Colombo National Book Fair opens

Dinesh de Alwis

The Colombo National Book Fair 2010 organized by the Colombo Public Library Welfare Association for the third consecutive year was opened yesterday by Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana.

Addressing the gathering the WPC Governor said Sri Lankans today are very intelligent. President Mahinda Rajapaksa wants to make Colombo a Miracle city.

This book fair is a part of that. These book fairs are valuable not only for students but for everyone in the society.

The adages "reading maketh a man" and "pen is mightier than the sword" are very true. Today, we don't read the newspapers but just the headlines only. Thats not enough. What is in the headline is always not in the story, the Governor said.

Colombo Public Library Chief Librarian Sirisena Kusummulla, Colombo Municipal Council Special Commissioner Omar Kamil, DSI Chairman Nandadasa Rajapakse and several others were present. The book fair will be open from 9.00am to 8.00pm till June 15.

Over 80 book publishers are selling books at special discounts.