GLF 2013 cancelled, organisers promise bigger and better festival in 2014

By Cheranka Mendis

The 2013 Galle Literary Festival which was scheduled to be held during March 13-17 has been cancelled, due to what is described as “a number of unforeseeable cancellations and rigid time constraints.”

The team’s announcement came in early November, when the organisers posted a note titled ‘Important announcement’ on its Facebook page and its website. The announcement read: “The Festival Team are currently working with the support and commitment of our valued sponsors towards creating a stimulating and inspirational programme for GLF 2014. We will not be hosting a festival in March 2013.”

Replying to a host of messages on the Facebook status that held the announcement, inquiring after the reason for the cancellation, the team said, “We wish to advise all friends of the Galle Literary Festival that following a number of unforeseeable cancellations, and given the rigid time constraints in the organisation of a festival of this size and stature we have decided to take a break for the Festival in 2013.

“The Festival Team are currently working with our valued sponsors and partners towards creating a stimulating and inspirational programme for GLF 2014. We are planning a different format for the 2014 festival with an exciting list of authors. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused but we very much hope you will be able to make the festival in 2014. The dates for the 2014 festival will be posted on the website shortly.”

Among the comments from Facebook users, some of which expressed frustration from those who had already booked air tickets to come to Sri Lanka for the event and had already sorted out accommodation and lodging, there were suggestions to host a ‘makeshift/alternative festival in Jaffna this time,’ inviting celebrated Tamil writers such as Michael Ondaatje or to have ‘some chats in Colombo itself with writers.’

The organisers responded to the comments by promising a “better than ever” festival in 2014.

Initially, the dates for the 2013 festival were announced on 11 July on their Facebook page, to be confirmed later on 30 August. The organisers or the GLF Founder Geoffrey Dobbs could not be contacted for comments.

An established feature of the international literary calendar, GLF celebrated six years of operation earlier this year. A myriad of writers, both local and international, attend the event which is spiced up by a series of fringe events held alongside the key event. A large number of book lovers and aspiring writers gather annually at the historic city of Galle to celebrate literature, discuss books and writing, to learn, and share experiences.