Savin Edirisinghe, CINEC Campus Student, Clinches Prestigious 32nd Gratiaen Prize

The academic and literary communities are celebrating the remarkable achievement of Savin Edirisinghe, a final-year student from the Faculty of Humanities and Education at CINEC Campus, who has been awarded the prestigious 32nd Gratiaen Prize. Savin, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English, received the coveted award for his collection of short stories titled “Kata Katha: Gossip, Rumours, and Idle Talk.”

The Gratiaen Prize, founded by renowned author Michael Ondaatje, is Sri Lanka’s most esteemed literary award for creative writing in English. Savin’s win marks a significant milestone, not only for him personally but also for emerging Sri Lankan writers, particularly those navigating the unique space between Sinhala and English languages.

“Kata Katha: Gossip, Rumours, and Idle Talk” has been lauded by the jury as a witty, bold, and experimental collection that explores the premise of “Kata Katha” (gossip) as a cornerstone of civilization. The stories within the collection weave through absurd, magical, and irrational narratives, presenting a diverse cast of young characters with a clever balance of tragedy and satire.

The award ceremony for the 32nd Gratiaen Prize was held at The Studio, Cinnamon Life, bringing together Sri Lanka’s literary community.

Savin’s success is a testament to his dedication and talent, and CINEC Campus extends its heartfelt congratulations, expressing immense pride in his outstanding accomplishment. His achievement serves as an inspiration to aspiring writers and students across the nation.