Oh! For the love of books!
by Nilma Dole
How many of us love spending our
time reading books?
As much as we are bookworms, our hectic lives and busy schedules make
it increasingly difficult to spend quality time choosing a book we would
like to read. Here to make our lives easier to give us the convenience
of hand-picking books we love, the founder partners of www.books.lk
Kumar Melvani and Sujan Dias have brought the wonderful world of
literature to our doorstep.
 “We deliver books through ordinary post anywhere in Sri Lanka and it
is cheaper and easier than buying it from the bookstore. For example, if
you need Dan Brown’s ‘Lost Symbol’, instead of buying it at a bookshop
for Rs. 1800, you can get it delivered for the same cost,” said Kumar.
The website www.books.lk started as a hobby for both partners which
they thought should be taken one step higher with a dedicated website.
They have extensively advertised on Facebook to get the message across.
“The website www.books.lk is like a mini-Amazon where you can even
get Blu-ray discs, CDs and DVDs. Eventually we hope to expand to offer
other products” said Sujan.
Pretty soon, www.books.lk want to get into publishing as well. “We
have spoken to several Sri Lankan authors and some are happy to come on
board with us because they get the recognition they deserve on the
website” said Kumar. In most bookstores, their books hardly have a place
compared to the more popular international titles and so people never
buy their books for the mere fact that they don’t know.
They also think positively about book clubs because the only way
people do read and buy books it through such groups. “We are planning on
tying up with book clubs to give them books at reasonable prices since
it includes delivery as well” said Kumar. Further he commented, “We
always update our line-up and make sure all best-selling titles are
available for those discerning readers.”
In searching for rare Sri Lankan titles, we have a select group of
contacts who supply such books from time to time” said Sujan. Further he
added, “Our plan is to liaise with schools to give them textbooks and
essential study guides.”
“The English-speaking population in Sri Lanka all have some form of
access to the internet so it is easy to get them to buy books online
since it minimises traffic problems, less carbon emissions and less
stress to pick a good book at home or work on www.books.lk” said Kumar.
The website has a Search facility to find any title your heart desires.
“We have an extensive international supplier base offering virtually any
book under the sun. We can source any book that a customer may wish to
order, even if it does not appear on the present list,” said Sujan.
Subscriptions for Sri Lankan and international newspapers and magazines
can be arranged and payment can be paid via credit card detail or making
a physical payment to a bank account.
Having a 98% literacy rate, Sri Lankans are very much into the good
habit of reading and the website www.books.lk will help in that.
BOOK GIVEAWAY
www.books.lk will be giving away 6 lucky Sunday Observer magazine
readers the best-seller Dan Brown’s ‘The Lost Symbol’ as a New Year gift
so hurry up and answer the simple question by filling the coupon. Draw
will take place on January 2, 2010. |
