Banana Tree Crisis WINS the Gratiaen!!

Last Saturday, at a ceremony held in Colombo, Isankya Kodithuwakku was awarded the 2006 Gratiaen Prize for her debut collection of short stories, The Banana Tree Crisis. This year's prize was jointly awarded to Isankya and Senake Abeysinghe.

The Banana Tree Crisis, when it was shortlisted a couple of weeks ago, was described by the judges as "…neither patronising nor self absorbed, unpretentious yet poetic and very simply, compelling and beautiful". The shortlist was Isankya, Senake, Ashok Ferrey (for Good Little Ceylonese Girl), Rita Perera (Coalescing with Omega) and Vihanga Perera.

The Sunday Times Article - 01 April 01 2007

The Nation Article - 25 March 2007