Leading writers and deep reads at FGLF 2017
View(s):By Adilah Ismail
(L – R): Natasha Thompson (Festival Manager), Hiran Cooray (Chairman – Jetwing Hotels), Geoffrey Dobbs (Founder – Galle Literary Festival), Imal Fonseka (Group CEO/Director – Fairway Holdings) , Paddy Withana (Chairman – Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau), Amrita Pieris (Festival Director), Suren Ratwatte (CEO – Sri Lankan Airlines). Pic by Indika Handuwala
Book lovers and festival-goers, rejoice. The Fairway Galle Literary Festival returns next year and will feature writers such as bestselling author, Philippa Gregory, Pulitzer prizewinning writer,Katherine Boo and leading foreign correspondent, Christina Lamb. Well-wishers, sponsors, partners and press were present at the Galle Face Hotel on Tuesday when the organisers unveiled their line-up for the Festival 2017.
Festival Director Amrita Pieris and Festival Manager Natasha Thompson announced the participants confirmed to attend the festival. The list includes Colm Toibin, Margaret Drabble, Lesley Hazleton, Amish Tripathi, Sophie Hannah, Sunjeez Sahota, Miguel Syjuco, Anita Nair,Sunil Yapa and Roma Tearne. John Gimlette, Dinah Jefferies, Peter Frankopan, Sunil Khilnani and well-known Sri Lankan writers such as Shehan Karunatilaka, Sunila Galappatti, Nayomi Munaweera, Ashok Ferrey, Afdhel Aziz and Anuk Arudpragasam are also among those who join the literary line-up.
Over the years, the Galle Literary Festival has attracted international literary heavyweights, provided a platform for Sri Lankan writers to showcase their work and also contributes to Galle’s economy and tourism, making the fort city come alive during the month of January. The five-day literary festival scheduled to be held from January 11 – 15, 2017 is curated by writer Shyam Selvadurai.
For Amrita Pieris, who returns as Festival Director, the diversity of participants (the festival is expected to feature 71 participants) and vast selection of activities to suit varying audiences is what marks the upcoming festival.Moreover, the festival team is glad to continue the momentum built from last year when the festival returned after a three year hiatus. The festival returns with an added venue space within the premises and will abound in discussions, debates, workshops, readings and cookery demonstrations spanning assorted themes.
For instance, ‘Deep Reads’ is a new addition to the festival and will feature longer, in-depth discussions of the works of headlining writers. Another festival innovation is a day dedicated to free programmes which explore Sinhala writing. The 14th of January will be dedicated to highlighting Sinhala writing and will feature writers such as Dileepa Abeysekera, Liyanage Amarakeerthi, Kapila Kumara Kalinga and Sunethra Rajakarunanayake.
It was announced that the festival will also host two literary award ceremonies – the Fairway National Literary Award and the newly-minted Edward Lear Prize for Poetry, awarded by the Owl and the Pussycat Hotel, Galle. The Fairway National Literary Award recognizes novels published in English, Sinhala and Tamil languages and its shortlist was announced in September this year. Prize money of Rs. 500,000 will be awarded to each winner of all three language categories at the announcement ceremony at the Fairway Galle Literary Festival in January.
The Edward Lear Prize for Poetry is open to Sri Lankan citizens (or passport holders) between 18 – 30 years and will be awarded to unpublished poetry “in the vein of Edward Lear’s Nonsensical Poems, bringing about a feeling of lightness and optimism to the world in which we live.” Entries for the prize close on October 31, 2016 and prize money of Rs. 250,000, Rs. 150,000 and Rs. 75,000 is on offer for the winner and runners up.
Speaking at the festival, Geoffrey Dobbs, Festival Founder, noted the festival’s humble beginnings in 2007 and its ascent as a leading international literary festival. Imal Fonseka, Group Chief Executive Officer/Director of Fairway Holdings (Pvt) Ltd and returning title sponsor of the Galle Literary Festival, commented on Fairway’s continuing partnership with the Galle Literary Festival and reiterated the Fairway Group’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s arts.
While the 2016 festival was held in Galle, Jaffna and Kandy, the 2017 edition will take place solely in Galle. The festival will continue to carry out its community programmes and an outreach children’s programme in Jaffna is on the cards on January 17 and 18, 2017. The festival’s outreach programme will reach over 600 children and will also provide training for over 150 teachers in Galle and Jaffna. It was announced that the festival will continue the fourth North South University Collaboration which hosts 50 students and their teachers from universities across the country. The students will take part in a reconciliation focused residential programme and attend festival sessions and events.
Festival Director, Amrita,concluded the announcement event with the words of writer, Meg Rosoff, who attended the festival this year. “If you’re lucky enough to be invited to the Galle literary festival, do not check your schedule, do not consult your agent, do not consult your family or the weather — just say yes, and make all your excuses later. You won’t regret it,” smiled Amrita, quoting the writer.
Tickets for the 2017 Festival will be available from early December 2016. Students receive a discount of 80% while teachers can avail themselves of a discount of 20%. The full list of participants can be viewed at
https://galleliteraryfestival.com/
Information about the Edward Lear Prize for Poetry is available at http://www.edwardlearprizeforpoetry.com/
The list of shortlisted authors for the Fairway National Literary Award can be accessed at http://www.fnla.lk/