country. Public records as bound volumes, and bundled records have to be frozen in large quantities. We understand this is an extraordinary request during an already difficult time. We are asking you to provide space in existing freezer facilities on a temporary basis (weeks to months).
If you are able to provide such facilities without cost, in return, the National Archives can support full documentation of your contribution for CSR reporting and national recognition as a partner in preserving Sri Lanka’s evidentiary landscape.
These are not abstract historical records. These are the records our citizens need to prove who they are, what they own, and what they are owed. What we stand to lose:
- Court records and legal evidence spanning decades
- Personnel files affecting pensions and benefits
- Financial records required for audits and accountability
- Public records essential for maintaining administrative history
- Historical documents that tell our national story
The business community has always been a partner in Sri Lanka’s development. Today, we ask you to be partners in preserving the documentary foundation on which business, law, and civil society depend. Every land transaction, every contract, every court case relies on records. Help us save them.
If your organisation has freezing capacity you can make available, please contact us immediately:
Name: Mr Anuradha Adikaram
Post: Senior Archivist
Contact: 077 6815551 (Available 24 hours)
We will coordinate connecting you with organisations that are searching for freezer facilities. Time is the enemy. Every hour without freezing capacity means more records lost to mould. Every day of delay means more families without proof of their homes, their citizenship, their rights. We are asking for freezers, but we are really asking you to help preserve the documentary infrastructure of our nation.
With gratitude and urgency,
Dr Nadeera Rupesinghe
Director General, National Archives
Tel: 07688 74158