The inaugural ceremony for the distribution of mobile library vehicles to ten selected local government authorities in the Western Province, under the ‘Arunu Dora’ National Reading Promotion Programme implemented in parallel with the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ National Programme, was held this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
Under the first phase of the project, ten mobile library vehicles equipped with modern facilities, along with 9,300 books, were distributed to the Kesbewa and Seethawakapura Municipal Councils and to the Homagama, Dompe, Attanagalla, Minuwangoda, Wattala, Bulathsinhala, Walallawita and Palindanuwara Pradeshiya Sabhas.
The project was implemented under the Department of Local Government of the Western Provincial Council with funding provided by the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat.
The ‘Arunu Dora’ National Reading Promotion Programme is being carried out with the objective of fostering a reading culture at the grassroots level and building a knowledge-based Sri Lanka.
At the event, special recognition was accorded to the significant contributions made under the ‘Arunu Dora’ National Reading Promotion Programme throughout the year 2025.
Delivering a special address, veteran writer Mahinda Prasad Masimbula emphasised that building a new society requires a proper social understanding and noted that taking books from village to village in order to cultivate a love for reading among the public is a beautiful and meaningful experience.
He further observed that, although Sri Lanka does not lack literary resources or publications, bringing them to the reading public through a correct and systematic mechanism is essential. In this context, he described the programme launched under the Clean Sri Lanka initiative not as a simple exercise, but as a highly valuable cultural process, expressing confidence that it would help revive a strong culture of reading in the country.
The Governor of the Western Province, Hanif Yusoof, also addressed the gathering, recalling that during the violence of Black July in 1983, as neighbouring houses were set ablaze, he left his home carrying only two books and about three shirts. He noted that the discipline and insight he gained through reading enabled him to shape a successful life.
Describing the Clean Sri Lanka Programme as an initiative that purifies not only the environment but also the human mind, Mr Yusoof expressed his deep appreciation for the programme, stating that it has been launched with the future generation firmly in mind and is therefore of immense value to the country.
Addressing the gathering, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake stated that, in the midst of today’s increasingly turbulent society, programmes of this nature are critically important in the effort to build a future generation that is both values-driven and disciplined.
He further pointed out that, under the Clean Sri Lanka Programme, special attention has been directed towards initiatives that, while modest in scale, are capable of creating a significant impact by engaging with the subtle and sensitive aspects of society, thereby contributing to the development of a progressive and ethical social structure. Emphasising the importance of sustaining the momentum of the ‘Arunu Dora’ National Reading Promotion Programme, the Secretary to the President expressed his expectation of the collective support of all stakeholders to successfully carry the initiative forward and elevate it into a national-level project.
This mobile library service provides schoolchildren and book-loving rural communities with the opportunity to access a more efficient and modern library experience. It was emphasised that, through the ‘Arunu Dora’ National Reading Promotion Programme, similar initiatives are expected to be further expanded across the island in the future.
The Convener of the Clean Sri Lanka Programme, Senior Additional Secretary to the President (Finance and Economic Affairs) G. M. R. D. Aponsu, also shared his views on the occasion.
Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government A.H.M.H Abayarathna, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government S. Alokabandara, Additional Secretary to the President (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara and Chief Secretary of the Western Province K. G. Pradeep Pushpa Kumara were among the distinguished guests who attended the event.
In addition, Mayors of beneficiary Municipal Councils, Chairpersons and Secretaries of Pradeshiya Sabhas, along with other officials, were present. Representatives from institutions that supported this national initiative including the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the National Library and Documentation Services Board, LB Finance, the Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association and the Sri Lanka Scout Association also participated in the occasion.
President’s Media Division (PMD)