The H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize for Literary Translation is a bi-annual literary prize in Sri Lanka. It is awarded by the Gratiaen Trust, which also awards the Gratiaen Prize, for the translation of Sinhala or Tamil language creative writing into English.[1] It was established in 2003.
Michael Ondaatje, who initiated the Gratiaen Prize, had also wanted to promote Sri Lankan writing in the local languages to an international audience. He had also hoped it would foster cross-cultural understanding amongst the various ethnic groups within the country.[2]
The prize is named after his friend Henry Alfred Ian Goonetileke, the first chairperson of the Gratiaen Prize, former Director of the University of Peradeniya library, and bibliographer.
The award is open to Sri Lankan authors who are resident in the country. In 2019, the monetary award was Rs 200,000.[3]
Winners
edit| Year | Translator | Original Work | Genre | Judges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - 2022 | Manel Eriyagama[4] | Jewels: An English Translation of Selected Sinhala Short Stories by Contemporary Writers | Short stories | Dr. Prabha Manuratne (chair); Kaushalya Kumarasinghe; Dr. Ponni Arasu |
| 2019 - 2020 | Malinda Seneviratne[5] | The Indelible (Senkottan) by Mahinda Prasad Masimbula | Prose-Poetry | Rohana Seneviratne; Sivasegaram; Kaushalya Fernando |
| 2017 - 2018 | Vini Vitharana[6] | Kav Silumina by Parākramabāhu II, King of Ceylon | Poetry | Prof. Sumathy Sivamohan; Prof. Saumya Liyanage; Charulatha Thewarathanthri; Esther Surenthiraraj |
| 2015 - 2016 | Aditha Dissanayake[7] | Golden Casket (Ran Karanduwa) by Batuwangala Rahula Thero | Novel | Emeritus Prof. K.N.O. Dharmadasa (chair); Dr. Kumudu Kusum Kumara; Madhubashini Dissanayake–Ratnayake |
| 2013 - 2014 | Vijitha Fernando[8] | Time Rebounds (Kala Sarpa) by Keerthi Welisarage | Novel | Dr. Sunil Wijesiriwardena; Prof. Kusuma Karunaratne; Krishantha Fedricks |
| 2010 - 2011 | Malinda Seneviratne[9] | The Hunter In the Wilderness of Sansara (Sansaaraaranyaye Dadayakkaraya) by Simon Nayagaththegama | Novel | Ariyawansa Ranaweera (chair); Sandagomi Coperahewa; Shravika Damunupola Amarasekara[10] |
| 2007 - 2008 | Edmund Jayasuriya[11] | Sedona by Eva Ranaweera | ||
| 2006 | Kumari Goonesekere | The Hour When the Moon Weeps by Liyanage Amarakeerthi | Short Stories | |
| 2005 | Vijita Fernando[12] | The Chameleon (Nandithaya) by Sunethra Rajakarunanayake | Novel |
References
edit- ^ Jayasuriya, Maryse; Halpé, Aparna (2012). "Contestation, Marginality, and (Trans)nationalism: Considering Sri Lankan Anglophone Literature". South Asian Review. 33 (3): 19. doi:10.1080/02759527.2012.11932893.
- ^ "H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize for Literary Translation". The Gratiaen Trust.
- ^ "H. A. I. G. Goonetileke Prize for Translation 2018" (Press release). Sunday Observer. 9 June 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ "Dual winners for Gratiaen prize 2023 - Life Online". www.life.lk. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ^ "The H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize for Literary Translation Jury Report". The Gratiaen Trust. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
- ^ "Gratiaen Prize 2018 and H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize for Translation - News Features | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
- ^ "Charulatha Abeysekara Thewarathanthri wins 2016 Gratiaen Prize, Aditha Dissanayake awarded H.A.I. Go | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ "Vihanga Perera Wins 2014 Gratiaen Prize". Colombo Telegraph. 2015-06-12. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
- ^ "Madhubashini wins 2011 Gratiaen Prize". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
- ^ "The literary buzz for the Gratiaen Prize begins". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ "Gratiaen Prize: Judges stumble on something new in Lankan writing?". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ "Sunday Observer Plus | Sundayobserver.lk - Sri Lanka". archives.sundayobserver.lk. Retrieved 2021-07-07.