Books, panel discussions, performances; Kandy Book Fair will have it all

A wonderful opportunity awaits the country’s book lovers as Kandy City Centre is ready yet again to host the ‘Kandy Book Fair’, proudly organized by the Sri Lanka Book Publishers Association. Featuring stalls of bookstores and book publishers from around the island, the event will offer a wide range to choose from with up to 20% discounts on a plethora of categories.

Kandy Book Fair 2018 will be held from June 27 to July 1 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.at the Kandy City Centre premises.

Samudra Book Publishers is the proud Principal Sponsor of the Kandy Book Fair while the Platinum Sponsors are Sarasavi Book Shop, Akura Publishers, M D Gunasena and Godage. The Gold Sponsors are Vijitha Yapa Book Shop, Ashirwada Publishers, Panther and Wasana Publishers while the Print Media Sponsor is Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. Kandurata FM–SLBC is the official radio partner and Northwood Consulting (Pvt) Ltd joins as official communications partner. The event is co-organised by Kandy City Centre.

A line-up of entertainment items too have been arranged with the participation of a number of schools. On the first day of the event there will be a Bakthi Gee performance conducted by St. Sylvester’s College from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The 28th will bring forth three performances - the Orchestra of Pushpadana Balika Vidyalaya will take the stage from 10 a.m. to 12 noon followed by a performance by the Orchestra of Rahula Vidyalaya Katugastota from 1.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. and the final item will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. with the Girls’ High School Kandy taking the spotlight. The 29th will see a performance by the Orchestra of Hemamali Balika Vidyalaya which will take place from 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. The final performance will be by the Orchestra of Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya which will be staged from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on July 1.

Organizers have also put together a series of panel discussions.

*On the 27th Timran Keethi, Dominick Chandrasali, Wasantha Nuwunhella, Padmini Shriyalatha and Ananda Abeywickrama – poets from Kurunegala, Matale and Badulla areas will comprise the panel and the discussion will be moderated by Sudarshana Samaraweera. The discussion will be held from 11a.m. till 12 noon.

*On the 28th from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.the panel will consist of Nishanka Wijemana, H. B. Gunaratne and Chulabhya Shantha Kumara Herath – renowned short story fiction writers from Mahiyangana, Badula and Matale areas. The discussion will be moderated by Prof. Prabath Jayasinghe.

* The poets from Peradeniya will be featured at the panel discussion on the 29th from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. with Sudharshana Samaraweera, Nuwan Thotawatta, Ranathunga Malwaarachi and Kapila M. Gamage - the discussion moderated by Prof. Liyanage Amarakeerthi.

* The final panel discussion will take place on the 30th under the theme ‘Recollections and Celebrations of Art Life in Kandy’ with Raja Uswetakeeyawa, Ranjitha Wijesinghe, Wickrama Palihawadana and Hemantha Anurasiri. The discussion will take place from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is moderated by Prof. Liyanage Amarakeerthi.