| J. R. Jayewardene Centre | |
| Location: | 191 Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo |
| Inauguration Date: | 1988 |
| Namesake: | J. R. Jayewardene |
| Management: | Board of Governors |
J. R. Jayewardene Centre is an archive, library, and museum in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is the official institute of the first executive President of Sri Lanka, Junius Richard Jayewardene. The centre is based on the United States model of Presidential libraries.[1]
The centre was created under a separate act of Parliament, the J. R. Jayewardene Centre Act No. 77 of 1988, to preserve and administer the records of the former president.[2] It archives Jayewardene's personal library and papers, as well as papers and records from the Presidential Secretariat and gifts he received during his tenure. The centre is based at Vaijantha, Jayewardene's childhood home, which now serves as the J. R. Jayewardene Memorial Centre. The centre also has ownership of Braemar, Jayewardene's family home.
The centre is made up of a library, museum, presidential archives and a Japanese museum. It is open to the public and for hosting events, and is under the control of the Presidential Secretariat.[3]
The centre exhibits collections of items that Jayawardene used.[4] [5]