Mahinda Dissanayake, a 35-year-old public sector employee and social activist from Sri Lanka’s Kegalle district, has significantly expanded his mobile library initiative since its inception in 2017. Originally launched to provide reading materials to children unable to attend school, the mobile library has grown from an initial collection of 150 books to over 25,000 titles, serving both children and adults across more than nine villages.

Dissanayake began the project by transporting books in a metal box mounted on the back of his motorcycle, traveling from village to village. Over time, the collection has increased through donations, including a shipment of books sent by UK-based author Nadaraja Selvaraja, some of which were also distributed to communities in Batticaloa and Jaffna. The initiative has attracted support from various donors and public sector officials.

In addition to lending books, Dissanayake has organised community activities such as short film screenings focused on astronomy and stargazing, engaging children with educational content beyond traditional reading. He also established seminars tailored to children unable to attend formal schooling, aiming to keep them connected to learning opportunities.

The impact of the mobile library has gained international attention. A Japanese university has incorporated Dissanayake’s program into its curriculum, and an Australian-published book titled "Protectors of the Written Word" featured a chapter on his work. The book highlights around 25 social activists dedicated to promoting literacy and education.

Expressing his motivations, Dissanayake stated that his goal is to encourage children to read and reduce their screen time on mobile phones. He hopes to further expand the program to reach more rural communities, fostering a culture of reading and learning.