Southern Book Fair

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In Sri Lanka

The first edition of

Commonwealth Book Publishers Network 

January 19th – 28th 2024

Experience  the  Magic of Literature and Knowledge Sharing  in  Gale! When we mention  a”BookFair,”we’re not just talking about an event for publishers to showcase their  books.  It’s a vibrant celebration that enriches society by fostering the creation, sharing, and acesibility of knowledge, ultimately uplifting our communities.

DISCOVER THE POWER OF BOOKS

Book Fair

Southern Book Fair 2024 – January 19th to 28th, 2024

Southern Book Fair 2024 – January 19th to 28th, 2024 In parallel with the Galle Literary Festival, the Commonwealth Book Publishers Network presents the Southern Book Fair. This event is designed to bring the joy of literature closer to the people of the Southern Province, fostering a culture of learning, sharing, and acquiring literary treasures. While the digital world plays a vital role in granting access to knowledge, we acknowledge that not all regions of our island nation have equal digital infrastructure. To bridge this gap and ensure knowledge reaches every corner of our society, we embrace traditional methods of knowledge dissemination. A well-organised book fair becomes an essential event of knowledge and information, accessible to all.

Galle Literary Festival – January 25th to 28th, 2024

Galle Literary Festival, an internationally acclaimed event founded in 2005 by Geoffrey Dobbs. It's not just a festival; it's a global gathering of literary enthusiasts, poets, musicians, artists, and culinary experts from around the world. You can immerse yourself in a world of creativity with workshops, panel discussions, debates, readings, performances, exhibitions, and culinary delights. Galle, a stunning southern city of Sri Lanka, is the ideal setting for this literary extravaganza. Its rich cultural heritage and historical significance provide the perfect backdrop for the festival's creative spirit, which has produced several famous writers from its southern province. Martin Wickramasinghe is one of Sri Lanka's most celebrated authors and is often considered the father of Sinhala literature. Mahagama Sekara was a renowned Sinhala poet and playwright. Punyakante Wijenaike was a prominent Sri Lankan author and educator. Simon Nawagaththegama was a prolific writer and playwright. Rajakarunanayake is a contemporary Sri Lankan author known for her novels and short stories, to name a few.

Nurturing the Publishing Sector

Recognising the potential of the publishing sector in Sri Lanka, we aim to elevate it to industry status. Writers, illustrators, and editors are the backbone of this sector, and we are committed to their development with the support of academia. Join us as we organize programs during the Book Fair to empower these invaluable contributors. Join us in Galle in January 2024, and be a part of an enlightening journey through literature, art, and knowledge-sharing. Together, we can create a brighter, more informed, and connected society. This succinctly captures the current state of the publishing industry in Sri Lanka. In order to attain the level of an international book fair and foster a thriving literary landscape, it is imperative for all stakeholders, including publishers, authors, educators, and policymakers, to work collaboratively and proactively towards enhancing the industry's standards and potential. Only through collective efforts can Sri Lanka's literary community achieve recognition and flourish on a global scale

What can be done?

To change the current publishing landscape and pave the way for a vibrant literary scene on par with other countries, we can implement a multi-faceted approach aimed at fostering a thriving literary ecosystem in our nation. Firstly, to set a powerful precedent, we propose launching the Commonwealth Union Book Fair as an integral part of the Galle Lit Festival which has been established a reputation during the last few decades. This fair will not only celebrate our rich literary heritage but also introduce contemporary works from diverse voices across the international nations. Through this festival, identifying, introducing and establishing local standards of excellence, we can foster a culture of appreciation for our own authors while also connecting with global literary traditions. To enhance the international appeal of the Commonwealth Union Book Fair, we envision inviting a Guest of Honour country each year starting from this year. This country will have the opportunity to showcase its literary talent and cultural richness, providing a platform for their publishers to forge partnerships with local writers and publishers. The interaction between publishers from different countries will facilitate knowledge exchange, collaborations, and the acquisition of global perspectives. Additionally, to further enrich the Fair's offerings, we will bring book publishers from prominent literary markets such as the UK, India, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Korea and other countries. These publishers will not only introduce international works to our readers but also engage in workshops, seminars, and networking events with aspiring local authors. Such interactions will enable the exchange of ideas and insights, potentially leading to the discovery of new voices and fresh perspectives. Furthermore, the Commonwealth Union Book Fair can serve as a hub for fostering literary talent. By organising writing competitions and providing mentorship programs for budding authors, we can encourage the growth of a new generation of storytellers which are the most effective at present. Additionally, opportunities may create for establishing partnerships with schools and universities will help integrate literature and writing into the educational curriculum, nurturing a culture of reading and creativity from a young age. Moreover, embracing digital platforms will widen the reach of the Commonwealth Union Book Fair. By leveraging technology, we can create virtual exhibitions and online bookstores, ensuring that readers from across the globe can access and appreciate the works presented at the fair. This will not only boost sales but also increase visibility for local authors in the global literary arena which will set an example to other member countries in the Commonwealth Union. In conclusion, by launching the Commonwealth Union Book Fair as an integral part of the Galle Lit Festival and incorporating the proposed initiatives, we can unlock the doors to the world of publishing and elevate our literary landscape to international standards. This multi-dimensional approach will not only celebrate our cultural diversity but also foster collaboration, innovation, and a renewed passion for literature among our people and the global community. Galle, a stunning southern city of Sri Lanka, is the ideal setting for this literary extravaganza. Its rich cultural heritage and historical significance provide the perfect backdrop for the festival's creative spirit, which has produced several famous writers from its southern province. Martin Wickramasinghe is one of Sri Lanka's most celebrated authors and is often considered the father of Sinhala literature. Mahagama Sekara was a renowned Sinhala poet and playwright. Punyakante Wijenaike was a prominent Sri Lankan author and educator. Simon Nawagaththegama was a prolific writer and playwright. Rajakarunanayake is a contemporary Sri Lankan author known for her novels and short stories, to name a few.

Event Highlights

VENUE Within the Galle Fort a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Book Fair with participation of book publishers, book importers, and book sellers:

  • Forum of publishers, authors, editors, illustrators, and readers
  • Panel discussions on literary topics
  • Book sales with discounted prices
  • Workshops and seminars on writing, publishing, and related topics
  • Children's activities
  • Form a Book Club
  • Platform for authors, publishers, and literary professionals to network

Participants

General Public & Students from school and universities

General Public from three districts of the Southern Province; Galle, Hambantota, and Matara

Population: 2.5 M | Schools: 1000 school | Student population: 1.02M – 1.03M Universities

University of Ruhuna, located in Matara. It has nine faculties: Agriculture, Engineering, Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences, Management and Finance, Medicine, Science, Technology and Allied Health Sciences with a student population of 12,000

Benefits For Attendees

01
Book fairs typically feature a vast array of books and stationery. including new releases and bestsellers.
02
Attendees have the opportunity to explore a diverse selection of genres and topics in one location.
03
Attendees have the opportunity to meet authors, hear them speak about their work, and even get books personally signed.
04
Attendees have the opportunity to participate at educational sessions on various aspects of the publishing industry, writing, and literature. Attendees can learn valuable insights and improve their writing or publishing skills.
05
Book fairs offer discounts and special promotions on books. Attendees can often purchase books at a reduced prices.

Participation of Publishers

Selection of stalls at the stall draw

Benefits for publishers

Pre publicity on social media commencing from the 20th December 2023

Logo and company details will be included in the promotional material sent to schools and libraries in the Southern Province.

Publishers can determine the discount rates for their own books.

Visitor facilities

Special location for food and beverages, Transport –

special arrangement of time tables with Public transport network in all three districts.

Entertainment

Stage Dramas, Cultural events, Short movies and Story

telling for children

Other related activities

Seminars and workshops on reading, writing, and illustrating conducted by experts. A time table will be released in advance for registration

Stall rates

Prime stall – Rs.200,000.00 (3x3 ft.) Other stalls – Rs.180,000.00 (3x3 ft.)

 

Participation of Sponsors

Gold sponsorship

Rs.1 Million/2 Sponsors only
  • 1 free stall (with the facility to purchase up to 5 additional stalls),
  • Pre publicity commencing from the 1st December 2023
  • Publicity on all advertising material including social media
  • 10 flags and banners at the venue Full page color advertisement on the exhibition catalogue
  • Seating at the head table at the the event Press Conference and Inauguration Ceremony.

Platinum sponsorship

Rs.1.5 Million/2 Sponsors only
  • 2 free stalls (with the facility to purchase up to 4 additional stalls)
  • Pre publicity commencing from the 1st December 2023
  • Publicity on all advertising material including social media
  • 15 flags and banners at the venue
  • Full page color advertisement on the front or back inner cover of the exhibition catalogue
  • Seating at the head table at the the event Press Conference and Inauguration Ceremony.

Principal sponsorship

Rs.2 Million
  • 3 free stalls
  • with prime locations at the entrace (with the facility to purchase up to 3 additional stalls) Pre publicity commencing from the 1st December 2023
  • Publicity on all advertising material including social media
  • 25 flags and banners at the venue
  • Full page color advertisement on the back cover of the exhibi□tion catalogue
  • Seating at the head table at the Inauguration Ceremony, 1 hour allocated / day during the event in which the sponsor will have the activity area reserved to launch books, present authors etc.
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