Calling applications for Vidarshana Literary Prize 

The latest literary appreciation added to the Sri Lankan literary process from 2024 is the Vidarshana Literary Prize. 
The Literary Price awards the best manuscript that hasn’t yet been published as a book. 
The winner of each category will be offered Rs. 150,000 with the Vidarshana Literary Prize plaque and Rs. 50,000 each with a special plaque for shortlisted work.
The doors were open to writers to submit their unpublished literary works for the Vidarshana Literary Prize from January 12 with entries closing on May 15 (2024).

 A writer can apply for any or all of the categories which are: Sinhala Novel, Sinhala Short Story Competitions, Sinhala Poetry Collections and Translations into English from Sinhala (This specifies a novel, a collection of short stories or an anthology of poetry previously published in Sinhala). 

Only one manuscript can be submitted per category per author.
The conditions for application are that only previously unpublished work will be accepted, the manuscripts should be typed in FM Abhaya font 12 size or Iskoola Pota font style for Sinhala and Times New Roman font 11 with 1.5 space in between the lines.

 In the English medium category the manuscript should not be less than 49 pages, hard copies should be printed single sided on A4 size paper, there should be no mention of the author in the manuscript and translations, the permission letter from the original author or the copyright holder should accompany the manuscript and the copy of the original work should be submitted.

The application form can be received by sending a Whatsapp message to 0701004283. A PDF of the manuscript should be sent to vidarshanalitprize@gmail.com 
An application form should be sent via post. Hard copies of the manuscript must be sent along with the application form via post to Vidarshana Literary Prize, 33, Temple Road, Kalubowila, Dehiwala.

The winning manuscript will be chosen by a panel comprising qualified evaluators after being subject to a transparent evaluation process. Each evaluating panel will consist of three members with only three manuscripts being shortlisted for each category from which the final winner will be chosen. Details of the author will only be disclosed to the evaluators after the winner has been named. The shortlist of each category will be announced in the third week of August 2024 while the Vidarshana Prize will be awarded to the winners on September 1, 2024.  
The main aim in introducing the prize is to promote reading in the country by bringing the manuscripts from the stage of printing to a printed stage and create a wider social interest towards creative work of writers. It is also an attempt to nurture the growth of publishing in Sri Lanka.