Sri Lanka’s first open place library and cafe debuts

By Shannine Daniel 

A partnership between Orion Development, the British Council and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf brought to life the country’s first ever open plan reading space and coffee shop. 

The new concept introduced aims to bring together energy, ideas and people and the venue was opened on 1 July by State Enterprise Development Deputy Minister Eran Wickramaratne for occupants of the IT Park as well as guests. 

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and British Council Library at the Orion City IT Park have been designed as a single open space that combines the library with the cafe. This serves to bring the various books available at the library together with the selections of food and drink offered at cafe under one roof. 

“Our hope is that this space will become the second home not just for Orion City’s ‘tech talent’, but for all of Colombo’s thinkers, writers and dreamers,” Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Sri Lanka Chairman Roman Scott shared.

Originating in California, The Coffee Bean has a long history of providing places for creative minds to meet over coffee while the British Council has an equally long history of providing libraries and education to support new ideas and learning around the world.  

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf located at Orion City IT Park will serve its assortment of popular   coffee and tea blends and delicious casual dining food and all day breakfasts. On the other hand the British Council library will not only include traditional paperbacks and hard cover books, but also provides facilities to access modern knowledge resources through computers and multi-media. It even has a PlayStation console and screen and a section filled with DVDs and video games for more entertainment.

It has a few choice titles available for reading in a variety of different genres and despite the small area span the space has a cosy, comfortable feel to it that makes it an ideal place for those who want to curl up with their favourite book accompanied by their favourite hot or cold beverage and those who would either want a quiet, stress free environment to study or even those who would want to get together with friends or family. 

“This place brings together everything that we all love the most. Superb books, videos, comics, PlayStation, Free Wi-Fi, fabulous stuff for our kids and even Delia Smith’s cookbook combined with a supply of the world’s best coffee and lots of comfort food, and a lovely environment, “ enthused Scott. 

“The cafe even has built a breakout/meeting room with projection facilities, an outdoor smoking and chatting terrace and the added convenience of free Wi-Fi and can accommodate private events with up to 125 people.

“This collaboration is very much in the spirit of what we believe is the future of knowledge sharing spaces in Sri Lanka. We look forward to having new minds over-not just those who work at the IT Park but also, creative minds from Colombo and the suburbs,” stated Orion City Director/CEO Jeevan Gnanam.

According to British Council Sri Lanka Country Director Keith Davies the new branch of the library at Orion City is the second new library in Sri Lanka in the last two years, following the inauguration of the new Jaffna office and library. With the introduction of this novel new concept in collaboration with Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf without a doubt has the potential to become one of Colombo’s latest hotspots. 

Pix by Shehan Gunasekera