3 February 2024 12:00 am Views - 208
After a five-year hiatus, the 2024 festival showcased a renewed commitment to diversity and inclusion. The star-studded speaker lineup featured twenty-five local authors, including the esteemed Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka, and a dozen diaspora writers. The impressive international contingent of 27 participants included several South Asian novelists, creating a tapestry of global contemporary talent. The stellar cast, numbering 99, comprised nine chefs (including Karan Gokani from Hoppers London), and 24 moderators.
A dynamic schedule of over 180 events unfolded, encompassing talks, panel discussions, and interactive workshops on diverse topics such as the Sri Lankan literary landscape, the female body in the arts, global history on land and water, and engaging the next generation with the natural world. The festival also featured film screenings, an immersive Art Trail, a Children’s Programme, and entertainment areas, making it a comprehensive cultural experience.The grand finale was a cricket match between a Lit Fest XI, which comprised of authors and organizers, and an invitational Galle XI, hosted at the iconic Galle International Cricket Stadium.
Visiting speaker Tom Parker Bowles described the festival as, “magical in every way,” while British-Sri Lanka broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake praised the “breathtaking curation” that made the Literary Festival so inspiring. Historian Peter Frankopan added his accolades, calling the festival a “joy from start to finish.”
A total of 5,392 tickets were issued in 2024, with nearly half of all scheduled events sold out. The festival brought a significant boost to both Galle and Sri Lanka, benefiting suppliers, vendors, transport providers, local hotels, and businesses within Galle Fort. The extensive coverage across social media and international press has once again showcased Sri Lanka as an unparalleled destination for cultural tourism.
Giselle Harding, Festival Director, expressed delight at the overwhelming success, stating, “we firmly believe in the power of the Galle Literary Festival to cement Galle and Sri Lanka as a hub for creative travelers and literary enthusiasts, as well as to inspire and stimulate the growth of a reading culture in Sri Lanka.”
As attention shifts to 2025, the organizers are poised to build on this year's triumphs and invite the global community back to Galle for an even more enriching experience.
About Galle Literary Festival:
Since its inception in 2005, orchestrated by Geoffrey Dobbs, the Galle Literary Festival has evolved into one of the most anticipated arts and culture events in South Asia. Set against the historic backdrop of Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Sri Lanka's southern coast, the Festival celebrates the creative arts, championing the work of writers, poets, painters, photographers, and cinematographers.
