Students enrolled in postgraduate programs at the Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (PGIHS) benefit from excellent library services provided by the Main Library of the University of Peradeniya. Recognized as Sri Lanka’s oldest and largest academic library, it has a rich history dating back to 1921, when it was first established as the library of the Ceylon University College in Colombo. In 1952, it was relocated to its current location in Peradeniya, where it now occupies a prominent seven-story building adjacent to the Senate Building and Arts Block.
While primarily serving the Faculty of Arts, the Main Library also acts as the central hub for a network of eight branch libraries, together holding a vast collection of over 800,000 items. PGIHS students enjoy access to a wide range of services, including lending, reference assistance, inter-library loans, and more than 3,500 electronic journals. The library’s Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) provides convenient access to nearly 400,000 bibliographic records.
Balancing tradition with innovation, the Main Library is deeply committed to both preserving Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage and providing modern academic resources, making it a cornerstone of research and learning for all PGIHS students.
