Galle Literary Festival – Intimate Encounters at the Galle Fort

Galle Fort is one of the most uplifting cultural experiences that Sri Lanka can offer. Hours can be spent exploring the maze of narrow streets lined with Dutch and British period buildings still in use, the sturdy ramparts looking out to sea, the growing collection of art galleries, antique shops and restaurants. There are some fine beaches just outside of the Fort including Wijeya, Unawatuna, Mirissa and Hikkaduwa.

Looking back at Galle`s past, the Portuguese captured it from the Sinhala kings in 1587, only to succumb to the Dutch in 1640. The Dutch considerably enhanced the Portuguese fortifications. The British continued to use Galle as Ceylon's chief port, until Colombo superseded it, around 1880. When the British moved from Galle Fort to Colombo, the Muslim community began to establish a presence there.

A combination of historical & architectural significance had led Galle Fort to be declared a World Heritage Site. Galle is also the site of a literary festival, the Galle Literary Festival, for the third consecutive time. The festival brings together a cross-section of some of the best creative talents from the world to the historic city of Galle.

The Galle Literary Festival took place in and around the World Heritage Site of Galle Fort from 28th January 2009 to 1st February 2009. It featured book reviews, film evenings, literary launches and poetry critiques and a host of other exciting events.

International and local authors, dramatists, poets, historians and architects from around the country flocked to the coastal town of Galle in Southern Sri Lanka. Thomas Keneally, Germaine Greer, Pico Tyer, Edna O`Obrien, Romesh Gunesekera,  V.V.Ganeshananthan, MJ Akbar, Giles Milton, Moses Tsegawa, Michael Morpurgo are only some of the literary names which participated this year.

Mr. Geoffrey Dobbs is the Founder of the Galle Literary Festival, interview

Q: Author Alexander McCall Smith said of 2008 Galle festival that there was something very special about the atmosphere. What makes the Galle festival so special?
Geoffrey Dobbs: I think the location inside the world heritage site of Galle, the intimacy of the sessions, the interaction between writer and festival goes makes the festival unlike any other.

Q: You are the festival founder, how it all begun, what was the idea, and purpose?
Geoffrey Dobbs:  It begun by organizing a book fair at Foyles Bookshop in London for the Sri Lankan Government in 2006. The purpose of this fair was to promote Sri Lankan writers.

On returning to Sri Lanka I decided on a whim to start a literary festival in Galle. The purpose of this was also to promote Sri Lankan writings in English by putting them on the same level as international writers.

Also I wanted to promote Galle and the southern province as a very vibrant place to visit.

Q: Are you pleased the way matters are developing, what is your story, how are you connected to Galle?
Geoffrey Dobbs: Yes, am very pleased with the way the festival has developed in the last 3 years. It was my goal to be the best festival in South Asia within 5 years.

After the first festival Harpers magazine in England named us the "Best Literary Festival in the World".

I have been living in Galle area for 14 years. I have some small hotels and a charity dedicated to improving the lives of people in the Southern province.

Q: What does it take to organize a literary festival on such scale?
Geoffrey Dobbs: Foolhardiness and enthusiasm!

Q: Harper Bazaar calls is the No. 1 literary festival in the world. What is the magic formula behind?
Geoffrey Dobbs: Originality, unpretentiousness, location, choice of authors and programme content.

Q: Tell us something about Galle, the environment in which the festival takes place and the place itself…?
Geoffrey Dobbs:  Galle has been a melting pot for different cultures for hundreds of years. Its laid back charm and atmosphere provided the prefect for a festival such as ours.

Q: Which exciting discussion took place, panels, authors who took center stage and some of the heated discussions…
Geoffrey Dobbs: All sessions were special in their own way. It was exciting this year to have a writer from Africa, Edna O`Brien mesmerized visitors with her views on Ireland. Geraine Greer showed her humane side, young poets recited their own poems, festival writers talked about their favorite dead writers.
 
Q: Who actually can participate in Galle Literary Festival?
Geoffrey Dobbs: Participants have to be invited but there is no strict criteria for issuing an invitation.

Thank you!

Testimony:
"I think it was one of the best literary festivals I have ever been to. There was something very special about the atmosphere which made it stand out from the run of these things - a friendly feeling and an enjoyable programme both worked with one another beautifully". 
Alexander McCall Smith of 2008 Galle Festival

Galle Literary Festival
Home Page of Galle Literary Festival