Better late than never

Today is the final day of the Colombo International Book Fair:

by Sajitha PREMATUNGE

Pix : Chinthaka Kumarasinghe

One thing is for sure Sri Lankans still love reading. This is never more obvious that in the literacy month when the islands biggest book exhibition takes place - the Colombo International Book Fair at the BMICH. If you still have not been to the BMICH, you better hurry today the final day. But no guarantees you could cover all 420 stalls in one day. With favourable security conditions, in spite of somewhat unfavourable weather conditions people have been swarming into the BMICH for the ninth day running.

H.D. Premasiri, Chairman, Sarasavi Bookshop (Pvt) Ltd and Treasurer, Sri Lanka Book Publishers Association, said that last Monday marked the biggest turnout in the history of the book fair. Monday being a holiday brought an unprecedented 300,000 people through the gates of the BMICH.

“Availability of parking space and the existing security situation has made things easier for people” said Premasiri. “Until 9.00 or 9.30 pm people keep coming to the BMICH” said Bhathiya Delgahapitiya, Sub inspector, on duty.

He explained that the assurance of the security situation has enabled people to roam free.

Sure enough readers of every age group, from university to kids, could be seen walking around without a care in the world, rummaging through piles of books. Take it from a book lover there is nothing sweeter than the smell of books for ardent readers.

“This is different from buying books from a bookshop” explained Premasiri. “Unless you go to a good bookshop the choice is very limited.” The Colombo International Book Fair has a choice of over 500,000 to 1,000,000 types of books. But that’s not all; you can take all the time in the world to browse through books in a reader-friendly environment.

H.D. Premasiri, Chairman, Sarasavi Bookshop (Pvt) Ltd	Ven. Mathale Vijayawansa Thera

And the most sought after book in the fair, according to Premasiri’s, Dan Brown’s newest novel The Lost Symbol and Sunethra Rajakarunanayake’s Podupurushaya.

The Department of Education stall offers a multitude of government recommended A/L additional reading books. Gayan Samarathunga, Sales Executive of Rupavahini, says that their stall Ru Entertainment has seen much better sales this year. Their productions Vanni Meheyuma, Our Lady of Madhu Feast 2009 and their DVDs on O/L subjects are major hits.

Piyasena Kulatunga, Assistant Manager, Buddhist Publications Society (BPS), also claimed that the turnout this year was great. It was clear that the interest in Buddha Dhamma has improved. A stall we would normally expect to contain a handful of senior citizens was frequented by people of all ages. BPS publications are in circulation in over 80 countries.

Ven. Mathale Vijayawansa Thera of Purana Naga Vihara, Seeppukulama, claims that he has been coming to the book fair since its inception. He comes all the way from Anuradhapura just to come to the book fair every year so he could make use of the wide choice, special discounts and to browse through all new books that are exhibited. He explained that another benefit of such a book fair is the opportunity it provides to choose between different publishers comparing the different prices and quality of the books they offer. “We can find all the books we want under one roof.” Or rather two in this case, since they are exhibited in both halls. “Anyone can stay for as long as they want” Even if you don’t buy any books at all, you can browse through then for as long as you want.

Brother and sister little Akitha and Dulansa were busy colouring their drawing outside the Sirimawo Bandaranaike Hall. The Arts Shop organized by Sakura Arts Centre Bambalapitiya is another innovative idea that attracts the attention of kids and adults alike. who was in-charge of the joints and the tots, revealed that over 150 kids come to the Arts Shop to paint every day. Certificates for last years winners were handed over on Thursday 24.

Lakshman Pathirana	Piyasena Kulatunga, Asst. Manager, Buddhist Publications Society (BPS)	Savithru Jayasinghe	SI Bhathiya Delgahapitiya

It’s a lot of fun browsing through books with music running in the background but inevitably one or two people in your crowd will start to lag behind, while the others are still shopping for books with zeal. But the organizers have a solution for every problem. Malka Perera - a 14 year old student - was seen sitting on one of a dozen chairs allocated for the tired shopper, hugging two huge mountains of books on her lap. But she swore it wasn’t all for her. “It’s for me and my whole family.” A studious Anulian, Malka said she had bought only text books for her. No novels for Malka.

But for the Keller kids it’s all fun - two American kids lost in Asterix.

Rahel Keller, aged 11 and her brother Mathew, aged seven say their parents bring them to the book fair because books are much cheaper here and it offers a better choice. After much coaxing and after the initial shock of encountering our paparazzi group Mathew proudly announced that he bought The Call of the Wild.

But our visit to the Colombo International Book Fair would not have been complete without meeting a writer. Savithru Jayasinghe. The 17 year old writer had come to the book fair with his sister Sandu - a budding poet herself - and their parents. They have been coming to the Colombo International Book Fair for three years. “Books are much cheaper and there is a wide choice” said Savithru. Savithru having written such science fiction as Steve Parker and the Dark Machine has tried his hand at script writing with The last link. Savithru will be leaving for Cambridge shortly on an engineering scholarship, we wish him all the best.

Happy shopping everyone!