Isankya Wins the Gratiaen Prize!

Posted March 30, 2007
Filed under: Books, Gratiaen |

Isankya Kodithuwakku, who used to blog as Turtle a long time ago, has won the Gratiaen award for 2006 for her book of short stories The Banana Tree Crisis. The awards ceremony was held at the Trustee’s CEO’s quarters in Colombo (I think!). The award for 2006 was given jointly to Isankya and Senaka Abeysinghe (for his play Three Star K). The fact that I am ecstatic about Isankya being given the prize of course is obvious seeing as I was a fan since way before..and I’d say the book truly deserved the prize..but then, I might be accused of being a bit too biased! :(

The book, when it was shortlisted a couple of weeks ago, was described by the judges as “…neither patronising nor self absorbed, unpretentious yet poetic and very simply, compelling and beautiful”. The shortlist was Isankya, Senake, Ashok Ferrey (for Good Little Ceylonese Girl), Rita Perera (Coalescing with Omega) and Vihanga Perera. The shortlist announcement is here. Will update this when more articles appear about the prize.

A lot of the people who I talked to at the ceremony kept saying it was obvious from the start it was going to be a winner, including a couple of the judges and Ashok Ferrey.. So perhaps my bias is justified :o D

Anyways, If Isankya’s still hanging around the blogosphere and reading this..Congratulations!! and you are a complete idiot for saying/ thinking that you weren’t even going to make the shortlist! :o p

10 comments so far

  1. Mr. Evil on March 27, 2007

    Ola! Congrats out to Isankya! In the meanwhile hows you? Working? Also i’m curious as to what happened to DoE.. was nice reading his posts. Oh well.. life goes on :D

  2. N on March 31, 2007

    blimey…I miss ur old template:(

  3. Turtle on April 2, 2007

    ah, now a prize-winning turtle!

  4. Manshark on April 2, 2007

    Evil: Me is so busy it’s not funny :s But it’s all good cos there are moments when I LOVE what I’m doing too :) Have no idea what’s going on with DoE..will ask him the next time me sees him around :D

    N: I kinda miss it too :( BUT I love the sad face hangin off a cobweb on this :) So will keep this, me thinks! How does it feel to be back to “being employed”? Me is missing the afternoon naps!! hehehe :D

    Turtle: why didn’t I think of that?? Would have made a fantastic title!! :D

  5. N on April 3, 2007

    start next monday, but no more afternoon naps for me this week…trying to get my body clock into a work rhythm…since its been so long :) …nice to see ur enjoying ur work!

  6. Mr. Evil on April 5, 2007

    Oh well.. welcome to the commercial world :D Hope u don’t end up wanting to kill ur coleagues sooner of later :D lol :) Enjoy! n have a great weekend!

  7. Anonymous on June 10, 2007

    So, this is isankya Kodituwakku…hmmm, you look nice by the way…i’m, by the by, not “anonymous”…me vihanga Perera… ;)

  8. Manshark on June 10, 2007

    Anon/ Vihanga: heya..sorry about the delay..I don’t use blogger anymore..

    Not sure what you meant in your comment :) but yea, the PIC is Isankya, but me (manshark) is not Isankya..but I can pass on the compliment when I talk to her next :)

    Btw, congrats on making the 2006 shortlist!

  9. vihanga on July 18, 2007

    Yeah yeah manshark…me know dat ur not isankya…thanks for volunterring to pass the compliment…btw, try read the book (my one). It myt be a crisis, but myt not still drive you bananas.. :) TC

  10. manshark on July 18, 2007

    oh :s I get a funny feeling someone’s seen thru manshark :( Oh well..you can hide only so long!

    I already have your book..just HAD to buy it in case it sold out too fast! :D I just haven’t had the time to read it yet..but will get to it soon enough.. :)


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