H. A. I. Goonetileke Prize

The H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize for Literary Translation is a bi-annual literary prize in Sri Lanka. It is awarded by the Gratiaen Trust, which also awards the Gratiaen Prize, for the translation of Sinhala or Tamil language creative writing into English.[1] It was established in 2003.

Michael Ondaatje, who initiated the Gratiaen Prize, had also wanted to promote Sri Lankan writing in the local languages to an international audience. He had also hoped it would foster cross-cultural understanding amongst the various ethnic groups within the country.[2]

The prize is named after his friend Henry Alfred Ian Goonetileke, the first chairperson of the Gratiaen Prize, former Director of the University of Peradeniya library, and bibliographer.

The award is open to Sri Lankan authors who are resident in the country. In 2019, the monetary award was Rs 200,000.[3]

  1. ^ Jayasuriya, Maryse; Halpé, Aparna (2012). "Contestation, Marginality, and (Trans)nationalism: Considering Sri Lankan Anglophone Literature". South Asian Review. 33 (3): 19. doi:10.1080/02759527.2012.11932893.
  2. ^ "H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize for Literary Translation". The Gratiaen Trust.
  3. ^ "H. A. I. G. Goonetileke Prize for Translation 2018" (Press release). Sunday Observer. 9 June 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2022.