Sri Lanka’s cultural story deserves global stage: Mita Kapur

The HSBC Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival is set for 17-19 January 2025, under the curation of Mita Kapur, who has assisted in implementing the vision behind various international literary festivals including Mountain Echoes (now Bhutan Echoes), the literary festival of Bhutan. Mita Kapur comes to Sri Lanka aligned on the purpose and the vision behind Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival. The purpose of this platform is to showcase Sri Lanka’s Art and Culture, focus on its youth, and further enhance its soft-power, by bringing the best of the world to Sri Lanka and offering the best of Sri Lanka to the world.

India’s leading literary consultancy Siyahi Founder and CEO, and current Literary Director for the JCB Prize for Literature Mita Kapur, brings her extensive experience to the festival. The author of ‘The F-Word’ and editor of ‘Chillies and Porridge: Writing Food,’ Kapur’s accolades include the Femina Women Super Achiever Award in 2018 and the prestigious Maharani Gayatri Devi Award for Woman of Excellence in 2014.

Speaking of the festival, HSBC Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival Curator Mita Kapur stated: “It’s not just about putting an event together. It’s about getting people to understand, to engage, to discuss, to debate, to exchange ideas. Sri Lanka, with its rich tapestry of art, culture, architecture, heritage, folklore, and musical traditions, represents a precious jewel that needs to be reflected and projected widely across all platforms. Each author and session is thoughtfully selected to spark dialogue that matters – from exploring rich cultural heritage to amplifying powerful female voices who have shaped literature across generations. Through these carefully crafted sessions, we’re creating spaces for people to connect, debate, and engage with ideas that bridge the past, present, and future.”

The festival aims to serve as a catalyst for cultural exchange and understanding, positioning Sri Lanka as a vibrant hub for artistic and literary discourse in South Asia. Highlighting this, HSBC Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival Co-Founder and Director Ajai Vir Singh stated: “The HSBC Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival embodies our vision of creating a platform that transcends traditional boundaries and enhances and showcases Sri Lanka’s soft power. It is our second arts and culture platform, and it has a role to play. It brings together diverse voices and perspectives. It’s important to build bridges that connect Sri Lanka to the global creative community. Having Mita Kapur, who is the former curator of the Jaipur Literature Festival and other significant South Asian literary festivals, give legs to our vision and purpose, ensures thoughtful curation of every panel and author, building a program that sparks meaningful dialogue.”

The festival will be hosted at the Colombo Public Library, a venue celebrating its centennial in 2025, adding profound symbolic significance to the event. This venue makes the festival democratic and is symbolic of Sri Lanka’s intellectual and cultural heritage, the library represents more than a physical space – it embodies the nation’s literary and historical continuity. The significance of the venue and the focus given to the youth, the festival drives the power of cultural exchange. 

Further emphasising the festival’s commitment to nurturing young talent, HSBC Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival Co-Founder and Director Fazeena Majeed Rajabdeen further added: “Our focus on youth engagement is deliberate and vital. Through literature, arts, films, and various creative platforms, we’re empowering the next generation to discover their voice and realise their potential. They are the torchbearers who will carry forward Sri Lanka’s rich cultural legacy while shaping its future narrative.”

With less than 60 days until the festival begins, audiences are encouraged to secure their tickets early for what promises to be an extraordinary celebration of Sri Lankan culture and global artistic exchange. HSBC, the key title partner of the festival, demonstrates its commitment to cultural innovation. Distinguished partners Dilmah Ceylon, Cinnamon Grand, The British Council, and Goethe Institute further enrich the festival’s international scope. Contributing to the festival’s success include partners Wijeya Newspapers – Daily Mirror, Sunday Times, Hi!!, along with Acorn, Sarasavi and Hardtalk. Together, these partnerships embody a shared vision of celebrating and nurturing culture and creativity in Sri Lanka and beyond. Tickets for individual sessions are now available on the official festival website at www.ceylonliteraryfestival.com.