After a three year hiatus, the Galle Literary Festival is back. The five day festival said to kick off on the 13th of January 2016, would be introduced as the ‘Fairway Galle Literary Festival’ in line with their title sponsor for the event, Fairway Holdings.

Having gained an international reputation, the upcoming festival introduces new and exciting developments. At a press briefing held on the 28th, festival director Amrita Pieris emphasised that the 2016 festival aims to put a stronger focus on not just literature, but on visual arts, culinary, architecture and theatre as well. She also introduced the 2 day weekend mini festivals that are to be held in Kandy and Jaffna on 9th , 10th of January and 23rd, 24th of January respectively. While featuring international authors, these mini festivals would also provide a great opportunity to showcase local artists from each area.

As in previous years, in giving back to the community, the Fairway Galle Literary Festival 2016 has three outreach programmes in which over 2500 children and 80 teachers would be given the opportunity to meet with, and learn from a number of renowned international and local authors and artists.

Additionally, for the first time ever, the Fairway Galle Literary Festitval 2016 would be the hosting venue for the awarding of the coveted DSC prize for South Asian Literature.  “We are delighted to partner with the Galle Literary Festival this year. Being one of the leading literary festivals in the region, we see a lot of positive synergy in this partnership” said Surina Narula, founder of the DSC prize.

The festival also introduces a new award in lieu of their partnership with Fairway Holdings. The Fairway National Literary Award would be in recognition of the best literary work in Sinhala, Tamil and English by Sri Lankan authors. Novels published in 2014/15 in the two national languages and English would be eligible to win a cash prize of Rs. 500, 000. Additionally, every book that has been shortlisted would also earn a reward of Rs. 100, 000. Hemaka de Alwis, Chairman of Fairway Holdings expressed his views on this partnership; “Our involvement stretches beyond the mere financial support. Through this award, we intend to promote, recognise and reward literary excellence in Sri Lanka.”

Entries for the award will be open from the 1st of August 2015 till the 1st of September 2015. Entry forms can be downloaded from the website www.fairwayholdings.com or obtained by sending a self-addressed envelope to ‘The Coordinator – Book Award, ‘The Fairways’ #100, Buthgamuwa Road, Rajagiriya 10107’. Alternatively, applicants could also contact them on (011) 7586586.

By Panchali Illankoon
Photographs by Kithsiri de Mel