A Festival Pass gives you access to all events in the Hall de Galle and the Maritime Museum throughout the Festival. Check How To Buy Tickets page for more information.

A Day Pass gives you access to all events in the Hall de Galle and the Maritime Museum on Friday 29 January. Check How To Buy Tickets page for more information.

Michelle de Kretser, Ru Freeman, Gillian Slovo, Lal Medawattegedera and David Blacker discuss which stories they have chosen to tell about Sri Lanka and why. FREE EVENT

Sandhya Rao speaks to you about writing your own children's books and introduces you to the dynamic Chennai-based publishing house, Tulika Books.

Rana Dasgupta, Shyam Selvadurai, Diran Adebayo and Antonia Michaelis, tell us why they keep returning to ancient forms of storytelling.

Jackie Kay’s first collection of poetry was about her own adoption, in Scotland. In THE MOON IN THE WATER, Ameena Hussein imagines an adoption on the other side of the world. The writers compare notes.

Over lunch, Peter Kuruvita, signature chef of the Galle Literary Festival, presents SERENDIP, his new book on Sri Lankan cooking.

Ismeth Raheem has spent two years visiting the lighthouses around Sri Lanka and trying to uncover their hidden histories. Today he combines his findings in architecture and literature. FREE EVENT.

For a year Louise Doughty ran a newspaper column intended to dispel myths about writing and get you moving on your novel. Let her do it for you now. Moderated by Sunila Galappatti

Gillian Slovo grew up in the South Africa of Apartheid, with parents who gave their lives to the struggle against it. Here she reads from her memoir and tells us about her life.

Lal Medawattegedera leads a writing workshop for young adults. (Open to all between 15-25).

Mohammed Hanif’s explosive debut novel is a fictional reconstruction of the planecrash that killed Pakistani President Zia ul Haq. Sarnath Banerjee asks him how he made the bridge from fact to fiction.

When it began, TIMOTHY MCSWEENEY'S QUARTERLY CONCERN was edited in San Francisco and printed in Iceland. Angela Petrella and Mac Barnett tell the story of an unusual publishing house.

Wendy Cope is perhaps the most popular poet in Britain. But it’s not all cups of cocoa; come and hear what she has to say.

The writers of KEERTHIHAN'S KITE spent two years getting it right. Hear about the genesis of one of Sri Lanka’s first trilingual picture books, and learn some Sinhala and Tamil while you’re at it. Followed by kite-flying on the ramparts. FREE EVENT.

Let’s go fly a kite! Kites and kite-makers will be on hand. FREE EVENT.

Ashley de Vos, architect and heritage conservationist, tells us about his work on preserving Galle Fort.

Ashok Ferrey reads from his long awaited new book, and very first novel, SERENDIPITY! FREE EVENT.

The celebrated Ravibandu Vidyapathi Drum Ensemble bring the Festival evening to life with a special performance. Limited seats available for those who need them, standing room open to everyone! FREE EVENT.

Join Antony Beevor and Artemis Cooper for a private dinner party as they tell stories from PARIS AFTER THE LIBERATION.

Have dinner with Mohammed Hanif by the sea. A private party with no mangoes on the menu!

Join a celebration of the poet Robert Burns in the traditional way, with toasts to the haggis and singing to follow! Organised by the Caledonian Society of Sri Lanka.