The Library University of Colombo Sri Lanka

iLRS 2025

"Libraries and the SDGs: Enhancing Collective Intelligence for Sustainable Development"

Emeritus Professor Saroj Jayasinghe
Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo

Libraries and the SDGs - Emeritus Professor Saroj Jayasinghe International Library Research Symposium 2025 Organised byThe Library, University of Colombo.Keynote Address iLRS 2025 - "Libraries and the SDGs: Enhancing...

ℝ𝕖𝕗𝕝𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕃𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖, ℂ𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝔻𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕡𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕒𝕥 ℂ𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕞𝕓𝕠 𝔻𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖

The second session of the Colombo Discourse: Talk to an Expert series, titled “සාහිත්‍යය, සංස්කෘතිය, සහ පුද්ගල සංවර්ධනය : ජීවන අත්දැකීම් ඇසුරින්”, was successfully held on 20 January 2026 at the Main Library of the University of Colombo.

The programme featured Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, former Professor of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, as the distinguished resource person. Drawing from his extensive academic background and rich life experiences, Dr. Senevi delivered an insightful and thought-provoking discourse on the interconnectedness of literature, culture, and personal development.

The event was further enriched by the presence and valuable contribution of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Indika Mahesh Karunatilake, whose reflections added depth and perspective to the discussion.

The session attracted enthusiastic participation from academics, students, and non-academic staff of the University, creating a vibrant and intellectually stimulating atmosphere with active engagement and dialogue.

The programme was organized by the Reader Services Team of the Library, University of Colombo.

🎓 𝕎𝕖𝕝𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕋𝕒𝕝𝕜 𝕥𝕠 𝕒𝕟 𝔼𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕥 – ℂ𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕞𝕓𝕠 𝔻𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟞

📌 Prior registration is required.
Kindly drop us an email to register. 😊
👉Senior Assistant Librarian/ Reader Services
📧 - [email protected]

🥰𝐔𝐎𝐂 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 - 𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩, 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯🥰

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfjfClzO2-8

♥ University of Colombo Library Welcomes 2026 ♥

🥰💫💫💫✨✨✨ 𝕎𝕚𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕒 𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 ℍ𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕪 ℕ𝕖𝕨 𝕐𝕖𝕒𝕣 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟞. 𝕄𝕒𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕪𝕖𝕒𝕣 𝕒𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤, 𝕤𝕦𝕔𝕔𝕖𝕤𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕠𝕡𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕙. 💫💫💫✨✨✨🥰

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲, 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐨

🎄✨ Christmas vibes at UOC library!
A season of joy, light, and learning 📚❤️

🎀(っ◔◡◔)っ 🎅 𝓦𝓲𝓼𝓱 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪 𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓒𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓶𝓪𝓼 🎀🎅

𝕀𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕃𝕚𝕓𝕣𝕒𝕣𝕪 ℝ𝕖𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕙 𝕊𝕪𝕞𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕚𝕦𝕞 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟝 (𝕚𝕃ℝ𝕊 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟝)

The library conducted its first International Library Research Symposium on 12th December 2025, themed “Social Responsibility of Librarians: Leveraging Information for Sustainable Development,” marking a significant milestone in its academic initiatives. The symposium was chaired by Dr. (Mrs.) Pradeepa Wijetunge, Librarian, University of Colombo, with Mrs. Shabnam Johoran, Senior Assistant Librarian, University of Colombo, serving as the convener. The event was held virtually via the Zoom platform, bringing together scholars, librarians, and researchers around the world to explore how libraries could effectively support a sustainable future, addressing challenges and seizing opportunities through the power of information.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The event featured two distinguished Keynote Speakers: Emeritus Professor Saroj Jayasinghe, a retired senior academic of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, and Mr Stephen Wyber, Director, External Affairs, at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), Netherlands. Emeritus Professor Saroj Jayasinghe delivered the keynote address on “Libraries and the SDGs: Enhancing Collective Intelligence for Sustainable Development,” highlighting the pivotal role of libraries in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, while Mr. Stephen Wyber delivered the keynote address on “The Social Responsibility of Librarians: To Whom, How and When?”, drawing attention to the ethical and professional obligations of librarians in a rapidly changing information landscape.
The symposium featured an Invited Speaker Session with both national and international contributors: Professor Anwarul Islam (Bangladesh), Dr. (Mrs.) M. M. Mashroofa (Sri Lanka), Mrs. Khairulbahiyah Yaakub (Malaysia), Dr. Namali Suraweera (New Zealand), Ms. Indreswari Nurmalia Sulasmi (Indonesia), and Mrs. Varuni Gangabadarachchi (Sri Lanka). Additionally, the symposium included three technical sessions with 18 research papers presented. Overall, it offered a lively platform for scholarly discussion on the social responsibility of librarians in promoting sustainable development. Through keynote addresses, invited speaker sessions, and technical presentations, the event highlighted the vital role of libraries in advancing the SDGs, fostering innovation, improving digital and AI literacy, and strengthening community sustainability, while emphasising the profession’s commitment to ethical responsibilities and national development.

ᴅʀ. ᴄʜɪʀᴀɴᴛʜɪ ᴡɪᴊᴇꜱᴜɴᴅᴀʀᴀ ᴡɪɴꜱ ᴀᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ ᴀᴛ “ᴇᴄᴏ ᴄʜᴀʏᴀ” ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴇᴛɪᴛɪᴏɴ

Dr. Chiranthi Wijesundara, Senior Assistant Librarian at the University of Colombo, has been awarded both 2nd and 3rd places in the Biodiversity and Climate Change category at the “ECO CHAYA: Saving the Planet Earth in a Frame” photography competition.

The competition, held as part of the Colombo Medical Congress 2025, aimed to raise awareness on planetary health through compelling visual storytelling. Dr. Wijesundara’s photographs were acclaimed for their powerful environmental message and outstanding artistic quality.

Her remarkable achievement underscores the University of Colombo’s enduring commitment to sustainability, creativity, and environmental stewardship.

It is happening now.....Please join

INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM- 2025
( ILRS 2025)
“𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀: 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁”
🗓️𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

Zoom Link 👇👇👇👇

Topic: ILRS 2025 Zoom Link
Time: Dec 12, 2025 08:15 AM Colombo
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89658273309?pwd=CwL3eXPukQBlGUBrfvsiVgBEO0YEv5.1