Gratiaen Trust announces longlist for 32nd Annual Gratiaen Prize

Thursday, 3 April 2025 02:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Gratiaen Trust, in partnership with John Keells Foundation, has unveiled the longlist the longlist for the 32nd Annual Gratiaen Prize—an esteemed literary accolade that continues to champion excellence in English creative writing in Sri Lanka.

Established by celebrated Sri Lankan-Canadian author Michael Ondaatje in 1992 using the proceeds from his Booker Prize-winning novel “The English Patient”, the Gratiaen Prize remains a beacon of literary achievement, recognising and nurturing exceptional talent across the country.

The longlisted authors for the 32nd Gratiaen Prize are:

He Was God’s Child Too - Upali Mahaliyana
Her Truth - Binendri Perera
Kata Katha: Gossip, Rumours, and Idle Talk - Savin Edirisinghe
Nowhere No Return - Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe
The Warm South - Vihanga Perera
The Way It Is - Shirani Rajapakse
The Whispering Ghouls of Paradise - Vasantha Senanayake
Twice Upon A Lifetime - Ayathurai Santhan
Wombful of Weeds - Ranudi Gunawardena

As Sri Lanka’s most prestigious English literary awards, the Gratiaen Prize honours outstanding creative writing, providing a platform for writers whose work embodies literary distinction and originality. The longlist announcement marks the first milestone in the 2025 prize cycle.

The eagerly anticipated shortlist will be announced on 28 April, at the British Council, Colombo. Those interested in attending this exclusive literary event can register by contacting 0773 115 839. The final winners of the Gratiaen Prize and the biennial H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize for Literary Translation will be declared at the award ceremony on 31 May 2025.

This year’s Gratiaen Prize is once again presented under the Trust’s continued partnership with John Keells Foundation, the CSR entity of the John Keells Group. This strategic collaboration began in October 2019 and aligns with John Keells Foundation’s focus on Social Health & Cohesion, which includes supporting initiatives that nurture artists and promotes Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage, social dialogue and creative industries.

In a joint statement, Gratiaen Trust Co-Chairs Nafeesa Amiruddeen and Nisreen Jafferjee congratulated the longlisted authors, praising the diversity and depth of their work. They also thanked the judges for their dedication and for ensuring a rigorous selection process, noting that their commitment continues to elevate the Gratiaen Prize.

The Gratiaen Trust also extends its deep appreciation to its long-standing event partners—the British Council, Wijeya Newspapers, and the Marga Institute—for their unwavering support in fostering a vibrant literary culture in Sri Lanka. Their commitment to the arts remains instrumental in nurturing the country’s literary community and strengthening its creative heritage.

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