Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Jaffna District Organizer Geethanath Cassilingam has expressed gratitude to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for allocating Rs.100 million for the development of the Jaffna Library’s infrastructure in this year’s budget.
Issuing a statement, Geethanath Cassilingam further proposed a more realistic and up-to-date approach, suggesting that part of this fund be utilized to digitize the library’s collection.
“By going digital, we can protect these priceless books from damage, theft, or disasters like the fire that destroyed so many valuable books in the past. Additionally, it’s important to support digital research tools for students. This will give them the resources they need to succeed in today’s world,” he pointed out.
Geethanath Cassilingam further said that a future library should not only preserve books but also provide modern digital resources, interactive learning spaces, virtual reality for education, and areas for students to collaborate on projects.
“Other countries in South Asia already have this in place for their students in order to prepare them for the future. Digitizing the library is an investment in both protecting our cultural history and preparing students for the future,” he added.
Presenting the 2025 Budget in Parliament on Monday, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Rs. 100 million has been allocated for upgrades to the Jaffna Public Library.
He further outlined that Rs. 200 million will be allocated for the development of libraries in other parts of the country. (Newswire)