📚 Colombo International Book Fair 2025: Your Guide to Sri Lanka’s Biggest Book Event

Keywords: Colombo International Book Fair 2025, CIBF 2025, BMICH book fair, Sri Lanka book fair, Katapath Pawura, Swarnapusthaka Awards, Rajathapusthaka Awards, Sri Lanka Book Publishers Association

The Colombo International Book Fair (CIBF) returns to the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) from 27 September to 06 October 2025, celebrating 25 years of literary energy. Organized by the Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association, the fair attracts hundreds of thousands of readers every year—and 2025 promises to be the most immersive edition yet with more than 500 exhibitors, thousands of new titles, and day-long cultural programming.

Why CIBF 2025 Matters

What started in 1999 as a modest gathering has evolved into a global-scale book fair that celebrates Sri Lankan voices while opening doors to international publishers. The 25th anniversary edition will:

• Introduce thousands of debut titles for children, teens, and adult readers.
• Feature international exhibitors alongside household Sri Lankan publishers.
• Host back-to-back book launches, reading programs, and copyright exchanges.
• Stage multiple cultural performances, award ceremonies, and creative labs.

Daily Highlights Across the Fairgrounds

Activities for Young Readers

Families can look forward to painting and clay workshops, drama practice, puppet shows, and storytelling circles. These hands-on sessions make it easy to turn a single visit into a full-day adventure for kids.

Awards & Literary Recognition

CIBF hosts two of the island’s most prestigious award ceremonies:

• Swarnapusthaka Award honoring the best Sinhala novels of the year.
• Rajathapusthaka Awards spotlighting excellence in short stories, poetry, and young adult literature.

Whether you are an aspiring author or a loyal reader, attending these ceremonies offers a front-row seat to Sri Lanka’s evolving literary canon.

Planning Your Visit Like a Pro

1. Secure tickets early: Use the official “Buy Ticket Online” link to avoid long queues.
2. Study the hall map: BMICH halls fill up quickly. Mark the publishers you want to meet and work clockwise.
3. Budget smartly: Many stalls run bundle discounts or late-evening markdowns—worth revisiting on day two.
4. Go cashless when you can: Some international exhibitors prefer card or QR payments.
5. Plan repeat visits: The fair spans ten days, so schedule focused trips (kids’ day, launch-hopping day, bargain hunt day, etc.).

How BookExchange.lk Users Can Benefit

• Spot demand trends: Track which genres sell out fastest at CIBF, then list matching titles on BookExchange.lk while interest is high.
• Source inventory: Pick up surplus stock or discounted sets to build your own micro-library for future exchanges.
• Network with publishers: Introduce BookExchange.lk to local presses that want to reach secondhand readers year-round.
• Create content: Capture photos of the Katapath Pawura wall or award ceremonies and share them with our community to inspire more reading journeys.

Getting a Stall or Participating as an Exhibitor

Publishers, bookstores, and international partners can still request space:

• Foreign participants: Download the official application form directly from the CIBF site.
• Local participants: Contact the Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association office to pick up your form and confirm hall allocation.
• Support services: “Contact Now” and “Apply Now” buttons on the official page route you to the right coordinators for logistics and branding guidelines.

Essential Contacts

Stay for the Memories

Each year’s gallery is a reminder of how much creativity passes through BMICH. Keep an eye on the “Memories of Colombo International Book Fair 2025” photo collection and social feeds for recaps, interviews, and behind-the-scenes looks at the award winners.

Before You Leave BMICH

• Make a final stop at Katapath Pawura to share your own verse or illustration.
• Confirm any book pre-orders or parcel deliveries with exhibitors so nothing gets lost in the crowd.
• Scan QR codes at your favorite stalls to keep receiving launch updates and exclusive coupons.
• Upload your finds to BookExchange.lk so the wider community can request trades or borrow sets for upcoming exams.