The Colombo Literary Festival 2026, Sri Lanka's first international literary festival dedicated to providing equal prominence to Sinhala, Tamil, and English, was officially inaugurated yesterday (July 24) at the Arcade Independence Square in Colombo.
The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, renowned Indian politician and author Dr. Shashi Tharoor, and Mayor of Colombo Vraîe Cally Balthazaar. The event was also attended by Festival Director Pradeep Samaranayake of Expographic Bookshop, members of the organising committee, distinguished guests, authors, publishers, and literary enthusiasts.
Organised by Colombo Literary Festival (Pvt) Ltd, the six-day festival is presented in collaboration with five of Sri Lanka's leading publishing houses. The event will run daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from July 24 to July 29 at the Arcade Independence Square premises.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa described the festival as a landmark initiative that could play a significant role in shaping the country's cultural future. He noted that, at a time when nations around the world are strengthening their identities through various fields, literature remains one of the most powerful means of preserving and promoting national identity. He praised the festival's commitment to embracing all three national languages equally and expressed confidence that it would provide a vibrant platform for readers, writers, students, researchers, and literary enthusiasts of all ages.
As Sri Lanka's first international trilingual literary festival, the event brings together local and international authors, poets, academics, critics, filmmakers, artists, and readers, fostering dialogue and cultural exchange across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
The festival programme features a wide range of activities, including literary discussions, book launches, creative workshops, film screenings, cultural performances, musical presentations, and book exhibitions. The organisers have designed the event to welcome audiences of all age groups, making literature more accessible while encouraging meaningful engagement with the arts.
According to the organisers, the vision of the Colombo Literary Festival 2026 extends beyond that of a conventional book fair. The festival aims to unite Sri Lanka's literary community under one roof, provide equal recognition to Sinhala, Tamil, and English literature, and elevate Sri Lankan literary culture onto the international stage.
The organising committee includes representatives from some of Sri Lanka's leading publishing and creative institutions, including Janaka Inimankada (Vidarshana Publishers), Chandu Haputhanthri and Amendra Gunawardena Haputhanthri (Sarasavi Publishers), Dinushi Weeraman Abeywickrama (Samayawardana Publishers), Anoma Rajakaruna (Agenda 14 – Film Festival Coordinator), Darshana Ralapanawa (Darshana Marketing), and Riseli Weerasekara, Assistant Festival Manager.
