The Galle Literary Festival voted as the number 1 literary festival in the world in its inaugural year in 2007 was held this year from 16- 20 January in and around the historic city of Galle. The 2008 programme was filled with panel discussions, debates, book launches, poetry slams, literary lunches and dinners, film evenings, seminars and a comprehensive children’s programme. Over 40 international and 50 Sri Lankan participants were seen in action at this year’s festival. The festival served as a platform for international authors to engage with local writers and the audience, in lively discussion and debate on a range of contemporary issues at home and abroad. Special time was devoted to topical themes such as Climate change and Conflict resolution which predictably generated a lot of interest.

Once again this premier literary festival focused on celebrating Sri Lankan and international literature and raised awareness of the great depth and diversity of Sri Lankan writers and their contribution to the English language. The British Council as part of its ongoing animating literature programme, is committed to promoting contemporary writing in English by both UK and Sri Lankan writers. The Galle Festival provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the best of both.

This year the British Council sponsored the Man Booker long list Louise Dean, Sophie Hannah who was short listed for the 2007 T.S Elliot prize and Susan Elderkin winner of a Betty Trask award in 2000. We also sponsored local writers Lal Medawattegedara and Neil Fernandopulle who conducted creative writing workshops for children in the 11 to 15 and 14 to 16 age-groups, living in the Southern Province.

Sophie Hannah, who proved to be a huge hit in Galle and (in Colombo thereafter) was the first to be seen in action at the ‘The Power of Poetry’ session alongside other well-known poets such as John Mateer (Australia), Jeet Thayil (India), and Vivi Marie Vanderpoorten (Sri Lanka). The audience was enthralled by the poets and their award winning poetry and also educated on the process and allure of the poetic form. Sophie also entertained the audience at an informal ‘poetry slam’ which proved to be an absolute treat! In Sophie’s words ‘'The Galle Literary Festival was one of the most interesting festivals I've ever attended. There was a wonderful variety of events, a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and lively crowds. And, of course a beautiful setting.”

Drawing on her experiences of writing a novel set in Northern Ireland This Human Season , Louise Dean, was part of a panel on ‘Living with conflict’’ where authors discussed the impact and significance of conflict on their work. The panel comprised amongst others Kamila Shamsie (Pakistan), A.Santhan and Lal Medawattegedara (Sri Lanka). Louise says ‘I have to admit I've gone and developed a rather large crush on Sri Lanka as a result of this amazing last week in Galle and Colombo. Having a glass with Gore Vidal, paddling a with Vikram Seth, dining on a private island and dancing on a roof terrace were just a small part of the fun. The Sri Lankan smile was perhaps the other seventy five percent. The audiences were enthusiastic both at the literary festival and in Colombo, the local authors stimulating and charming, and the British Council very considerate and warm in their squiring us about. I shall be back! Please consider me your humble servant.I can't think of another festival I prefer, nor a kinder more sincere group of 'brother and sister' writers as those in Sri Lanka.’

Susan Elderkin who was recently named by Granta as one of the 20 best young novelists in Britain was part of the session on Climate Change and Tourism where the audience was educated on the myths and realities of Climate Change and on Sri Lanka’s position on tourism to conservation. Susan was also the featured writer at ‘The land that grew me’ – a lively interactive workshop exploring the landscape the children are growing up in and their relationship to this. Susan commented that it was ‘A hugely enjoyable festival to be part of - it manages to be intimate yet international, classy yet chilled, ambitious yet unpretentious. If you get the chance to go, go. Every responsible festival should follow Galle's lead and include panels and workshops on climate change issues. Bringing together the scientists, environmentalists and writers who are wrestling with our changing world is crucial if we are to breed the ideas, commitment and art that can help save the planet.

British Council organised four Creative Writing Workshops for school children in the Southern Province as part of the Galle Literary Festival. This activity provided the kids with an opportunity to interact with local writers giving them some exposure to the literary world. Feedback indicated that these workshops motivated children to participate in future creative writing activities. A student who participated said that “it was a rare and wonderful opportunity provided by the British Council to the students in Galle.” Thanking the organisers she asked the British Council to carry out more events of this nature in the future, adding that that the workshops helped them immensely to improve their creativity and writing skills.

Finally to affirm the British Council’s commitment to supporting Sri Lankan writers in English, Director Gill Westaway herself took part in an evening of readings with Ashok Ferrey and Richard Reidy hosted by the Closenberg Hotel. The audience were treated to a selection of excerpts from short stories, plays and poems by Ashok himself, Lal Medawattegedara, Seneka Abeyratne and Vivi Marie Vanderpoorten.

The organizers have already begun thinking about the 2009 Literary Festival and the British Council will continue to lend its support to what has become a significant event in the global literary calendar.