Amid a vibrant Colombo International Book Fair and a growing appetite for authentic stories, Sri Lanka’s English Writers Collective has launched Channels 2026, celebrating emerging and established talent in a nation rediscovering its narrative power.

In a country where stories have long navigated the currents of history, conflict, recovery and reinvention, a new volume of writing has arrived to capture the pulse of the present. Channels 2026, the latest annual anthology from the English Writers Collective of Sri Lanka (EWC), brings together short stories, poetry and essays by both seasoned voices and newcomers. Launched in late September 2026, the collection stands as more than a book – it is a platform, a competition outcome and, as one speaker put it, “infrastructure for courage.”

The EWC, founded more than three decades ago, has long served as a stepping stone for creative writing in English. Through its yearly competition and the resulting Channels anthology, it has steadily nurtured talent across the island, offering publication, feedback and recognition that can shape a writer’s path. Chairperson Keerthi Wijekulasuriya captured the spirit: “The EWC has always championed the power of original storytelling. Our annual competition continues to uncover an incredible depth of raw talent across the island, and we are thrilled to reward these brilliant minds and offer them the wide readership they truly deserve.”

A Rigorous Path From Submission to Print

This year’s edition emerged from a carefully structured process. Judges for prose were Sakuntala Sachithanandan and M.T.L. Ebell; Nelani Goonawardena and Himangi Jayasundere assessed poetry. Submissions underwent blind scoring in the initial phase, with each judge evaluating every entry against agreed criteria. Long-listed writers received constructive feedback aimed at elevating their work before shortlists and winners were finalised. Cash prizes accompanied the top awards, while all winners, shortlisted and long-listed writers found their pieces published in the volume.

Moh Afdhaal took first prize for prose. Sureshika Piyasena claimed the poetry top spot. Joint second in prose went to Venessa Andrea Nugara and Shawn Mark Ramoo; joint third to Maryam Ismath Hussain and Priyanka Holsinger. In poetry, Sukanti Iyne Husain and Michelle Angelina shared second place, with Fathima Bushra Abdul Mannan in third.

Co-editors Pia Hatch and Darika Ellawala described the editorial journey as “challenging and deeply inspiring.” They noted their delight at giving many new writers the chance to see their work in print, while also highlighting the intense peer-review process that EWC members undertook. The result, they said, is “an eclectic tapestry of voices, styles, and themes that reflects the true vitality of contemporary Sri Lankan writing.”

Words that Outlast the Moment

Chief Guest Vivimarie VanderPoorten, the acclaimed poet and Gratiaen Prize winner known for collections such as Nothing Prepares You, delivered a resonant address. She reminded the gathering of the unpredictable power of a single line or poem: “You do not know, right now, which line you wrote, which poem you sent, which brave and slightly terrifying act of putting your private thoughts into a public envelope, is going to be the one that someone remembers twenty years from now. You do not know who is reading. You do not know whose life you are about to change, possibly including your own.”

She framed the EWC and Channels not merely as a magazine or prize-giving occasion, but as something deeper: “what it actually is, is infrastructure for courage… Channels has, for decades, been one of the few spaces where a very young writer and a very established one can appear on facing pages, as equals, because the only qualification for being there is that you wrote something true.”

Her words echo the organisation’s history. Past volumes have captured Sri Lankan authenticity – everyday tensions, social divides, personal reckonings and national moods – often with little fanfare yet lasting impact. Earlier editions have been praised for vivid local voices that feel more immediate than many international anthologies.

A Literary Ecosystem in Full Bloom

The launch coincides with a particularly lively moment for books in Sri Lanka. The 27th Colombo International Book Fair opened at the BMICH in late September 2026, drawing publishers, authors, students and readers for ten days of discovery. Organised by the Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association, the fair features dozens of local and international stalls, launches, workshops and conversations. Channels 2026 itself is available there through Perera Hussein Publishing House, as well as at Vijitha Yapa Bookshop on 5th Lane, The Jam Fruit Tree Publications and Kalaya in Pelawatte.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, speaking at the fair’s opening, highlighted the cultural importance of reading and signalled government attention to VAT on books in the upcoming budget – an issue closely watched by publishers and readers alike. Parallel initiatives, including workshops led by Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka aimed at young writers, underline a broader push to nurture the next generation of storytellers.

Beyond formal competitions and fairs, informal communities are also expanding the conversation. Initiatives such as The Literary Lounge, a Colombo-based reading group that has grown into a wider network connecting readers, writers and creatives, emphasise discussion without the pressure of rigid monthly deadlines. Founder Januli Bandara has spoken of creating spaces where introverted readers and those returning to books can belong, free from trend-driven exhaustion. Such efforts complement the structured platform of Channels by fostering the social side of reading.

Why Platforms like Channels Still Matter

In an era of digital distraction and economic pressure, sustained literary infrastructure remains vital. The EWC’s model – blind judging, feedback for long-listed writers, equal footing for newcomers and veterans, and tangible publication – offers a rare combination of rigour and accessibility. It rewards the “brave and slightly terrifying act” of sharing private thoughts publicly, as VanderPoorten described it.

For emerging writers, appearing in Channels can mark the first serious validation of their craft. For established ones, it provides a continuing conversation with peers and new audiences. For readers, the anthology delivers an unfiltered sampling of contemporary Sri Lankan English writing – its textures, tensions and quiet revelations.

As the volume circulates through bookshops and the fair halls, it joins a larger current. Sri Lanka’s literary life is not confined to prize lists or capital-city events. It lives in the quiet persistence of collectives, the feedback that helps a poem sharpen, the shared pages that place a first-time author beside a veteran, and the readers who discover a line that stays with them.

Channels 2026 does not claim to define the nation’s writing. Instead, it opens another channel – literal and metaphorical – for stories that might otherwise remain private. In doing so, it continues a quiet, determined tradition: giving courage a public page and inviting the country to read what its writers have dared to say.