The HSBC Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival, in its second edition from January 17-19, returns to its inaugural venue, the Colombo Public Library, which celebrates its centenary year this year.
This year's festival features over 32 sessions with more than 50 authors and artists. Under the expert curation of Mita Kapur, the festival brings together international and local speakers, including Pulitzer Prize winners, Gratiaen Prize recipients, and State Literary Award winners. The three-day event offers a diverse mix of workshops, panel discussions, and creative sessions spanning literature, art, film, and youth development. Investing in the youth of tomorrow, the festival is also proud to offer free student passes.
The festival encompasses four distinct segments, each designed to nurture different aspects of the creative industry. The Art Festival, in association with John Keells Foundation and curated by Pramodha Weerasekera, focuses on the theme of ‘Semi-Autobiography,’ blending literature with visual art and providing a platform for young and emerging artists. The Art Exhibit features works from over 16 artists, creating a dynamic showcase of contemporary visual expression.
The Children's Festival brings an exciting mix of local and international authors who will conduct interactive book readings and creative sessions for young minds aged 6-13.
The Film Festival, under the curation of acclaimed filmmaker Vimukthi Jayasundara, celebrates film as a powerful storytelling medium, with a Short Films Competition empowering young filmmakers to unleash their creative vision through compelling visual narratives.
Building on last year's resounding success that attracted over 100 entries, the Future Writers Program, presented by Dilmah, launches this year with a workshop for aspiring writers aged 16-29, led by award-winning international and local authors on Saturday, January 18. This is in line with the festival’s vision, to build the creative community among youth and encourage the next generation of writers.
Speaking of the festival, Ajai Vir Singh, Director, Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival said: “The overall vision of this festival is to be a platform for Arts and Culture, with a specific focus on Literature, Art, Film and Music. This platform has a mandate to build and enhance the soft power of Sri Lanka. It also profiles Sri Lanka positively among international audiences. There is a special focus on youth on the entirety of the festival. We want to engage the next generation in Arts and Culture, so they are able to find opportunities in creative industries and start their journeys as Design based entrepreneurs.”
Mark Surgenor, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Sri Lanka added: “Our ambition is to bring the ‘Best of the world to Sri Lanka’ and take the best of Sri Lanka to the world by encouraging a dialogue and exchange of ideas with world renowned authors and artists. We hope this will bring a global spotlight to the Literature and Arts space in Sri Lanka. As the leading International Bank in Sri Lanka, we are encouraged that our customers are able to experience an International Literary and Arts festival right here on their doorstep in Colombo.”
The HSBC Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival is in partnership with Official Hospitality Partners Cinnamon Grand and Taj Samudra Colombo.
Kamal Munasinghe, Area Vice President, Cinnamon Colombo Hotels, General Manager, Cinnamon Grand Colombo stated: “As the General Manager of Cinnamon Grand and Vice President of Cinnamon Hotels Colombo, it brings me immense joy to be a partner of the Ceylon Literature Festival. This event is a celebration of our rich culture and heritage, and as a homegrown brand, Cinnamon is incredibly proud to support such an important occasion. With renowned names associated with the festival, we are confident it will not only enrich our cultural landscape but also attract many tourists to Sri Lanka, showcasing the beauty of our island to the world.”
Samrat Datta, Area Director Taj Maldives & Sri Lanka and General Manager of Taj Samudra, Colombo, stated: “Taj Samudra, Colombo, is proud to announce its partnership with the prestigious Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival 2025. This collaboration reflects Taj's unwavering dedication to promoting art, culture, and literature, embodying our brand's ethos of nurturing creativity and intellectual exchange. As we welcome celebrated authors and artists from around the globe, we are honored to contribute to this extraordinary celebration of storytelling and cultural diversity. We extend our best wishes to Ajai and his team for a successful festival, enriched by vibrant participation from art and literature enthusiasts.”
The festival proudly supports its partners by offering unique platforms for collaboration and innovation. This year, Clouds by SOZO Sri Lanka’s first premium Mountain Spring Water is the Official and exclusive Mountain Spring Water Partner, at the festival. The knowledge partners are the British Council and Goethe-Institut.
The festival is supported by co-sponsors - Dilmah Ceylon, Cinnamon Grand, Taj Samudra, John Keells Foundation, and Clouds by SOZO. The festival also receives invaluable support from the British Council, Goethe-Institut, Synamon Global, and the Rukmini Tissanayagam Trust. Media partners such as Wijeya Newspapers (the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Times, Hi!!, Acorn, Sarasavi, and Hardtalk) contribute to driving the festival forward.
From thought-provoking discussions to immersive workshops, every session is meticulously curated to inspire and engage. Explore the full programme and book your passes now at www.ceylonliteraryfestival.com.
(Left to Right) – Fazeena Majeed Rajabdeen, Co-Founder & Director, HSBC Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival, Indhu Selvaratnam, Trustee, The Rukmini Tissanayagam Trust, Director, SOZO Beverages, Kamal Munasinghe, Area Vice President - Cinnamon Colombo Hotels, General Manager, Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Mark Surgenor, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Sri Lanka, Ajai Vir Singh, Director & Co-Founder - HSBC Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival, Dilhan C. Fernando, Chairman & CEO, Dilmah Tea, Nadija Tambiah, President - Legal, Secretarial and CSR, John Keells Group, Samrat Datta, Area Director – Taj Maldives and Sri Lanka, General Manager Taj Samudra, Colombo, Orlando Edwards, British Council Sri Lanka, Country Director
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