Theertha Publication Program is an attempt to make available contemporary writing in art and culture to a wider audience in Sri Lanka. 

Serious shortage of reading material on contemporary art to support art curriculums in schools, lack of programs for publication of current art and cultural writings in local languages and not having educational opportunities for broadening art knowledge have contributed to a situation where at a popular level contemporary art and culture in Sri Lanka  is defined and interpreted only within the past historical markers.

At the same time, recent educational trends and official and institutional policies have come to lean towards technical education underplaying the educational necessity of philosophical training and creative thinking that is needed for broader understanding of the society and to produce enlightened leadership in all spheres.  The aesthetic education and cultural studies specifically has suffered in this present predicament of the education system.

The overall intention of all Theertha projects has been to confront this obstacle from multiple levels giving more of a holistic approach to addressing the problem.  As part of this methodology, while Theertha would be engaged in publication of art writings it would also support knowledge distribution through their local workshops as well as exhibition programs maintaining a connection between all three programs. Therefore, having an active publication program on art and culture has been a necessity.

All Theertha programs consciously try to address both the Sinhala and Tamil speaking (Tamil & Muslim ethnic groups) communities.  As such, majority of art and cultural writings would be published in both these local languages.  Overall Theertha philosophy is to promote inclusion in as many ways as possible and to facilitate knowledge exchange across ethnic, linguistic, economic and regional boarders.

Some of the publications of Theertha are done in partnership with Colombo Institute for the Advanced Study of Society and Culture (Colombo Institute), an organization with an emphasis on research and dissemination of writings on Sri Lankan society and culture.