Homegrown talent honoured with Gratiaen for homegrown ‘Rumours’

• Just 25 years old and still an undergraduate, he is the youngest recipient of the Gratiaen Prize, according to the Gratiaen Trust

The Gratiaen Prize is an annual literary award presented to the best work of creative writing in English by a Sri Lankan author. It was established in 1992 by Michael Ondaatje, using the prize money he received from winning the Booker Prize for ‘The English Patient’. The prize is administered by the Gratiaen Trust, which is based in Sri Lanka.
The 32nd Gratiaen Prize was awarded to Savin Edirisinghe, who launched his book Kata Katha – Gossips, Rumours and Idle Talk on July 9th at CINEC Campus, Malabe. Just 25 years old and still an undergraduate, he is the youngest recipient of the Gratiaen Prize, according to the Gratiaen Trust.

“English is the closest language to the mother tongue. ‘Kata Katha’ is an inter-language between Sinhala and Tamil”
- Savin Edirisinghe, the 32nd winner of the Gratiaen Prize

A few excerpts from his book were narrated during the launch, particularly lines from the chapter Oedipus Rex on his Honeymoon. This chapter highlights a cultural phenomenon unique to Sri Lankan grooms—bringing their mothers on their honeymoon. As the book puts it, “It was his decision to bring his mother on their honeymoon.” The chapter further explores how mothers often interfere in their children’s lives even during adult years.
The book also incorporates Sinhala names like Vikum and Amma in order to preserve the authenticity and cultural context of Sri Lankan life. One chapter is dedicated “to Rishini with four years of concentrated love,” referring to the author’s romantic partner.
The book showcases the Sri Lankan culture and unique respect styles in Sri Lanka. Edirisinghe discusses how the front and the back row seats are at risk in a bus, as they could be lost at any point during the journey. Sri Lankan socio-cultural theories are brought into the book by Edirisinghe depicting the uniqueness of Sri Lankans. 
During the launch, Nafeesa K. Amiruddeen, Co-chairperson of the Gratiaen Trust, quoted Michael Ondaatje: “Nothing is exciting for us, as to find our own place or our own stories in a book. When that happens, the self is doubled, we are no longer invisible.”
She further stated, “The judges of the Gratiaen Prize were looking for newness and innovation this year, not just in ideas, but in the format, structure, and the voices that they represented,” adding that “the other writers should understand that”—as emphasised by Co-chairperson Nisreen Jafferjee.
The book touches on a variety of themes, such as the consequences of stealing others’ belongings, as well as the judgmental perspectives often encountered on public transport, among others. Edirisinghe explained that the book is not titled Warnings, because readers are more drawn to Kata Katha, as in rumours and gossip. “The readers love ‘Kata Katha’ more than warnings,” he reasoned. The book is based on experiences Edirisinghe gathered after he left home and moved to Colombo to pursue higher education.
“Don’t be scared of language; therefore, you are invincible,” Edirisinghe added. Kata Katha is not his first published book. During the event, he reflected on his mutual relationship with his father, saying, “My father always told me to pass him and go to a length.”
He also shared his thoughts on language: “English is the closest language to the mother tongue. ‘Kata Katha’ is an inter-language between Sinhala and Tamil.” He noted that the title of the book is intentionally misleading. Initially, it was going to be called ‘Keti Katha’ (Short Stories), but it eventually changed to ‘Kata Katha’. 
“Fluency, not accuracy,” emphasised Edirisinghe. He explained that the modern world is obsessed with accuracy, through tools like grammar correctors and AI, but lacks fluency. He noted that while it’s important to correct mistakes, it’s equally important to appreciate the effort and thought behind the expression.
CINEC Campus presented a token of appreciation to Edirisinghe in recognition of his achievement.