The first edition of HSBC Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival (CLF) will be held on February 8 and 9 at Trinity College and Hotel Suisse, Kandy, followed by a continuation from February 10 to 12 at the Public Library, Colombo.
The festival centres around a creative platform highlighting the cultural essence of Sri Lanka, placing a primary emphasis on literature, complemented by art, music, and films.
A pivotal objective of the festival management is to broaden exposure and knowledge among the youth and children. A Children’s Festival and Creative Writing Workshop will be held, featuring the participation of 13 schools.
The initiative is aimed at laying the groundwork for the future, with the intention of expanding and enriching these endeavours with each successive edition.
Forty-four authors, predominantly international will participation in the festival. Cleverly themed curated sessions, totaling 23, will captivate and engage the audience. Celebrated author and literary figure Ashok Ferrey will be the curator of the festival.
At the heart of the festival lies the objective to spotlight Sri Lanka to international audiences, portraying it as a country with a dynamic and vibrant society, thereby enhancing its allure for travellers and investors. Despite emerging from a challenging scenario, Sri Lanka is currently experiencing positive momentum.
Esteemed personalities such as William Dalrymple, Sir David Hare, Louis de Bernieres, Shyam Selvadurai, Shehan Karunatilaka and Louise Doughty are among the notable authors who will grace the stage, engaging the audience in insightful conversations and dialogues that challenge and enlighten.
The festival will feature 23 curated panels, addressing contemporary topics and current issues. From the examination of societal obsessions with appearance in the ‘It’s the Body, Stupid!’ panel to the exploration of feminism’s trajectory in ‘Will the last feminist turn out the lights when they leave?,’ the event promises a thought-provoking experience.
Notable sessions include ‘Help! AI chewed up my manuscript!’—delving into our increasingly AI-driven world—and the Guru of Sleep, Giles Watkin, imparting the art of achieving a restful night’s sleep.
The closing day’s panel, ‘The Empire Strikes Back,’ will initiate a compelling debate.
CLF will commence in Kandy from February 8-9 at Trinity College Kandy and Hotel Suisse Kandy before moving to the vibrant capital, Colombo, from February 10-12 at the Colombo Public Library.
The main partners promoting this creative platform to showcase and make it one of the leading platforms is the title partner HSBC along with our other partners Mastercard, The British Council, Galle Face Hotel, Hotel Suisse Kandy, Dilmah Ceylon, Innovate Books, Goethe Institut, Wijeya Newspapers, Emerging Media, Curado, Hardtalk and Sarasavi. Together, these partnerships embody a shared vision of celebrating and nurturing culture and creativity in Sri Lanka.
