2017 May 4
Scattered in and around Colombo are many firsthand and secondhand bookstores, with thousands of books to fulfil any bibliophile’s dreams. As such, we have compiled a comprehensive list of many bookstores in Colombo, which you can visit to explore the numerous titles, collections, and priceless books!
First-Hand Bookshops
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M.D. Gunasena
This well-known chain of bookstores is a household name in Sri Lanka, and has been around since 1913! From novels and biographies to Sinhala and Tamil books, you will always find a wide variety of books at their many branches. Located in 17 different places, you will come across stores dotted all over the country. M.D. Gunasena is widely popular for their Concept Bookstore, in Bambalapitiya, which has a unique interior design, perfect for browsing and so beautiful that you will never want to leave!
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Cargills Book City
The Cargills Book City is a small store located in Majestic City, Bambalapitiya. This is the perfect place to search for new releases which tend to hit the shelves here pretty early! It’s also great if you’re searching for specific books by famous authors, which you may not find elsewhere. They also have a wide range of non-fiction books, classics, teen and young adult novels. It’s particularly a great place to spend some time while you’re waiting at Majestic City to catch the next movie.
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Sarasavi – The Bookshop
Sarasavi bookstores are the first place many Sri Lankans think of when deciding to go book shopping. With an incredibly wide range of books in many genres, Sarasavi is the default bookstore for many. You can find new releases, popular and rare books, children’s literature, young adult, and the largest non-fiction categories, with textbooks, biographies and more! Sarasavi has 21 branches all over Sri Lanka, and its Nugegoda branch is by far the most spectacular. You can even visit the small Sarasavi Warehouse store, for old classics and others.
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Vijitha Yapa Bookshop
Established in 1991, Vijitha Yapa now has a chain of twelve bookshops across the country. Vijitha Yapa branches have thousands of books and you will definitely come across some of the most unexpected finds here! Although they can appear rather cluttered, such as the Unity Plaza branch in Bambalapitiya, they have a wide variety of books from every genre.
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Chapters
Relatively new in comparison with many stores on this list, Chapters is a charming little bookshop located in Colombo 04. With a wide range of books which are arranged in a rather convenient style, Chapters is wonderfully cozy and delightful. The store has a small café, where you can order drinks, read books, and take a bunch of candid pictures. The shop also has the widest range of adult colouring books, so if you’re on the lookout for one, definitely check this place out!
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Lake House Bookshop
Established in 1941 as a lending library which evolved into a bookshop, Lake House is quite well-known within Colombo. Recently, however, its popularity seems to have decreased. Nevertheless, you can always expect to come across some unique books within their shops.
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Makeen Books
Located on Galle Road in Colombo 03, Makeen Books is a bright bookstore, with a range of stationary equipment and books. Their relatively new premises are approximately a year old, and appear rather inviting. The shop has a large collection of children’s books, fantasy novels, comics, editions of classic literature, and non-fiction books as well.
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Jeya Book Centre
Jeya Book Centre has two branches, located in Colombo 11 and Colombo 03. Primarily established in 1980, they have a wide range of educational, cultural, scientific, and sports books. Although slightly less widely known, it is a unique and highly useful bookstore.
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The Barefoot Bookshop
Situated in Colombo 03, the Barefoot Bookshop is a beautiful, modern, and aesthetically pleasing store. The shop has a specific collection of books, such as those by Sri Lankan authors and books on Sri Lanka, novels, self-help books, and travel books. Visiting the store is truly an experience, while browsing the many books will leave you mesmerized.
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Rohan’s Book Store
Walking amongst the aisles of Liberty Plaza, Rohan’s Book Store truly stands out. Although it is an incredibly small space, it is filled with stacks of new books from many genres. In fact, the small shop carries many interesting books which would be hard to find elsewhere. The high piles of books can truly excite you more than even a large bookstore could, simply with one glance at the wide variety of books you will come across. Rohan’s Book Store is definitely a small but priceless gem to check out if you’re searching for something different to read!
Second-Hand Bookshops
The magic, thrill, and of course, affordability of a secondhand bank is indescribable. Listed below are a few of the best places to browse through secondhand books in Colombo.
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Deen the Bookman
Deen the Bookman embodies the heart and soul of secondhand books. In Slave Island, he runs a bookshop and small lending library. Most popular is his stall at The Good Market, which he runs every Saturday with an immense variety of timeless books, books which have been rifled through many times, and unique selection. If you are dying for a particular book you cannot seem to find, there is a high chance you’ll find it here.
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Senanayake Book Shop
Located on the busy Galle Road in Wellawatte, Senanayake Book Shop is a dream come true for secondhand book enthusiasts. The store is piled with books in various conditions – from the oldest battered books, to newer titles in much better condition. The variety of books here is astounding, from every genre you can possibly think of, and the books are amazingly cheap! You will definitely get more than your money’s worth – depending on the condition of the book, of course. If you’re looking for something in particular, the owner will gladly help you out and oftentimes produce a copy of the requested book, even though you couldn’t find it! Students should definitely check this place out, since they have old A/L and O/L past papers, Red Spot books, SAT, IELTS, and TOEFL papers as well.
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Priyankara Bookshop and Lending Library
A small shop, located on Hospital Road in Dehiwala, Priyankara Bookshop is a well-organized and affordable secondhand shop. Although their shop opening and closing hours may be irregular (it would help if you called ahead before visiting), they have a large range of books, in great condition. They further have many full sets of book series’, something which is lacking in many Sri Lankan bookstores. They too carry many educational materials such as textbooks, so be sure to check them out.
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Maradana Secondhand Bookshops
Last, but definitely not least, are the many secondhand bookshops which can be found in Maradana. All secondhand book lovers are undoubtedly familiar with this area of Maradana, mostly the string of cramped bookshops on D.R. Wijewardana Mawatha. Amongst the pile of books and the musty old book smell, lie collections of the some of the oldest and newest titles in literature. With affordable pricing and incredible books, you will definitely spend at least a half hour exploring through the heaps of books. While you will find copies of latest books and YA novels, you will also come across unique and priceless editions of old books, and definitely rush to buy them. These bookshops are worth a trip to this section of Maradana any day.
