National Reading Month 2026

The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education has issued instructions for implementing National Reading Month, School Library Week and School Library Day programmes for 2026.

October is observed annually as National Reading Month in Sri Lanka. Schools are expected to organize creative programmes throughout the month to improve students’ interest in reading, information literacy, knowledge, skills and positive attitudes.

School principals, teacher librarians, school library officers, teachers, students and members of the school community are requested to work together to implement these programmes successfully.

📌 Suggested School Activities

• Conduct morning assembly programmes focusing on books and reading.
• Organize book exhibitions, book fairs and reading camps.
• Introduce new books and suitable reading materials to students.
• Conduct reading competitions, quizzes, debates and creative-writing activities.
• Establish and improve classroom reading corners.
• Organize storytelling, poetry, drama and book-review programmes.
• Encourage students to maintain reading records or reading diaries.
• Conduct programmes using newspapers, magazines and digital resources.
• Recognize students who read the highest number of books.
• Provide opportunities for parents and community members to support school libraries.
• Develop students’ information-search and information-literacy skills.
• Organize activities to improve and beautify school libraries.

🕊️ Peace and Harmony Through Reading

Schools are also encouraged to use books and reading activities to promote peace, unity, friendship, mutual understanding and respect among children from different ethnic and religious communities.

Suitable programmes may be organized using stories, poems, biographies, folk tales, translations and children’s literature representing Sri Lanka’s diverse communities.

🎨 Reading Activities During the Month

• Allocate at least two periods for reading activities during the month.
• Use suitable reading strategies such as KWL and SQ3R.
• Arrange book discussions and student presentations.
• Display students’ creative work and reading-related productions.
• Prepare wall newspapers, posters and reading displays.
• Organize programmes with writers, poets, journalists and resource persons.
• Coordinate activities with public libraries and other educational institutions.

Reporting and Evaluation

Schools should document the activities conducted during National Reading Month and School Library Week. A summary report, including suitable photographs and details of student participation, should be submitted through the relevant educational authorities as instructed in the official document.