Here's the Fairway National Literary Awards shortlist

The eagerly anticipated shortlist of the Fairway National Literary Awards was announced at a news conference at JAIC Hilton on August 31.

The first announcement for the evening was from the Sinhala category. Five novels were shortlisted. “Handa Paluwa Thani Tharuwa” by Nishshanka Wijemanna, “Yakada Silpara” by Wimal Udaya Hapugodarachchi, “Garuda Muhurthaya” by Keerthi Welisarage, “Pandaka Puthra Wasthuwa” by Anurasiri Hettige and “Nikini Kaluwara” by Deepthi Mangala Rajapaksha.

The Sinhala judging panel was made up of academic, critic, writer and lecturer at the Department of English in the University of Kelaniya Dr. Prabha Manuratne, translator, critic and writer Gamini Viyangoda and writer, poet and make-up artist Buddhdasa Galappatty.

Mr. Viyangoda commented that the Sinhala category had an outstanding num- ber of applicants – 85 entries being received. The shortlisted novels showed a great sense of cultural and historical pride – the contexts and circumstances in which the novels were set in were both enlightening and inspiring, he said. The Tamil Shortlist categorywas shortlisted as follows; “Thazhumbu” by M. Balasingham, “KulaiMurisal” by C. Wahabdeen, “Ethanam” by Theniyaan and “NeenthikKadanthaNeruppaaru” by N. Yogenthiranathan.

The judging panel for the Tamil category was made up by Prof. V. Maheshwaran, retired professor, translator and writer Dr. M.S. N Anes and actor, writer, film director and Professor at the Department of English of the University of Peradeniya Prof. Sivamohan Sumathy.

Prof. Sumathy commented on her disappointment at the lack of entries for the Tamil novel category- they received eight entries of which they selected four. Nevertheless, Sumathy was elated at the issues and themes the selected novels addressed from the “life and lifestyles of its people” to the “position of a woman”, “gender stereotypes” and the destruction of a society due to the advancements of new technology. She admired and appreciated the “craft of the composition.”

Echoing the disappointment of the lack of entries, ArunWelandawe-Prematilleke on behalf of the English judging panel (there were 10 submissions) acknowledged the four chosen shortlisted novels - “Dutugemunu: Prince of Destiny” by Rukmani Samaranayake (Sarasavi Publishers), “The Other One” by Amanda Jay (CreateSpace), “Song of the Sun God” by Shankari Chandran (Perera-Hussein Publishing House) and “Word of Kali: The Dark Side of God” by Mario Perera (S. Godage& Brothers Pvt. Ltd)

The English panel of judges was made up of academic and author Dr.Ranjani Obeysekere, theatre director, actor and writer ArunWelandawe-Prematilleke and reader, critic and retired civil servant M. Somasundaram (Jolly).

“The role of an editor is paramount in a novel,” ArunWelandawe-Prematilleke commented noting the lack of an editor in the majority of the novels in the category. Editors, he said, “are instrumental in shaping the structure and overall narrative arc. We read far too many novels that were crying for a sharper hand,” he noted.

He went on to praise the works they considered. “It has been very satisfying to see writers of all ages and backgrounds present work in a myriad of styles,” he said. “I speak for the whole jury when I say we cannot wait to delve back into these worlds over the next few months.”

Fairway Holdings is the title sponsor of the well-established Fairway Galle Literary Festival. Deputy Chairman of Fairway Holdings Kavinda Dias Abeysinghe remarked that they are “conscious about the arts and culture of the country as a civilizing influence”. The Fairway National Literary Award was initiated to reward local novelists and aims not only to acknowledge the efforts of outstanding writers, but also to inspire and encourage upcoming local writers as well. “There is crying needs for programmes like this,” Mr. Dias Abeysinghe added.

The final award ceremony will be held during the Fairway Galle Literary Festival in January 2018.