The origins of the Ratnapura Public Library date back to the British rule in Sri Lanka. That is, it is older than the history of the Municipal Councils (Local Boards). In the early days, this was not a public library. This library was first established in 1857 during the British rule and was a library open only for the use of the British ruling class.
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It is a fact that a good reader of library history will understand that it is not unfair to introduce our library as a museum public library. The origin of the Ratnapura Public Library dates back to the British rule in this country. That is it is older than the history of the Municipal Councils Local Boards. In the initial period this library was first established in the year 1857 during the British rule and it was a library open only for the use of the English ruling class. This library service has been maintained by an organization called Book Club.
The Ratnapura Public Library was first housed in a building built during the British rule called Wace Memorial Hall. This Wace Memorial Hall was built to commemorate the service of Mr. Herbert Wace who served as the Deputy Governor of Ratnapura in the 1880s and the first Governor after the establishment of the Sabaragamuwa Province on January 4 1889. The building was designed by Mr. W L Davidson who succeeded Herbert Wace as Governor.
The construction of the new Weiss Memorial Hall began in 1896 on the site of the library which had been run by the Book Club since 1857. After the establishment of the Local Board in 1887 the work here was also carried out by the same board. The new building was opened on 18 April 1903 as the Library and Town Hall not the present Town Council office by Mr. W Jackson who held the position of District Agent at that time.
The library that is being created in this way has been developed as a public library after the Ratnapura Local Board became a municipal council and a municipal council. The foundation stone for the construction of a new three-storey public library was laid by the Ratnapura Municipal Council in February 1976 on the land belonging to the Government Agents Office. With the help of a gem trading businessman the work was half completed and in 1982 the building was taken over by the Department of Education and the establishment of the Mihindu College.
The Ways Memorial Hall was renovated and reopened by the Ratnapura Municipal Council in October 2012. During this renovation period the Ratnapura Public Library was maintained at two locations Pulugupitiya Medical Center and Gagabada Seevali College. The Ratnapura Public Library which has now expanded to two library buildings is undergoing a developmental era in the history of the library under the guidance of the Honorable Mayor Tiron Attanayakes concept of A prosperous mini-city through efficient service and the Honorable Chairman of the Library Committee Duminda Koswatte.
