Curtain comes down on:

Galle Literary Festival 2009

Script and pictures Sachitra Mahendra and Ruwini Jayawardana in Galle
 

Writers are created, not born. Ability to verbalize day-to-day experiences to take form of an intriguing tale for other’s aesthetic pleasure is not inborn but is a result of vigorous training. The skill of weaving sentences evolve from years and years of steady struggle with the pen.

The third international Galle Literary Festival (GLF) which reached a finale on February 1 at the heritage city of Galle, overlooking the ancient fortress, was one such event which unveiled many such individuals who had sharpened their skills through prodding and nurturing of the natural flair for writing.

This year’s event unlocked doors to a number of the writers who had shown promise of breaking into the scene with their creations.

Newcomers like Shehan Karunatilaka, Shehani Gomes and Chamali Kariyawasam read extracts from their work, while winner of the creative writing competition organised by the Literary Festival, Isuri Sandunika Jayalath, a grade 11 student of Sangamitta College, Galle, read out her inspiring short story to the audience.

Inspiration

“I wanted to write a story which does not employ the typical happy ending. I love Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre’, Martin Wickramasinghe’s novels and J K Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter’ series. They are my inspiration,” said the soft spoken young lass.

One of Isuri’s teachers had asked her to take part in the competition after she won first place at the school’s English Day Creative Writing competition last year. Her ambition is to become a doctor, but she hopes to keep on writing in her leisure.

The four day event opened doors to opportunities for participants to get close to celebrated writers through conversation and debate.

The 2009 GLF camp had established iconic literati such as Germaine Greer, Edna O’Brien, Tahmima Anam, V.V. Ganeshananthan, Colin Thubron, Pico Iyer, M.J. Akbar and Tarun Tejpal.

Koggala

Cheers were in spades welcoming back Romesh Gunesekera and guest visitor Thomas Keneally, author of the Booker Prize winning ‘Schindler’s Ark’ which was later adapted into screenplay for Steven Spielberg’s Oscar winning creation, ‘Schindler’s List’.

The curtain raiser for the GLF took palce at Martin Wickramasinghe’s birthplace in Koggala. Dr Tissa Abeysekara and Romesh Gunasekara related stories of their generations.

Koggala was a hallowed ground for Abeysekara while it was ‘inspiration source for the new writers’ for Gunasekara. Abeysekara enjoyed his prime days over Koggala sage’s heydays, while Gunasekara belongs to the much younger generation. GLF 2009 featured daily workshops for aspiring writers and a sneak preview for readers of what their favourite authors are working on.

“The Galle Literary Festival is an event where we are able to communicate a novel and interesting aspect of Sri Lanka, which a lot of people are unaware of,” said Tourism Promotions Bureau’s Managing Director Dileep Mudadeniya. Sri Lanka Tourism had a bee operation when the festival was in full swing.

Ambassador for Kingdom of Netherlands Leoni M Cuelenaere said: “Literature plays an important role in Sri Lankan society.

There are many good writers in the country, some who have won international fame. Personally I believe that literature has a vital role to play in society.”

Rare scope

As always writers and fans had the rare scope to relax and enjoy a four day literary extravaganza, said Geoffrey Dobbs the founder of this unique festival.

AdopSriLanka is a GLF initiative to develop English teaching skills in Southern rural areas.

The guest of honour Thomas Keneally expressed his fascination about the festival. “Literary festivals are a must to bridge the literature among the countries.

For example we never knew Sri Lanka as a literally rich country in the world map unless a festival of this type comes along,” the award winning Australian author said.

GLF 2009 comprised participants from countries ranging from America, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe.

The writers are not just international because they live in far flung corners of the globe. Writers like Edna O’Brien and Moses Isegawa were forced to leave their mother countries. Pico Iyer, Colin Thubron and Patrick French took to writing on travel notes,which they shared in a witty manner.

Individual experiences

This is when Vivimarie VanderPoorten and Chamali Kariyawasam had different stories to unfold on war. They encompassed humour, grace and insight on individual experiences with a universal touch. An out-and-out children’s program flowed parallel to the main function, with the participation of international storyteller Margaret Read Macdonald and the multiple award winning former Children’s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo.

The Children’s Festival was expanding in its own turf.

The last two days of the weekend was packed with dedicated events organized by age-group. Kids had the rare luxury of sharing time with experts as they took down points for their creative adventures.

A whole range of fringe events: graffiti wall for writing, wildlife photography exhibition to feel nature, children’s art exhibition bringing in the past and rich paddy bicycle trail, a tour with the country’s rich tradition ran along with this year’s GLF.

Though the festival lasted for only a few days, its initiative remains in the memory of all literary addicts throughout the year.

Book on Buddha statues

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Ven. Dodamkumbure Dhammadassi Thera’s Sri Lankeya Buddha Prathimave Arambhaya ha Sanvardhanaya will be launched at Dayawansa Jayakody Book Exhibition Hall, Colombo 10 on February 3.

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The author who is a senior lecturer at Pali and Buddhist Studies Faculty of the University of Kelaniya has focused his attention on the identity of the Buddha statues in Sri Lanka after a careful study of the research done so far in this field.

The book is a Dayawansa Jayakody Book Publication.

‘Tarian Dan Lagu Melayu’

The Kumpulan Melayu Battaramulla (KMB) is aimed at bringing the Malay community together in an assembly of cultural exchange, information sharing and communal harmony.

In the year 2000, when the KMB was installed, its primary objectives was to uplift Islamic values within the community, revive Malay culture, spread the usage of the Malay language and develop the talents of the Malays by giving them guidance and support.

In addition to this, the KMB has initiated their ‘Janaza Fund’ that is a service to its members.

Upon inception, the KMB has strived zealously to fulfil these objectives and this time around, they are organising a Malay cultural show to replenish their coffers.

The ‘Tarian Dan Lagu Melayu’ Malay cultural show will go on board at the Namel Malini Theatre, Borella that will reveal an assortment of Malay music, songs and dances that will come alive on the February 7. A “draw” on the raffle tickets will be held at this event with some amazing prizes to be won. Tickets will be available at the door.

Paintings and short stories

Wasantha Namaskara’s 44th collection of paintings, Mithuru Danauwata Sarpayan Pamineema (Arrival of snakes into friendship), will be exhibited along with the launch of a collection of short stories on February 9 at Namaskara Visual Art Gallery, 45/7 Welagedara, Badulla.

The paintings will be exhibited from February 9 to 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance is free.

Veteran Lyricist Sudath Gamini Bandara, veteran writer Nishshanka Wijemanna and art commentator Kithsiri Wikramaarachchi will take part in the event.

We may have many friends but it is very difficult to understand whether they are true friends or not. One who appears as a friend will become an enemy at the next moment.

He becomes a friend again in turn and an enemy at the next moment. Friendship changes into enmity and enmity into friendship.

How could these two sides exist in a person?

Namaskara explores this theme in his work.