The Colombo International Book Fair was organised for the 17th time this time around, and local and foreign publishers, as well as importers are supporting this Colombo International Book Fair.
The Colombo International Book Fair 2015, an annual book exhibition is the largest of its kind. will The week-long event will host arounf 36 foreign and 165 local exhibitors, all under one roof. The adjacent Sirimavo Bandaranaike Exhibition Centre and the grounds is also being used for the fair.
Noteworthy was the many purchases made by the Prime Minister at the book fair including the book “Ran Karanduwa” authored by the Ven. Batuwangala Rahula Thera who clinched the Gold Award this year. Scholarships were awarded by the Prime Minister and Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam to five school children under the “Garu Diriya” Scholarship programme.
Thereafter, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the occasion said during the past we had good books published, and they were written by authors like Martin Wickremasinghe. But today only a limited number of copies are printed. He queried whether there was a lack of reading or whether the authors are not good. Both these spheres should be taken in for consideration to develop it, he emphasised.
The Prime Minister said when he asked from the Minister as to what he is going to do for the National Library Services Board, the Minister said there are no funds. It is not surprising as the funds given were not being used to purchase books but for administrative activities, PM added.
He said that the Government is planning to launch a National e-Library going in accordance with modern technology.
He further said, "there are short comings in the school text books, and it is we who commenced the process to provide free text books. So good books need to be given and nobody is going to stop distribution of free books. He claimed that education in the country cannot be improved without providing quality books to the children:.
He noted that the Government is prepared to provide six percent for education gradually. He revealed that this would be increased next year too.
The Colombo International Book Fair will conclude on September 27 and the exhibition will be open all-day from 9 am to 8 pm,
