28 November, Chennai: India has supported the establishment of 10 rural libraries and ‘Mini-India Corners’ in the Hambantota district of Sri Lanka’s Southern Province. These libraries and corners, developed with India’s assistance, aim to provide school children and youth in rural areas with opportunities to explore new subjects and share knowledge.
The Consulate General of India in Hambantota shared the news on the social media platform ‘X,’ stating, “The Consulate General of India in Hambantota is delighted to announce the establishment of 10 Mini-India Corners in the Hambantota district.”
In another statement, the Consulate highlighted that the initiative is part of Sri Lanka’s National Literature Month and Reading Month celebrations. The ‘India Corners’ in these rural libraries are expected to serve as valuable resources for local communities, providing access to books and inspiring readers of all ages. The initiative also aims to cultivate a culture of reading and knowledge-sharing among rural communities.
At the recently held inauguration ceremony, Consul General Harvinder Singh presented books in the Sinhala language to the rural libraries. Additionally, books and reading materials procured from India were handed over to further enrich the libraries’ collections.
This collaboration underscores the Indian government’s commitment to supporting educational and cultural initiatives that strengthen ties between India and Sri Lanka. Under its “Neighbourhood First” policy, India has been actively assisting Sri Lanka in various sectors, ranging from infrastructure development to ongoing support in education and healthcare.