The Gratiaen Trust, in partnership with John Keells Foundation and with the support of the British Council, is pleased to share the shortlist for the 33rd Gratiaen Prize. This year, a record number of entries highlighted the energy and creativity in Sri Lankan writing in English, marking an exciting new chapter for the country’s literary scene. The five shortlisted works cover a wide range of genres, including historical fiction, contemporary satire, lyrical prose, and experimental poetry. Each book offers a unique look at identity, history, and what it means to be human.

The Shortlisted Works for the 33rd Gratiaen Prize (in alphabetical order):

@#$%!Daham – Aneesha Ansar. Ansar, a former copywriter and a "loud and proud" writer from Wattala, brings a bold and honest voice to the story of survival. The judges praised the book for its playful style and clever way of exploring ethics and modern morality through humour that also offers a deeper social critique. It is a sharp and modern satire that follows the "(un)adventures" of Daham, a young man dealing with a difficult boss, social pressures, and a "harrowing passivity" that shapes his life. 

Dear Father; The Refugee – Alan de Costa. de Costa, a retired surgeon and OAM recipient who lives between Colombo and Vakarai, brings together the stories of a 17th-century Portuguese painter and a modern refugee in Australia. It looks at how art, history, and the rise of capitalism connect with family ties and the pain of being uprooted. This ambitious historical novel shifts between the fall of the Portuguese Fort in Galle in 1640 and the 1971 Marxist revolution in Ceylon.

God, Bangles and a Constitution –Anuththara Ekeli. Ekeli, an Attorney-at-Law and academic, has created a set of poems that are intentionally raw and challenge easy answers. Drawing on her background in international relations and law, she examines what it means to live within power structures, offering a new perspective on the Sri Lankan experience through devotion, doubt, intimacy and expectation. A triptych of poems that explores the space between the sacred, the intimate, and the political. 

In the Curve of the Smile – Uvini Atukorala. Atukorala, who sees language as "lyrical and pliable," explores resilience and the strong connections between mothers, daughters, and sisters. The judges praised the writing for its vivid style, moving between the country’s turmoil and the quiet gaps within a family, showing that sometimes memory is all we have left. Set during the violent changes of the late 1980s, this novel focuses on a young girl raised by her grandmother. 

The Son and the Lover – Visakesa Chandrasekaram. Chandrasekaram, who has won the Gratiaen Prize in 1999, is also a lawyer and award-winning filmmaker, looks at how desire, tradition, and social expectations come together. The novel follows the couple from anti-Muslim protests in Sri Lanka to a new life in Australia, where their love faces doubts from family. This bold story explores an unexpected relationship between a "racist" Buddhist monk and a "cultured" Australian physiotherapist. 

This year’s judging panel is led by V. V. Ganeshananthan, whose novel Brotherless Night recently won the 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Carol Shields Prize. She is joined by Dinidu Karunanayake, Assistant Professor of English at Elon University, who specialises in postcolonial literature, and Azara Jaleel, Editor-in-Chief of ARTRA Magazine. Reflecting on the selection, V. V. Ganeshananthan commented: "It’s been an honour to engage with such ambitious and powerful literature. The shortlisted works demonstrate a mastery of craft and a diversity of voice that is truly exhilarating. These writers are exploring themes that are both deeply personal and globally relevant, proving that Sri Lankan writing in English continues to grow in strength and scope."

Carmeline Jayasuriya, Head of CSR and Senior Assistant Vice President at John Keells Holdings PLC, reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment: "We are proud to support a platform that celebrates our unique diversity. These shortlisted works are a testament to the power of storytelling and its vital role in shaping our culture and identity. We look forward to the final ceremony and further celebrating creative expression in Sri Lanka."

The Gratiaen Trust congratulated the authors, noting that the 33rd year of the prize demonstrates the continued growth and richness of stories being told in English across the island. 

The winner of the 33rd Gratiaen Prize will be announced on 6 June 2026. The event will gather the literary community to celebrate these five authors and their impact on Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage. The Gratiaen Trust is grateful for the ongoing support of its long-time partners: the British Council, Wijeya Newspapers, and the Marga Institute. Their contributions are essential to keeping Sri Lanka’s leading literary tradition alive.

The Gratiaen Prize was established in 1992 by Michael Ondaatje, the internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan-Canadian author, using the prize money from his Booker Prize-winning novel The English Patient. It remains the highest honour for English creative writing in Sri Lanka.  For more information about the Gratiaen Prize, the shortlisted works, or upcoming events, please visit www.gratiaen.com.