Introduction

From promoting literacy to providing free access to information, libraries are a safe, welcoming space at the heart of communities. The library is visited by the public, assisted by dedicated staff with a deep understanding of local needs. They work to develop ICT, Internet connectivity, lifelong learning and information skills. Accordingly, the University of Kelaniya's library contributes to enhanced results through the Library Services Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as follows.

• Promoting universal literacy, including media and information literacy and digital literacy skills

• Staff dedicated to developing digital approaches and assisting the community with new digital developments through access to information and communication technology.

• The library serves as the heart of the research and academic community

• Protecting and accessing culture and heritage more precisely, giving access to information.

• Support for general literacy and ICT skills and community access by assisting all libraries at the university to implement SDGs.

SDG 4 - Ensuring Inclusive and Fair Quality Education and Promoting Lifelong Learning Opportunities.

The Library is at the heart of schools, universities and colleges in every country around the world. The University of Kelaniya Library supports all types of literacy programs.  It provides a safe space for learning. It also provides access to research and data, enabling the creation of new knowledge. It helps researchers disseminate their research results. The University of Kelaniya Library organised

The Library is at the heart of schools, universities and colleges in every country around the world. The University of Kelaniya Library supports all types of literacy programs.  It provides a safe space for learning. It also provides access to research and data, enabling the creation of new knowledge. It helps researchers disseminate their research results. The University of Kelaniya Library organised a webinar series on different topics. When access to information by the university community, including students, was restricted during the COVID-19 period, many problems arose regarding updating their knowledge with new methods, mechanisms, and concepts. Accordingly, this webinar series was designed to expand the horizons of university education so that not only the University of Kelaniya but anyone could participate. These training sessions were designed for all researchers and students, providing support for access to information in local languages. The skills developed through these programmes enhanced the well-being of research and learning in both men and women.

The University of Kelaniya Library decided in 2020 to subscribe only to valuable electronic resources, including e-journals and e-books, ensuring that the entire library community has access to these resources without any hindrance. The user community now has access to thousands of information resources through the Shibboleth feature of its remote access portal, making it easy for everyone to access library resources without any hassle. There is no recording or observation of access, gender, knowledge, education, location, or area, which further ensures equality among all community members.

Recognising the difficulty of accessing information resources for visually impaired students, the library developed a special project to improve its Braille collection and make it available online. Additionally, it launched an audiobook service to enhance the educational experience of visually impaired students. Through it, action was taken to give equal rights to all marginalised communities.

The library acts as a facilitator for the community. Learning centres have been established in the library, utilising one-to-one consultancy spaces to support students in their learning. The library's interactive media unit organises and distributes information that can be accessed and used by the community, raising awareness about their social networks and empowering communities with knowledge and access to information via its Facebook page. The library has also created a Collaborative and Interactive Learning Space to promote collaborative learning by providing equal access to all students from diverse backgrounds, races, and religions.

The library is in the process of establishing a foreign language collection for students and staff, featuring various languages. Learning is structured to develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, focusing on activities that refine grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

SDG 10 - Reducing Inequality between Countries and Cultures:

Fair access to information, freedom of expression, association and assembly, and privacy are central to individual freedom. The University of Kelaniya Library helps to reduce inequality in its community by providing an open, secure, civic space to celebrate urban and rural outcomes. The library pays special attention to providing the culture and heritage of the nation. Accordingly, the University of Kelaniya Library established a museum to contribute to the conservation of endangered ola leaf manuscripts and other rare books. The purpose of this museum project was to design it in a way that would benefit not only the university community but also any interested party. These days, some important and valuable materials that are on the verge of destruction are being digitised for wider accessibility. The library also promotes local history by organising exhibitions, etc.

The University of Kelaniya Library has been designated as an IMF deposit, making it a valuable resource for information on the IMF and the SDGs. Libraries support progress toward the SDGs through a wide range of programs and services already tailored to the needs of the community.

The library contributes to enhancing the education of the entire community by recognising the need for knowledge development of the marginalised school communities in the country and donating the necessary books and library resources, including bookshelves and other equipment, to school libraries.

The university library is engaged in specialised activities to promote lifelong learning opportunities. The University of Kelaniya Library has made significant strides in its vision to support the objectives of equality for all, introducing ICT access, enhancing the computer skills of library users, and enabling them to succeed in education. For example, due to the junior library staff's neglect of computer literacy, training programs with a 200-hour duration were implemented to impart basic computer literacy to all employees. The Librarian has also written articles for international publications emphasising the need for human rights literacy.

The country's SDG 2030 agenda provides access to library information and resources to promote research development, technological capabilities, innovation incentives, and increase the number of research and development staff. The University of Kelaniya has made significant progress in the fields of science, technology, and innovation, taking the lead in creating and maintaining research and development products, as well as institutional repositories, to disseminate research information globally within the relevant policy framework.

Distributes information through existing library networks in the country and utilises them collaboratively. Sri Lanka Science and Technology Information Network (SLSTINET), Health Literature, Library, and Information Services (HELLIS), and Agricultural Information Network (AGRINET) are some examples. It helps to develop knowledge through fairness, equality, as well as meeting the needs of public library readers. It plays a pivotal role in promoting the development of capabilities through enhanced skills and resources, with the goal of achieving universal literacy. Additionally, it supports public access to information and communication technology, as well as infrastructure, to facilitate digital access at all levels.

Conclusion

Building an ideal nation requires a holistic approach, and a developing country like Sri Lanka must be mindful of the indicators required to achieve all SDGs. The Sustainable Sri Lanka 2030 Vision and Strategic Process for Socio-Economic Transformation reflects the Advancement of Human Rights, Education, Science and Technology. Therefore, the University of Kelaniya Library is well aware of the need to transcend traditional practices in order to establish effective libraries and information services for the proper management, supply, and dissemination of information, and to have a greater impact on the realisation of the SDGs.