Queen of Sea- Refreshing waves of rich literature

Monday, 2 August 2021 10:56 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

As a country with budding writers in English, what Sri Lanka has been missing for a long time is a prominent Sri Lankan publishing company that would promise wider recognition and acceptance, as well as quality in their publications. While India and other Asian countries have already established their own literary market for writers in English such as Chetan Bhagat, in Sri Lanka, there was a serious want of a reputed publishing house that would focus inherently on Sri Lankan writers of English and their works. Given this slightly bleak prelude, the news of an emerging group of publishers who is ready to take Sri Lankan literature in English to the international market is undoubtedly an oasis in the desert. The fact that it is also a majority female group of publishers make this a more profound milestone for Sri Lankan literature.

　　　　In 2013, a group of girls met each other during the writing workshop ‘Write To Reconcile’ (this was organized by the Norwegian Embassy of Sri Lanka and the Peace Council, and conducted by prominent Sri Lankan writers Shyam Selvadurai and Ameena Hussein, as well as Amrita and Shiromi Pieris). The girls- Hasitha Adhikariarachchi, Sandunika Hasangani, and Lilani Dias started a blog called ‘Queen of Sea’. Within a short period of time, Queen of Sea gained a lot of attention with their vast coverage of different socio-political as well as personal anecdotal articles and insights. Recognizing their potential to positively contribute to Sri Lankan literature in English, Queen of Sea moved from being a blog to Queen of Sea Publishers in 2018.

　　　　They entered into publishing through the children’s story book Little Heroes of Randeniya which was authored by Mrs Thalatha Wijerathna. The maiden publication was an immediate success, and encouraged by this Queen of Sea Publishers was established as a Sri Lankan publishing company. Sri Lankan writers in English were suddenly able to find a supportive space that was offering them a chance to publish their work with amazing quality. Following Little Heroes of Randeniya, Queen of Sea Publishers has published its sequel An Adventure of the Little Heroes, and at present, Queen of Sea Publishers is the proud publishing force behind half a dozen quality books. They not only offer a wide range that includes children’s story books to poetry, but Queen of Sea Publishers also offer their authors editing and proofreading services, as well as talented illustrators. Needless to say, with this massive zeal, Queen of Sea Publishers has also become a place that generates employment opportunities for literary enthusiasts.

　　　　Queen of Sea Publishers has an empathetic start. The team consists largely of a female group of Sri Lankan writers in English who found the task of finding publishers for their work quite grueling and oppressive. Turning anguish to rocket fuel, Queen of Sea Publishers move forward with the vision to work with new writers, as much as with established writers. For future, Queen of Sea Publishers aim to continue to promote local writers by helping them to build and develop their portfolios while providing the best reads for avid readers across the country.