Sister Library in Sri Lanka, a new chapter begins
Inside the airy rooms of the Lakmahal Community Library, voices rise one after another. A single book passes between readers in a quiet ritual of shared discovery. No spotlight, no script – just a circle of people reading together. This is the Sister Library, and it is not your typical library.
A travelling archive of books by women and non-binary authors, the Sister Library is also a feminist art installation, a classroom, a creative space and a community. At once intimate and radical, it reimagines what a library can be.
At the Lakmahal Community library: Reading, sharing and discussing
Originally created in Bombay by Indigenous artist aqui Thami, the project has now found a new edition in Sri Lanka. It was brought here through a collaboration between the Goethe-Institut and Everystory Sri Lanka, a feminist collective started by Sharanya Sekaram and Widya Kumarasinghe. Goethe invited Everystory to bring the Sister Library to Sri Lanka, and a new chapter began.
The library is currently housed at the Lakmahal Community Library in Colombo until June 15, before it continues its journey to other cities around the island.
Everystory’s aim for Sister Library is rooted in accessibility. “We were able to secure books which aren’t available or are too expensive to buy in Sri Lanka; reading has become almost a luxury these days because of the price of books and we wanted these books written by some incredible women and about women to be accessible to everyone,” says Widya, adding that they also received books from Goethe and the Franco-German Cultural Fund.
The library’s opening weekend reflected that spirit. A reading circle and a zine-making workshop led by aqui Thami invited participants to explore Sultana’s Dream by Rokeya Hossain – a feminist utopia where women lead society. Attendees were encouraged to think about what a feminist utopia means to them. Widya notes that the exercise resonated deeply – “it helps us understand what is important to us.”
A second workshop by Tashyana Handy explored The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin. That evening, an open mic was held in the garden of Lakmahal, illuminated only by moonlight and a single microphone. “It was beautiful because we had no artificial lights and just one mic,” Widya shares. She reflects on the range of performances – the seasoned performers mingled with the newcomers and Widya says that their poetry was “incredible”.
Another highlight was the Sister Reading with aqui, featuring Menopausal Palestine: Women at the Edge. Each person read a section before passing it on. Widya explains that this is a way to share resources with many –only one copy is needed for the reading, she says.
During regular library hours, visitors are encouraged to explore the growing collection – books, zines, essays, and artworks by women across generations and geographies. Among the shelves are voices like Audre Lorde, Jean Arasanayagam, Kumari Jayawardena, Uma Chakravarti and Virginia Woolf.
What makes the Sister Library distinctive is not just its contents but its programming. At each stop, it will host workshops, performances, talks, and readings that activate the texts, making feminist literature a living dialogue. Whether through poetry that reflects on grief and resilience or zines that reclaim narrative agency, the Sister Library reminds us that literature is not static – it lives, moves, and invites response.
So what does the Sister Library team hope for? “Go to Lakmahal, spend time and take a look at the books,” says Widya.
The project is supported by the Franco-German Cultural Fund and brought to Sri Lanka through the partnership of the Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française, in collaboration with Everystory Sri Lanka.
The Sister Library will be at the Lakmahal Community Library until June 15 during regular hours and will continue travelling around Sri Lanka throughout the year. For updates, follow Everystory Sri Lanka, Alliance Française, or the Goethe-Institut on social media.
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