participants
ADRIAN LUKIS
Adrian Lukis is an accomplished English actor, perhaps best known for playing Mr Wickham, in the 1995 BBC series ‘Pride and Prejudice’.
ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH
Alexander McCall Smith is an Emeritus Professor of Medical Ethics at the University of Edinburgh, and a prolific author of fiction best known for ‘The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’ Series.
AMIT CHAUDHURI
Amit Chaudhuri is a novelist, literary critic and music composer, his most recent novel is ‘Friend of My Youth’
ANURA GUNASEKERA
Anura Gunasekera is an accomplished planter with over fifty years of experience in Sri Lanka’s tea industry, a writer and, as he refers to himself , “an infrequent journalist”.
ANGUS LEENDERTZ
Angus Leendertz is a South African-Australian anti-apartheid activist, interior design architect and the curator ‘Memories of the Struggle – Australians against Apartheid’ at the Museum of Australian Democracy in Canberra.
ASHOK FERREY
Ashok Ferrey is a Sri Lankan writer of several best-selling works His novel ‘The Ceaseless Chatter of Demons’ is long listed for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature.
BACHI KARKARIA
Bachi Karkaria is an Indian-Parsi journalist and former Editor of the Times of India. She has written a biography of the founder of Oberoi hotels, and her new book is ‘In Hot Blood’ about the infamous Nanavati murder case of 1959.
BRANDON INGRAM
Brandon Ingram is an actor, lyricist, novelist, storyteller, inspirational speaker, creative strategist and shameless romantic who is the Founder of Brand On Thinking.
BRUCE WANNELL
Bruce Wannell is an independent scholar, linguist and travel writer who specializes on Persian and Arab culture. His works include ‘Sufism: Mystical Writings of Islam’.
CALVYN GILFELLAN
Calvyn Gilfellan is a former anti-apartheid activist, writer, curator and CEO of The Castle Control Board, responsible for the preservation and promotion of the Castle of Good Hope.
CARLOS ANDRÉS GÓMEZ
Carlos Andrés Gómez is an award-winning poet, actor, speaker and the author of ‘Man Up: Reimagining Modern Manhood’.
CHARLES ALLEN
Charles Allen is a writer and historian who prolific works focus on the British Raj. He has published over 25 books which include ‘Kipling Sahib: India and the making of Rudyard Kipling’ and ‘Ashoka: the Search for India’s Lost Emperor’.
CAROLINE LANGRISHE
Caroline Langrishe is a very popular English actress probably best known for her roles as Charlotte Cavendish in the BBC series Lovejoy, Georgina Channing in Judge John Deed and Marilyn Fox in Casualty.
CHARULATHA ABEYSEKARA
Charulatha Abeysekara is a Sri Lankan author whose novel ‘Stories’ won the 2016 Gratiaen Prize for Creative Writing.
CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF COLOMBO
The Ensemble of the Chamber Music Society of Colombo is the region’s newest platform for exciting new interpretations of the classics.
CHEF CHARLES DISA
Multi Award Winning Chef Charles Disa is the Owner/Chef of Boutique Catering Company One World One Kitchen in New York. His clientele include several well known NY VIPs and celebrities.
CHHIMI TENDUF-LA
Chhimi Moir Tenduf-La is a half English, half Tibetan writer and teacher whose latest novel is ‘Loyal Stalkers’, a collection of 15 interconnected stories set in Sri Lanka.
CHANNA DASWATTE
Channa Daswatte is one of Sri Lanka’s leading architects who was personal assistant to Geoffrey Bawa and co-author of ‘Sri Lanka Style -Tropical Design and Architecture’.
CHIRKUTT
Chirkutt is the Internationally acclaimed Bangladeshi fusion band who are known for their unique, energetic live performances and powerful lyrics of love, peace and aspirations.
CHRIS HANLEY
Chris Hanley OAM is the founder of one of the world’s most iconic literary festivals, The Byron Bay Writers Festival. He will be moderating several events at FGLF2018
DAME MAGGIE SMITH
Dame Maggie Smith is an acclaimed award winning actress who has experienced a varied career on stage, film and television spanning over sixty-six years. She has appeared in over 50 films and is one of Britain’s most recognisable actresses.
DAVID DABYDEEN
David Dabydeen is a Guyanese-born broadcaster, novelist, poet and academic. His works include ‘Slave Song’, ‘Turner: New and Selected Poems’ and ‘The Oxford Companion to Black British History’.
DESHAN TENNEKOON
Deshan Tennekoon is an artist, photographer, book designer, comic and storybook writer who also specializes in taking strenuous naps.
DILLIE KEANE
Dillie Keane is an Olivier and Eddie Award-nominated actress, singer and comedian, part of the popular cabaret comedy trio ‘Fascinating Aida’.
EMILY DOBBS
Emily Dobbs was the first British chef to popularise Sri Lankan food in London, through her cool and quirky pop-up stall in Druid Street Market. Her new book is entitled ‘Weligama: Recipes from Sri Lanka’.
FIRI RAHMAN
Firi Rahman is an artist whose work pairs research and advocacy to explore themes of extinction and its relationship to anthropocentrism.
GANANATH OBEYESEKERE
Gananath Obeyesekere is an Emeritus Professor of Anthropology whose latest book is ‘The Doomed King: A Requiem for Sri Vikrama Rajasinha’, about the last Kandyan King
GAYATHRI WARNASURIYA
Dr. Gayathri Warnasuriya is a Sri Lankan Molecular Biologist with a background in Cancer Research and work experience in HIV/Public Health. She is also a contributing author to the Jane Austen inspired anthology ‘Austenistan’.
HERMAN GUNARATNE
Herman Gunaratne is an estate owner and a reputed plantation manager with over 50 years of experience. He has written five books – Plantation Raj, For a Sovereign State, Tortured Island, Suicide Club and God’s Secret Agent.
HILALI NOORDEEN
Hilali Noordeen is a highly sought after consultant spinal surgeon and lecturer who has the interesting distinction of being the only living former Sri Lankan President of the Oxford Union; the other two, Lalith Athulathmudali and Lakshman Kadirgamar, were assassinated.
ISMETH RAHEEM
Ismeth Raheem is an acclaimed artist, architect and photographer who worked with Geoffrey Bawa between 1968 – 1976.
IVANA ALKOVICHAS
Ivana Alkovic is a prize winning pianist and musical virtuoso. Together with her husband, Dutch pianist Maarten den Hengst, she formed piano duo Amacord.
JAINA SANGA
Jaina Sanga’s is an Indian novelist and scholar whose works include ‘Silk Fish Opium’ a collection of short stories, ‘Train to Bombay’, and a novella, ‘Tourist Season’. She is working on her fourth book, a detective novel set in India
JEHAN ALOYSIUS
Jehan Aloysius is a full-time theatre practitioner as well as a visiting lecturer at the University of Visual and Performing Arts. He is the founder of CentreStage Productions, an amateur theatre troupe which produces original theatre in Sri Lanka.
JUSTICE SHIRANEE TILAKAWARDANE
Justice Shiranee Tilakawardane is a Supreme Court Judge and arbitrator. She became the first Woman State Counsel to the Attorney General and the first appointed woman High Court Judge in Sri Lanka.
JUSTINE PICARDIE
Justine Picardie is a British novelist, fashion writer and biographer. She is the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar UK and Town & Country UK. Her 2010 biography of Coco Chanel was shortlisted for the Galaxy National Book Awards.
KATHARINE NORBURY
Katharine Norbury is a script-editor, contributor to the guardian and author of the critically acclaimed ‘The Fish Ladder: a Journey Upstream’, which is now being developed into a feature film.
KIMAYA DE SILVA
Kimaya is a writer, researcher, actress, and a graduate in Anthropology and Psychology whose work focuses primarily on the intersections of gender, youth, health, and labour.
KIRYL RUDY
Dr. Kiryl Rudy was formerly Economic Advisor to the President of the Republic of Belarus and has written extensively in economic journals, magazines, newspapers and is the author of the bestselling book ‘Financial Diet: State Capitalism Reforms’.
KUSHANAVA CHOUDHURY
Kaushanava Choudhury is an Indian American reporter and writer his first book is ‘The Epic City: The World on the Streets in Calcutta’.
Kaushanava Choudhury is an Indian American reporter and writer his first book is ‘The Epic City: The World on the Streets in Calcutta’.
LAALEEN SUKHERA
Laaleen Sukhera is a Pakistani journalist whose latest project is ‘Austenistan’, a Jane Austen inspired anthology set in Pakistani society,
LARRY T. HILL
Larry T. Hill is a Live Vocal Looper who records layer upon layer of his voice live on stage, creating elaborate soundscapes and musical tracks which you might expect to hear from a small band.
LAURENCE BOISSIER
Laurence Boissier is a Swiss author and spoken word artist. Her book ‘Inventaire des lieux’ was awarded the 2017 Swiss prize for literature.
LORD DAVID PUTTNAM
Lord David Puttnam is a film producer and educator whose movies including ‘Chariots of Fire’, ‘The Killing Fields’, ‘Midnight Express’ and ‘The Mission’ have won ten Oscars, 25 Baftas and the Palm D’Or at Cannes.
LOUIS DE BERNIÈRES
Louis de Bernières is an award winning British writer who is internationally know for his novel ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’.
MAARTEN DEN HENGST
Maarten den Hengst is a sought after prize winning pianist who with his wife, Ivana Alkovic, make up the piano duo Amacord.
MALCOLM GUITE
Poet-Priest and ‘Rocking Rev’ Malcolm Guite, is Chaplain of Girton College, Cambridge and the author of eight books which includes ‘Mariner, a spiritual biography of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’.
MARIE-CAROLINE SENLIS
Marie-Caroline Senlis is a French photographer and artist, living in Colombo who explores surrealism in black and white.
MAYLIS DE KERANGAL
Maylis de Kerangal is a French author, whose first novel, ‘Birth of a Bridge’ was awarded the Prix Médicis and the Premio Gregor von Rezzori.
MICHAEL KUMPFMÜLLER
Michael Kumpfmüller is a celebrated German author and freelance writer whose bestselling novel ‘The Glory of Life’ has been translated into 25 languages and won numerous awards.
MICHAEL ROC THOMAS
Michael Roc Thomas is a photographer, children’s poet, lyricist and musician who lives in Sri Lanka. His poetry, verse and song lyrics have entertained and inspired ‘children’ of all ages.
MIKA TENNEKOON
Mika Tennekoon is a Sri Lankan artist, photographer and illustrator whose work explores such themes as our relationship with nature and the environment, our connection to the divine feminine, and the unseen.
MINOLI RATNAYAKE
Minoli Ratnayake is a trailblazer in the industry of media and journalism, editor of five magazines, Adoh!, Confetti, Homes & Property and Cars & Gadgets. She also hosted two television programmes, Power Women and Home Gourmet.
MRS. S. F. CADER
Mrs. S. F. Cader belongs to the 4th generation of a family that has lived in the Galle Fort for more than 150 years. She has been conducting the ‘Walking Tour of Galle Fort’ since 2010.
NALIN RANASINGHE
Professor Nalin Ranasinghe’s primary area of expertise is Greek philosophy. He has authored a Socratic trilogy: ‘The Soul of Socrates’, ‘Socrates in the Underworld’ and ‘Socrates and the Gods’.
NAYOMI MUNAWEERA
Nayomi Munaweera is an award winning Sri Lankan-American writer, whose books include ‘Island of a Thousand Mirrors’ and ‘What Lies Between Us’.
NIRUPAMA MENON RAO
Nirupama Menon Rao is the former Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and ambassador of India to People’s Republic of China. Her book is entitled ‘The Politics of History, India and China, 1949 to 1962’.
NISID HAJARI
Nisid Hajari is an award winning Indian-American writer, editor and foreign affairs analyst . His best selling book, ‘Midnight’s Furies: The Deadly Legacy of India’s Partition’, was the 21st book to be awarded Colby Award in 2016.
NITI SAMPAT-PATEL
Niti Sampat-Patel is a scholar, editor and author of several books including the 2017 fictional novel “Moon Goddess”.
OHAN HOMINIS
Ohan Hominis is a poet, performer, and community organizer from New York City. A collection of his poems, Scattered Allegories, was released by Unsolicited Press in 2016.
PANKAJ MISHRA
Pankaj Mishra is an acclaimed Indian essayist, novelist and historian based in the UK. He received the 2014 Windham-Campbell Prize for non-fiction in recognition of his far-reaching work and his latest book is ‘Age of Anger: A History of the Present’.
RICHARD FLANAGAN
Richard Flanagan is a writer from Tasmania who has been appraised as ‘the finest Australian novelist of his generation’. His new book is titled ‘First Person’
SALLYANNE ATKINSON
Sallyanne Atkinson is a politician, speaker, mentor and author whose book ‘No Job for a Woman’, tells her inspiring story from wartime childhood in Sri Lanka to becoming become the first female Lord Mayor of Brisbane.
SANDRA JENSEN
Sandra Jensen is an award winning fiction writer who has published more than 40 short story and flash publications in literary journals around the world. Her recently completed work, ‘Ten Virtuous Acts’ is set in Sri Lanka during the early years of the civil war.
SEBASTIAN FAULKS
Sebastian Faulks, CBE, is a British journalist and broadcaster best-selling novelist of books such as ‘Birdsong’, ‘Devil May Care’ and ‘Jeeves and the Wedding Bells’.
SEEMA OMAR
Seema Omar is a counsellor, who works with children, young adults, parents, teachers and caregivers using the creative modalities of art, clay, drama, sand tray, music, play and storytelling.
SERENDIP STRINGS
Serendip Strings is a non-profit organisation located in Galle that provides a creative outlet for all Sri Lankan children offering string instruments and music lessons in classical Eastern and Western styles in a fun, friendly and nurturing environment.
SHANKARI CHANDRAN
Shankari Chandran is thriller writer and a lawyer whose first novel was ‘Song of the Sun God’.
SHIMALI PERERA
Shimali Perera is an Art Psychotherapist whose experience is with adults who have misused substances, those experiencing depression, anxiety disorders and children who have experienced trauma and grief.
SHIROMI PINTO
Shiromi Pinto is the author of “Trussed” published in 2006 to rave reviews. Her forthcoming second novel, “Plastic Emotions”, is inspired by the life of Minnette de Silva, Sri Lanka’s first modernist architect.
SHRABANI BASU
Shrabani Basu is an Indian author and journalist who is known for her book ‘Victoria and Abdul: The True Story of the Queen’s Closest Confidant’.
SIDDHARTH DASGUPTA
Siddharth Dasgupta is an acclaimed Indian poet, writer and novelist, whose latest book is a collection of short-stories entitled ‘The Sacred Sorrow of Sparrows’.
SONNET MONDAL
Sonnet Mondal is an Indian author and poet. He has published four books of poetry of which his latest is ‘Ink and Line’.
SOFIE KNIJFF
Sofie Knijff is a Dutch-Belgian photographer based in Amsterdam, who mixes documentary techniques with staged settings to create dreamlike images in which the real and fictional become difficult to distinguish.
SOUL SOUNDS
Soul Sounds is Sri Lanka’s premier female ensemble ranked with some of the most renowned choirs in the world, directed by Soundarie David Rodrigo.
SUNELA JAYEWARDENE
Sunela Jayewardene is recognized as ‘Sri Lanka’s leading environmental architect’. Her projects include projects include Jetwing Vil Uyana, Colombo Courtyard, and Jetwing Kaduruketha. She is the author of The Line of Lanka”, ‘Myths and Memories of an Island’.
TAHIRA PERVEEN SHERIFF
Tahira Perveen Sheriff is the author of children’s book “Mariah – The Little Wanderer” which is set in Colombo. The book reminds children to believe that no matter how small they may be they could go out to the world and make it better.
TEHANI CHITTY
Tehani Chitty is an actor and drama-therapist who has worked with the Mind Adventures Theatre Company for 10 years. In her therapeutic practice she works with children with behavioural difficulties and at-risk youth.
THE GALLE FORT LADIES
The Galle Fort Ladies’ charitable organization helps poor young women and widows earn a living and assists in the aid of sick and elderly women.
TRACY HOLSINGER
Tracy Holsinger is a theatre director, radio presenter dramatic arts educator and vice principal of the Wendy Whatmore Academy of Speech and Drama, whose critically acclaimed theatre work focuses on socio-political issues of special relevance to Sri Lanka.
UTE KRAUSE
Ute Krause is the award winning illustrator and author of more than sixty children s books published in Germany and throughout the world.
UZMAN ANVER
Uzman Anver is a final year law student, who is a hobbyist historian of the Fort since childhood. Uzman’s family has lived in the Galle Fort for at least 8 generations.
VIVIEMARIE VANDERPOORTEN
Viviemarie Vanderpoorten is a Sri Lankan poet whose poetry collection ‘Nothing Prepares You’ won the Gratiaen Prize and the SAARC Poetry Prize.
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