Kanya D’Almeida wins 2021 C’wealth Short Story Prize

• D’Almeida is the first Sri Lankan to win the overall prize and the second to win for the Asia region

By Tina Edward Gunawardhana   

The Commonwealth Foundation yesterday announced Sri Lankan author Kanya D’Almeida as the overall winner of the 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize.   

 D’Almeida is the first Sri Lankan to win the overall prize and the second to win for the Asia region, which was announced by the Commonwealth Foundation in an online ceremony held last evening.   

In a statement issued by the Commonwealth Foundation, D’Almeida says “Winning the Commonwealth Short Story Prize during this moment of global upheaval feels like a tremendous honour and an equally tremendous responsibility. It makes me question what it means to be a writer in these times, times when the human imagination might offer us our best shot at survival.”   

The online award ceremony featured readings from Zambian author Mubanga Kalimamukwento, Sri Lankan actress Ranmali Pathirana Mirchandani, British actress Lyndsey Marshal, Jamaican author Kei Miller and Australian actress Francesca Savige.