News

Gratiaen prize winners announced

Published

10 months ago

2025/06/3

Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Manjula Sirimane - Gratiaen Trustee, Nisreen Jafferjee - Co-Chair of the Gratiaen Trust, Professor Gregory Pardlo, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, essayist, and Professor of Literature and Creative Writing at NYU Abu Dhabi, Dr. Crystal Baines, researcher at the Social Scientists’ Association and visiting lecturer at the University of Colombo, Priyangwada Perera, winner of the biennial H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize for her translation, Savin Edirisinghe (Winner 32nd Gratiaen Prize 2024), Dr. Krishantha Fedricks - HAIG Judge and Senior Lecturer in Sinhala and Linguistics at the University of Colombo, Dileepa Abeysekera - HAIG Judge and a creative professional and literary translator whose work bridges the worlds of advertising and literature, Nafeesa Amiruddeen - Co-Chair of the Gratiaen Trust, and Savan Perera - Gratiaen Truste

The Gratiaen Trust, in partnership with John Keells Foundation, on Sunday announced the winners of the 32nd Gratiaen Prize for English creative writing and the H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize for Literary Translation. These awards, which were presented at the Cinnamon Life City of Dreams – the venue partner for the Prize event – brought together Sri Lanka’s literary community in a celebration of outstanding contemporary writing and translation achievements. The event was also supported by Sarasavi Books and the British Council.

Savin Edirisinghe was awarded the 32nd Gratiaen Prize for his remarkable work, Katha: Gossip, Rumours, and Idle Talk. His work was selected from an exceptional shortlist that also included: Upali Mahaliyana for ‘He Was God’s Child Too’; Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe for ‘Nowhere No Return’, Vihanga Perera for ‘The Warm South’ and Ranudi Gunawardena for ‘Wombful of Weeds’.

The jury for the 32nd Gratiaen Prize included Professor Gregory Pardlo, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, essayist, and Professor of Literature and Creative Writing at NYU Abu Dhabi. He was joined by Dr. Crystal Baines, a researcher at the Social Scientists’ Association and visiting lecturer at the University of Colombo, and Savithri Rodrigo, an award-winning journalist and biographer. In the Jury’s statement, they said that Kata Katha is a collection of witty, bold, and experimental short stories which rests on the premise that “Kata Katha” or “gossip”, a form of oral knowledge system, is the cornerstone of civilisation. The stories, or ‘Kata Katha’ in this collection, meander through the absurd, the magical, and the irrational, offering readers a cast of young characters from varying walks of life through an ingenious lens and narrative that deftly balances tragedy with satire.

From left: Nafeesa Amiruddeen – Co-Chair of the Gratiaen Trust, Nisreen
Jafferjee – Co-Chair of the Gratiaen Trust, Savin Edirisinghe (Winner 32nd Gratiaen Prize 2024), Dr. Crystal Baines, researcher at the Social Scientists’
Association and visiting lecturer at the University of Colombo, Professor
Gregory Pardlo, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, essayist, and Professor of
Literature and Creative Writing at NYU Abu Dhabi, and Nadija Tambiah –
President, Legal, Secretarial and CSR, John Keells Group

The Trust simultaneously announced Priyangwada Perera as the winner of the biennial H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize for her translation of Wid Keirdo from Sinhala into English. The judging panel for this award comprised Dr. Krishantha Fedricks, a Senior Lecturer in Sinhala and Linguistics at the University of Colombo, Shash Trevett, a poet, critic, and translator of Tamil poetry into English, and Dileepa Abeysekera, a creative professional and literary translator whose work bridges the worlds of advertising and literature. The jury praised the translation, stating: ‘The winner of the 2025 HAIG Prize for Translation is a path maker, building a bridge between Sinhala and English in order to make the voices and lives contained in the Sinhala original find a sense of belonging elsewhere. The linguistic acrobatics displayed by the winning translator, coping magnificently with the intricate word play of the Sinhala original, were astounding, and deeply satisfying.”

Savin Edirisinghe (Winner 32nd Gratiaen Prize 2024), Priyangwada Perera as the winner of the biennial H.A.I. Goonetileke
Prize for her translation

In a joint statement, the Co-chairs of the Gratiaen Trust Nafeesa Amiruddeen and Nisreen Jafferjee said, “The Trust congratulates Savin Edirisinghe and Priyangwada Perera. This year’s winning works are a testament to the extraordinary creativity and depth of Sri Lankan literature and stand as a source of inspiration and pride for our literary community. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to both winners and the shortlisters for their exceptional contributions that continue to enliven our literary landscape. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to the judges for their discerning selections and our partners for making this celebration possible.”

Carmeline Jayasuriya, Head of CSR, John Keells Group, added, “John Keells Foundation is proud to support the Gratiaen Trust’s mission to nurture literary excellence. This year’s winners demonstrate how Sri Lankan writers can captivate and inspire, aligning perfectly with our Social Health & Cohesion focus aimed at empowering a healthy and progressive Sri Lanka by combating social barriers, promoting dialogue and supporting creative industries under our vision of ‘Empowering the Nation for Tomorrow’.

All News Advertisement

News

Courtesy call by the Heads of Mission- Designate on Prime Minister

Published

9 hours ago

2026/03/28

Priyan

The heads of mission designate to Sri Lanka paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on 26th of March at the Prime Minister’s office.

The delegation comprised Dharshana M. Perera, High Commissioner – designate of Sri Lanka to Malaysia, Ms. Dayani Mendis, Ambassador and PRUN – designate of Sri Lanka to Austria, Ms. N.I.D. Paranavitana, Ambassador – designate of Sri Lanka to Ethiopia & African Union, Prof. (Ms.) M.I. Fazeeha Azmi,Ambassador – designate of Sri Lanka to Iran, Saman Kumara Chandrasiri, Ambassador – designate of Sri Lanka to Israel, and M. Farook M. Fawzer, Representative – designate of Sri Lanka to Palestine.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, extended her best wishes to the Heads of Mission–designate and underscored the importance of their forthcoming assignments in advancing Sri Lanka’s national interests emphasizing their collective role in contributing towards the socio-economic upliftment of Sri Lanka.

The Prime Minister further highlighted the importance of projecting a positive and credible image of Sri Lanka internationally, through consistent, professional, and strategic engagement in their respective host countries and multilateral platforms.

She encouraged the Heads of Mission to actively identify and facilitate high-quality investment opportunities, particularly in sectors aligned with Sri Lanka’s development priorities, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and long-term value addition.

Particular emphasis was placed on the promotion and diversification of Sri Lanka’s exports, including the exploration of new markets and strengthening trade linkages.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta and heads of mission-designate.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

SC finds Keheliya, others, guilty of violating FRs of public through corrupt drug procurement deal

Published

10 hours ago

2026/03/28

Thilina Walpola

The Supreme Court yesterday held former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and several senior health officials liable for violating the fundamental rights of the public over a controversial drug procurement carried out under the 2022 Indian Credit Line.

Delivering the judgment, a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, and comprising Justice Kumudini Wickremasinghe and Justice Janak de Silva, found that the procurement of medical supplies from an unregistered company, in breach of established procedures, had resulted in a serious infringement of public rights.

The Court ruled that the granting of a Waiver of Registration by the authorities was “wrongful, arbitrary and capricious,” and held that the direct procurement carried out on an unsolicited basis was unlawful. The transaction was accordingly declared null and void.

In a significant order, the Court directed Rambukwella to pay Rs. 75 million in compensation to the State from his personal funds.

The then Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandragupta and former Chairman of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), Prof. S. D. Jayaratne, were each ordered to pay Rs. 50 million.

The Court further directed NMRA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Wijith Gunasekara and former Director of the Medical Supplies Division Dr. Thusitha Sudarshana to pay Rs. 50 million each as compensation.

The ruling followed the hearing of a fundamental rights petition filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka and two other parties.

The Court also instructed the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to initiate appropriate action under the Anti-Corruption Act against those found responsible.

Senior Counsel Senany Dayaratne, with Nishadi Wickramasinghe, Lasanthika Hettiarachchi, Janani Abeywickrema and Maheshika Bandara, appeared for the petitioners.

News

Sajith nudges govt. to follow India’s example in giving relief to consumers by slashing taxes on fuel

Published

10 hours ago

2026/03/28

Thilina Walpola

Sajith

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to reduce taxes on fuel, just as the Indian government has done.

He said in a post on X that “Modi government has decided to reduce the Special Additional Excise Duty on petrol and completely remove it for diesel in order to cushion the hardship on the Indian consumer. High time for Anura Kumara Dissanayake to keep up to his election promise and follow suit.”

Meanwhile foreign media reported that India has slashed excise duties on petrol and diesel to protect consumers and rein in a potential spike in inflation, while imposing windfall taxes on aviation fuel and diesel exports, amid volatile global oil markets, as a result of the Iran war.

Global oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel after the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as a conduit for 40% of India’s crude oil imports, since the US and Israel first struck Iran on February 28.

In a government order, released late on Thursday, India’s Finance Ministry reduced the special excise duty on petrol to three Indian rupees ($0.0318) per litre from 13 Indian rupees earlier. It also cut the duty on diesel to zero from INR 10 rupees per litre.

The government did not say how much the duty cuts would cost. The move comes ahead of elections next month in four Indian states and one federal territory, with Indian voters known to be extremely sensitive to higher prices.

“Government has taken a huge hit on its taxation revenues to ensure very high losses of oil companies, approximately 24 rupees a litre for petrol and 30 rupees a litre for diesel, at this time of sky high international prices, are reduced,” Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in a post on X.