A & K Lit Fest
turns its fifth chapter this Sunday
As a country that has given prominence to literature since the days of royalty, many efforts have been taken to preserve its essence. While Sinhala literature is a subject mastered by few, the interest among people to read such pieces or get their hands on a book is fluctuating. It is in such a backdrop that the Annasi and Kadalagotu Literature Festival came to light. Here, much emphasis and exposure is given to homegrown literature, appreciating the works of local authors and giving them an opportunity to get be heard. This year’s edition of A & K Lit Fest will take place at the Mount Lavinia Hotel on October 20 with another exciting programme.
“Every year we try to broaden horizons in the homegrown literature scene,” said Tinaz Amit, who has been working with A&K literature festival for the past three years. “We focus on different aspects of literature and as we are going to pull of the fifth edition, we have some interesting items lined up. Last year we invited the cast and crew of ‘Koombiyo’ tele drama and that session was a hit because they spoke about how to bring a controversial tele drama to the small screen. Apart from that we screen short films and include all kinds of literature in the programme.”
This year’s programme begins with a session on censoring literature with Shakthika Sathkukmara who was arrested under the ICCPR Act enacted in 2007. The arrest was made following a complaint lodged by a group of Buddhist monks who accused him of inciting religious hatred by publishing a story on Facebook titled ‘Ardha 1’. “Following that session there will also be a session on sports and literature,” she said. “Then there are regular sessions such as the one for virgin authors where we invite authors who have written for the first time to share their experiences. In addition to that there will be two sessions for children and a session on literature in the digital space.”
Last year, A&K Lit Fest provided a platform to showcase the writing talents of children with autism and other conditions. The E.A.S.E Foundation introduced several such writers to the audience including Chami Rajapathirana and gave an opportunity for their voices to be heard. It was a session attended by many. This year’s session titled ‘Anduru Lowakin Eliyata’ will feature visually handicapped writers. Some other sessions will talk about literature as a tool for ethnic and religions reconciliation, bringing in humour to the social media and radio scene which will witness the participation of some comedians including ‘Janai Priyai’. A ‘Hitawana Kavi’ (an impromptu form of narrating poems) poetry corner will also be featured to show guests the culture of rich literature we once had.
This year’s programme begins with a session on censoring literature