Reading is essential for a person to attain fullness in knowledge and thought. The pursuit of knowledge is a journey that must continue throughout one’s lifetime. Before we can cultivate a reading habit in the next generation, we as adults must first make reading a part of our own lives, said Hon. Governor N. Vethanayahan of the Northern Province.
The ‘Jaffna International Book Festival – 2026’, organized jointly by the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Indian Consulate, commenced this morning – on Saturday 05 September 2026, at Sangiliyan Park, Jaffna.
Addressing the gathering, the Governor observed that a person attains fullness only through reading. He noted that this pursuit of knowledge does not end at a particular age, but is something that must continue throughout one’s life.
Highlighting the importance of reading, the Governor recalled an incident concerning Arignar Anna, who, even at the moment of undergoing surgery, asked for time to finish the book he was reading, an example, he said, of just how deep a place reading can occupy in a person’s life.
Noting that in today’s social media environment, all kinds of information; good and bad, true and false spreads rapidly, the Governor observed that what we read on social media is often fleeting or quickly forgotten. Printed books, by contrast, he said, can be preserved for a long time and remain a stable resource of knowledge that can be picked up and read again whenever needed.
The Governor commended the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Indian Consulate for jointly organising this grand book exhibition for a third consecutive year, noting that bringing together a wide range of books and publishers in one place gives readers the opportunity to easily choose the books they need without having to travel to multiple locations.
He further pointed out that holding this book festival alongside the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple festival season presents an excellent opportunity for a large number of people to participate in and benefit from the event.
He also called on young people to make full use of such events to further develop their reading habits and to seek out and learn new things they have not yet come across.
The Governor further noted that buying or reading books is not merely a personal habit, but forms the foundation for both individual intellectual growth and the intellectual advancement of society.
The event was attended by, Hon. Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources R. Chandrasekhar, Hon. Member of Parliament K. Ilankumaran, Consul General of the Indian Consulate in Jaffna Shri Sai Murali, Hon. Mayoress of the Jaffna Municipal Council Mathivathani, and the President of the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce and Industry, among others.
Looking beyond concerns over declining readership, the Governor wished that the Jaffna International Book Festival would stand as an important effort to build an environment that nurtures new readers in every generation.
