Owl and the Pussycat reaches out to aspiring young poets again

Friday, 16 November 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reita and Shane at the January 2018 ELPP Awards evening

One of the highlights in the Galle Literary Festival is what has come to be the much awaited Edward Lear Poetry Competition. Open to all Sri Lankan citizens between 18-30 years of age, this is the third consecutive year it is being held – with amazing prizes to be won!

Entrants must log onto the websitewww.edwardlearprizeforpoetry.comafter1 November, to fill in the entry form. Entries close on 16 December.

Five poems will be shortlisted which will have to be presented in person and read out to the judges the day before the awards ceremony which will be held at the Owl and the Pussycat Hotel in Thalpe.Winners will be selected on their creative writing and delivery of their respective poems. On the day of the awards ceremony, (date to be notified in due course) the finalists have to be present and be able to read their poems once again to the judges and audience.

Judging will take place between 20 December and 10 January 2019. An eminent panel of judges has been nominated; all of who are looking forward to receiving some creative writing – criteria being it should follow in the vein of Edward Lear’s ‘Nonsensical Poems’ implying a feeling of lightness and optimism.“This event is held purely with the intention of promoting poetry and literature among the youngsters in the country,” says Chairperson Shane Thantirimudalige thereby encouraging aspiring writers island-wide to participate.

Prizes are as follows: 1st Prize – Rs. 250,000, 2nd Prize – 150,000 and the 3rd Prize is Rs. 75,000.

It is time then for all you creative writers to put pen and thoughts to paper and submit your entries at your earliest. The Management of Owl and the Pussycat extends their best wishes once again to all participants.Owl and the Pussycat – named after Edward Lear’s 1871 poem – is tucked away from the busy main road in a location that sits close enough to the ocean with breathtaking sights!The only sounds that can be heard are the birdsong, the tranquil crashing off the waves and watching the stilt fishermen patiently waiting for their catch.