* History and social exploration, front runners in the FNLA Shortlist
* 13 novels from the three language categories to contend for the Fairway National Literary Awards
The shortlist for the third Fairway National Literary Awards was announced recently at a gathering well attended by academics, literary enthusiasts and the media.
The judges – all eminent persons in their respective fields - chose a total of 13 novels; five from the Sinhala language category and four each from the Tamil and English language categories.
The shortlisted novels in the English language category are;
Dutugemunu: Prince of Destiny by Rukmani Samaranayake – a retelling of the Mahavamsa by taking a new look at one of Sri Lanka’s iconic historical figures,
Song of the Sun God by Shankari Chandran – a family history set against a backdrop of civil upheaval,
Wrath of Kali: The dark side of God by Mario Perera – an in-depth exploration of the psychotherapy of a nation and religion’s part in a struggle for liberation, and
The Other One by Amanda Jay – an engaging and twisty steampunk influenced science fiction work.
The five shortlisted Sinhala novels:
Handa Paluwa Thani Tharuwa by Nissanka Wijemanna – a look at inter-racial relationships in a society deeply divided by religious and cultural differences,
Yakada Silpara by Wimal Udaya Hapugodaarachchi – a tale of traditional village life in the early 20th century being disrupted by the onset of the railway,
Garunda Muhurthiya by Keerthi Welisarage – an exploration of realistic expression in portraying the changes taking place in rural society as a result of colonialism,
Panduka Puthra Wasthuwa by Anurasiri Hettige – a sensitive and deep analysis of the life patterns of the urban lower middle class and the facet of homosexuality in that milieu, and
Nikini Kaluwara by Deepthi Mangala Rajapaksha – a tale spanning six decades probing political changes and their dark ramifications in Sri Lanka.
The panel of judges for the Tamil language category comprise: V. Maheswaran, Sumathy Sivamohan and M. S. M. Anes.
The four selected novels are:
Thazhumbu by M. Balasingham – a story depicting the disruption of family and social cohesion by displacement during the war,
Kulaimurisal by J. Wahabdeen – an exploration of dynamic class relationships prevalent in the tenant farmer system in the East.
Ethanam by Theniyaan – the tracing of particular moments in the class struggle focusing on the oppressed Dalits, and
Neenthik Kadantha Nerupparu by N. Yohendranathan – recounting the final phase of the civil war.
Each shortlisted novelist will receive a sum of Rs. 100,000 and the winning novelists in the three language categories will each receive Rs. 500,000 at the Fairway Galle Literary Festival to be held in January 2018.