A discussion on establishing a Library Services Bureau in the Northern Province was held today, Friday – 14 November 2025, at the Governor’s Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Hon. Governor of Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan.
A team led by the Director General of the National Library and Documentation Services Board met the Governor and presented this request. They explained that provincial-level Library Services Bureaus have already been established in some provinces of Sri Lanka, and that library service units are functioning under them at the district and divisional secretariat levels. They further briefed the Governor that the Provincial Public Library and District Public Libraries are also coordinated under these bureaus.
The Governor welcomed the proposal to establish a Library Services Bureau in the Northern Province and assured that the necessary cooperation would be provided. He also expressed his appreciation for the efforts taken by the National Library and Documentation Services Board to expand digital library services and provide related training.
At the same time, the Board highlighted that applications seeking assistance for book publishing from the Northern Province were comparatively low. Responding to this, the Governor said that the necessary awareness activities would be carried out through the local authorities.
The Governor’s Secretary, the Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government – Northern Province, the Regional Assistant Commissioner of Local Government – Jaffna and the Assistant Secretary to the Governor also took part in the discussion.
