Book swappers meet for Edition III

Barista Lavazza's flagship store Café Mocha played host to book lovers of all ages and backgrounds recently when it hosted 'Creator's Edition III' of Book Swap Colombo. Founded by a group of self-proclaimed 'bookworms' who desired to create a forum for like-minded book lovers to share their collections and stories, book swappers meet on the last Saturday of every three months to lend and share their books, have conversations about the books they have or are reading, meet and make new friends and enjoy a relaxing time amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Adding to the atmosphere is the light music played in the background by upcoming local artistes of different genres.

Members of Book Swap Colombo include journalists and career writers as well as those who pen down their thoughts as a healthy hobby. All communication for the members of Book Swap Colombo is done via a public Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/colombobook. The event is also free of charge with members requiring to only purchase their food and beverages of choice from the venue.Founder and Coordinator of Book Swap Colombo Nadeesha Paulis, speaking at the Creator's Edition lll said Book Swap Colombo was an idea that a few of them had when pondering what to do with the large collections of books they found cramped in to every corner of their homes. "For those who know what an ardent fans bedroom looks like you can imagine books in every little nook and corner. What we want to ideally do through these meet-ups is to promote reading and share our treasured possessions with the like-minded. Reading is more than a passion, it's a lifestyle and this is something we want to share," she said.

Barista Lavazza's flagship Café Mocha outlet at Stratford Avenue, Colombo 6, which was previously known as the 'Gandhara Outlet', was revamped and refurbished recently. The café serves an authentic Italian coffee experience coupled with a mouth-watering intercontinental menu and an artsy ambience that is commonplace for the entire street. Head of Operations, Barista Lavazza, Tharanga Perera noted that one of the reasons why they partnered with Book Swap Colombo was to present their flagship Café Mocha outlet as a place for the arts. "We look forward to many more such events like art and photography exhibitions, poetry and book readings, book launches and the likes in the near future," he said.