The Gratiaen Trust, in association with John Keells Foundation, is delighted to announce its collaboration with New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) for the 32nd Gratiaen Prize. This collaboration will see Prof Gregory Pardlo – a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and the Head of the Literature and Creative Writing Program of NYU Abu Dhabi in the Arts and Humanities academic division – heading the Gratiaen Prize jury in addition to participating in a number of other activities that will contribute to the enrichment of the literary arts in Sri Lanka.
The Trust’s collaboration with NYUAD marks another milestone in its three-decade-long commitment to fostering literary arts in the country. Given NYUAD’s strong focus on the liberal arts and its highly regarded Literature and Creative Writing Programme, this collaboration marks another significant step where the Trust has facilitated connections between Sri Lankan creative writers and international Anglophone writing and publishing – a central part of the mission of the Gratiaen Trust that its founder Michael Ondaatje envisaged. Prof. Pardlo, speaking of the collaboration said that he is “looking forward to participating in and contributing to Sri Lanka’s dynamic and exciting literary scene. This partnership deepens NYUAD’s commitment to the region and its varied and rich forms of cultural expression.”
In a joint statement Co-chairs of the Gratiaen Trust, Nisreen Jafferjee and Nafeesa Amiruddeen said, “This partnership not only adds international prestige to The Gratiaen Trust but also opens new avenues for Sri Lankan authors to engage with a global audience, particularly as this year’s event includes both the 32nd Gratiaen Prize and the HAIG Prize for Translations. The Trust’s collaboration with NYUAD will enable a greater exchange of ideas, resources, and opportunities for Sri Lankan writers and translators to further develop their craft and reach new markets. NYUAD’s collaboration, coming at a time when Sri Lankan writers (or those associated with Sri Lanka) have won prestigious international recognition such as the Booker Prize, The Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Nebula Award provides inspiration for Sri Lankan writers to dream big and see themselves as part of the global literary scene.”
Over the years, the Gratiaen Prize has established itself as the most coveted recognition for English-language creative writing in Sri Lanka. Each year, a panel of three distinguished judges—a writer, an academic, and an informed reader—brings a balanced and holistic perspective to the judging process. These carefully curated judging panels and their expertise ensure that the best literary talent on offer each year is recognised and celebrated.
The Trust has been fortunate to engage acclaimed writers and academics from both Sri Lanka and abroad as part of its judging panels. Past judges include internationally recognised authors such as Shyam Selvadurai, Michelle de Kretser, Romesh Gunesekera, and Anthony Joseph, all of whom have left a significant impact on the Sri Lankan literary scene. Their participation, along with the commitment of the Trust, has allowed the Gratiaen Prize and HAIG Prize for Translation to reach new heights. The call for entries for the 32nd Gratiaen Prize and HAIG Prize for Translation will open in mid-November 2024. For more information visit the Gratiaen Trust’s website at www.gratiaen.com and its social media pages.
John Keells Foundation – the CSR entity of the John Keells Group - has been the primary sponsor of the Gratiaen Trust since October 2019 and has provided generous support to the Trust’s various projects, thereby enabling the expansion of its mandate which is ‘Empowering the Nation for Tomorrow’.
Founded in 1992 by acclaimed Sri Lankan-Canadian author Michael Ondaatje, the Gratiaen Trust’s mandate is to promote English creative writing in Sri Lanka. Ondaatje, whose celebrated novel The English Patient was a co-winner of the Booker Prize, envisioned the Gratiaen Prize as a forum which would inspire Sri Lankan writers and enrich the country’s literary scene. Since its founding, the Gratiaen Prize has become the most prestigious award for English creative writing in the country, recognising outstanding literary work annually. In 2003, the Trust introduced the biannual HAIG Prize for Translation, further expanding its scope to honour the best translations from Sinhala and Tamil into English. The Gratiaen Trust also organises workshops, masterclasses, and outreach programs, for the benefit of emerging and established Sri Lankan writers.