Gratiaen Prize

The Gratiaen Prize is an annual literary prize for the best work of literary writing in English by a resident of Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1992 by the Sri Lankan-born Canadian novelist Michael Ondaatje with the money he received as joint-winner of the Booker Prize for his novel The English Patient. The prize is named after Michael Ondaatje's mother, Doris Gratiaen. Administered by a Trust based in Sri Lanka, the Gratiaen Prize accepts printed books and manuscripts in a range of genres including fiction, poetry, drama, creative prose and literary memoir. Entries can be submitted by both authors and publishers. Submissions are accepted between 1st and 31st December in a given year. These are assessed by a panel of three judges appointed by the Trust who are required to short-list three to five entries. The short-list event (open to the public) is usually held in April and hosted by the British Council, Colombo. The gala at which the winner is announced is held some weeks later at a venue selected by the Trust and the event sponsors and is for invitees only.

Winners

2014

• Vihanga Perera, Love and Protest

2013

• Malinda Seneviratne, Edges

2009

• Prashani Rambukwella, Mythil's Secret

2008

• Shehan Karunatilaka, Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew

2007

• Vivimarie Vanderpoorten, Nothing Prepares You

2006

• Senaka Abeyratne, 3 Star K
• Isankya Kodittuwakku, The Banana Tree Crisis

2005

• Delon Weerasinghe, Thicker Than Blood

2004

• Jagath Kumarasinghe, Kider Chetty Street

2003

• Nihal De Silva, Road from Elephant Pass

2002

• Vijita Fernando, Out of the Darkness

2001

• Elmo Jayawardene, Sam’s Story
• Sumathi Sivamohan, In the Shadow of the Gun/The Wicked Witch

2000

• Ruwanthi De Chickera, Middle of Silence

1999

• Neil Fernandopulle, Shrapnel
• Viskesa Chandrasekaram, Forbidden Area

1998

• Jeanne Thwaites, It’s a Sunny Day on the Moon

1997

• Gamini Akmeemana, The Mirage

1996

• Tissa Abeysekera, Bringing Tony Home

1995

• Sybil Wettasinghe, The Child in Me
• Rajiva Wijesingha, Servants

1994

• Punyakante Wijenaike, Amulet

1993

• Carl Muller, The Jam Fruit Tree
• Lalitha Withanachchi, Wind Blows Over the Hills