First-ever Ceylon Literary and Art Festival to be held from 8 to 12 February

From left: Dilmah Ceylon Brand Experience Head Jerome Auvity, British Council Director Orlando Edwards, HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives CEO Mark Surgenor, renowned author and the Festival Curator Ashok Ferrey, and Galle Face Group Sales and Marketing Vice President Mubarak Gaffoor – Pix by Ruwan Walpola

By Divya Thotawatte 

In a bid to elevate the Sri Lankan creative scene, the first-ever Ceylon Literary and Art Festival will be held from 8 to 12 February, celebrating the work of local and international authors, artists, filmmakers and other creatives. 

The festival which is presented by HSBC and curated by renowned author Ashok Ferrey will commence in Kandy from 8 to 9 February before moving to Colombo from 10 to 12 February. It will feature an impressive line-up of 42 authors, including 22 international and 20 local literary figures, offering diverse perspectives and insights. In Kandy, there will be 11 literary sessions while in Colombo, there will be 22. Catering to the art lovers joining the festival, there will also be artisanal walks, short films, and art talks in both Kandy and Colombo. 

As the chief curator of the festival, Ferrey is to bring his extensive knowledge of Sri Lankan literature and culture, combined with his international recognition to oversee the festival’s literary presentations. He said that the festival was about bringing inclusivity and accessibility to literature while engaging and inspiring Sri Lanka’s youth. 

“We are calling it the Ceylon Literary and Art Festival on purpose because we want to go to various different cities. This year it is Colombo and Kandy, but we want to go to Jaffna, Kurunegala and the entire island because it seems like the best way to bring literature to the young people in those areas, than them coming all the way to Colombo.” When asked about the use of the term ‘Ceylon’, Ferrey said that it was used for the festival to honour a ‘golden era’ of local literature which saw brilliant English writers such as Michael Ondaatje, Jean Arasanayagam and Yasmin Gunaratne.

In the attempt to make the Festival inclusive and accessible, a range of activities will be offered to suit various interests and audiences. A Children’s Festival curated by prominent Sri Lankan children’s authors Artika Bakshi and Neluka Silva will take place on 10 and 11 February where writing, art and music workshops will be conducted for age categories 6-14 years. 

There will also be six private author events with prominent authors from 10 to 12 February at the Galle Face Hotel. There will be an Author’s Ball which is an intimate and exclusive soiree which will consist of a special author discussion panel followed by a sit down dinner and live music. Limited edition Ceylon Literary Festival merchandise and branded book carts will also be available. The festival will also offer screenings of notable short films, including “Straight Line Crazy” and “Cassius X”. 

HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives CEO Mark Surgenor said, “Through our presentation, our ambition is to bring the ‘best of the world’ in the sphere of literature, art and culture to our clients at the upcoming Ceylon Literary and Art Festival. As the leading international bank in Sri Lanka, we look forward to providing our clients with an opportunity to interact with a diverse line-up of renowned international and local authors, artists, and filmmakers. We also hope, through this festival, that we would be able to showcase the ‘best of Sri Lanka’ to the world, by enabling local authors and artists in Sri Lanka to feature their great work.” 

Expressing his enthusiasm about British writers Louis De Bernières and Anna Metcalfe who will join the festival, British Council Sri Lanka Director Orlando Edwards noted that it will be an event of ideas and creativity where he hoped that the Sri Lankan and British authors would also be able to engage with each other. “The Ceylon Literary Festival will be a great meeting of leading writers from across the globe which we hope will engage young people and cultivate a love for reading and learning by exposing them to diverse literary voices,” he said.

The Ceylon Literary and Art Festival aims to create a dynamic platform for dialogue, cultural exchange, and artistic collaboration. It is designed to simultaneously showcase the island’s rich cultural heritage and picturesque landscapes, and re-establish Sri Lanka as a premier destination for tourists, investors and new partners.  

While HSBC is the title partner, the festival is also sponsored by other partners, Mastercard, The British Council, Goethe Institute, Galle Face Hotel and Suisse Hotel, Dilmah Tea, Sarasavi Bookshop, Wijeya Newspapers and Hardtalk. 

For the full event program, updates and other information, please visit www.ceylonliteraryfestival.com.