Literary venture to keep alive the heritage of Mount Lavinia Hotel
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Hotel GM Bazeer Cassim addressing the news conference. Also in the picture are author Shevanthie Goonesekera and Lakmini Raymond. Pic by M.D. Nissanka
In 1806, Sir Thomas Maitland, the second Governor of Ceylon laid down plans for a mansion which was to be his home in Sri Lanka for the next five years. Standing on a majestic cliff overlooking the sea, the regal manor would become a monument to romance, mystery and a cultural icon for Sri Lanka’s tourism.
More than two centuries later, Maitland’s home has seen countless tenants, changes and enjoyed a reputation as one of the country’s historic hotels. But the mansion by the sea still holds fast to its colonial grandeur, a testament of living history and one of Mount Lavinia’s best preserved old buildings.
In celebration of its 210th anniversary, the Mount Lavinia Hotel will hold “Words on the Mount” in July. The event was announced at a news conference earlier this week, that saw journalists walking through a dimly lit makeshift tunnel leading from the Maitland Room, rekindling the atmosphere of the legendary secret passageways that form the tapestry of the house’s romantic back story.
Inspired by ‘Mount Lavinia, the Governor’s Palace’ a book by Shevanthie Goonesekera published for the Hotel’s 200th anniversary, the two day event will pay homage to the mansion’s relationship with English literature.
“Modernising is out for us,” explains Bazeer Cassim, Group General Manager of the Hotel. His vision instead is to celebrate the hotel’s old world appeal and rich, vibrant past.
For Bazeer and Shevanthie, leafing through the book was a continual discovery of the Hotel’s heritage, including the understated attraction it has cast over many a writer.
Attending the event will be four international writers whose work is closely linked to the island and the hotel. British writer Louis de Bernières most known for his award-winning book “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” will be introducing his latest novel during his stay.
The first of a trilogy, “The Dust That Falls From Dreams” will be his take on a rich English family living during WWI and their journey which ends with them starting a new life in Ceylon as planters.
“We want to create a space for local writers and the public to explore culture through a celebration of literature, history and the arts,” adds Bazeer.
His contagious enthusiasm covers every last detail, so as to give their participants a completely authentic experience. The programme, yet to be unveiled will even included the “fish tiffin”- a mysterious dish that appears in the novel.
Joining Louis will be writer and broadcaster Stephanie Calman and multi-award winning television producer and thriller writer Peter Grimsdale.
His first novel set in the island,the thriller “Perfect Night” was influenced by a diary he kept during his stay in Sri Lanka. London based Sri Lankan writer Rohan Candappa will also be there for a unique closing performance.
“Every building, every room has a soul to it,” GM Bazeer explains. Presenting an impressive backdrop to the news conference is an enlarged photograph of the house as it stood two centuries ago.
For Bazeer and the team, that is what makes up their hotel’s unique personality, and what they hope will inspire a new generation of writers this July.