Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Wednesday, 2 January 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Books deliver a wealth of knowledge, inspire creativity and broaden one’s horizons. Inculcating the habit of reading is imperative; however, according to the Sri Lanka Journal of Librarianship and Information Management (Volume 1, No. 1), about 2000 Government schools in Sri Lanka do not have access to proper library facilities. Therefore, in a bid to inculcate the habit of reading amongst all children across the country, Munchee recently stepped forward to drive a timely island-wide campaign, aptly named ‘One Book’.
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Some students donating books |
Under the initiative, CBL’s flagship brand Munchee facilitated numerous collection points and three key methods of collection for the convenience of the donors. Accordingly, two collection trucks were deployed by Munchee as Mobile Collection Points covering a number of areas across the island from 23 November to 01 December.
The first Munchee Book Collection truck set off from Bandarawela, and passed the designated towns including Balangoda, Ratnapura, Horana, Panadura, Kalutara, Ambalangoda, Galle and Matara. The second truck which commenced the journey from Nugegoda covered the towns including Maharagama/ Kottawa, Avissawella, Kegalle, Kandy, Kurunegala, Negombo, Gampaha and Kiribathgoda.
Partnering with the leading publisher Sarasavi, Munchee also established collection points at Sarasavi bookshops located in Nugegoda, Gampaha, Kiribathgoda, Kandy, Kurunegala, Ratnapura, Matara, Kottawa and Dehiwala from 23 November to 2 December.
Furthermore, in collaboration with the Railway Department, Munchee facilitated several collection points at Colombo - Fort, Maradana, Gampaha, Polgahawela and Kandy railway stations from 23 November to 29 November. A collection point was also set up at CBL Head Office at Makumbura, Pannipitiya from 19 November to 14 December, for the convenience of donors, where the Chairman, Board of Directors, and members of Senior Management and staff also donated a large number of books.
Following the completion of its first phase, the collection of books, the One Book initiative set its sights on the second phase: sorting and distribution. After sorting, the books are to be distributed among 50 schools across the island as well as the Jaffna National Library.
The theme ‘One Book’ signifies that Munchee will donate one book for every single book collected under the initiative, doubling the donation. And this would no doubt help Munchee to reach out to many underprivileged students across the country and encourage them to embrace the habit of reading and gradually expand their world. With its One Book initiative, Munchee believes that enriching today’s children with knowledge will no doubt pave the way to empowering tomorrow’s leaders.
