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Sri Lanka Navy Journal 94

"READING MAKES A MAN PERFECT’’- FRANCIS BACON.
HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE THIS IN SLN WITH THE AIM OF BUILDING
AN INTELLECTUALLY SOUND NAVY TO MEET THE GLOBAL
STANDARDS

Lieutenant Commander (MARINE) Sisira Kumara, psc

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the
more places you will go"
DR Seuss

Introduction

Reading is one of the most powerful tools which help to develop the hu-
man knowledge. It helps to keep the things in memory. Although it is a valuable
habit, majority of people in society are very much reluctant to read than the use
of visual aids. It has been identified that the reading habit is getting moderately
downwards during past decade due to various reasons. Although Sri Lanka is
having 92 percent of literacy, there is a reading deficiency in Sri Lanka. Wijesiri
(2012) reportes the culture of reading has been declining since ages. This was
examined by (Iyengar, 2007) the reading habit is declined in both gender and
in virtually all age groups. The decline is steepest in younger generation at a
greater rate than in the general population in the world. It is proven fact that as
the reading habit is getting down day by day, minds of the human become rep-
rehensible and inhumane. SLN is experiencing many difficulties as we are not an
intellectually sound navy to meet the global standards.

Nowadays the reading habit is getting important in the modern world. If
the reading makes a man perfect, it is high time to inculcate a reading culture
in Sri Lanka Navy with the aim of building an intellectually sound navy to meet
the global standards. This brief account of facts are written in view of finding
the reasons for the reluctance on reading and then to make recommendations
to inculcate reading culture in Sri Lanka Navy in order to build an intellectually
sound navy to meet the global standards.
Requirement of Promoting Reading Habits

Otike(2011) explains, promotion of a reading culture aims to publicize
reading among members of the general public. It is an activity that is meant to
popularize reading and make it a lifelong hobby. The aim of promoting reading
habits in SLN also is to make it a lifelong hobby of naval personnel in order to
build an intellectually sound navy to meet the global standards in future. After
established peace by defeating the terrorism from Sri Lankan soil, Sri Lankan
Security Forces made a reputation for them in the world. Further, we have been
facing different type of post-war challenges. In line with the technological and