U.S. support for Sri Lanka's literary festival

The United States Embassy in Colombo said today that it has given a grant of $5,000 to bring 30 students and teachers from all over Sri Lanka to the Galle Literary Festival to be held at the end of this week.

The participants come from the University of Ruhuna, Southeastern University, Sabaragamuwa University, and the University of Jaffna.

"They will attend a full schedule of events at the festival, meet both national and international writers, and participate in special teambuilding sessions while in Galle," an Embassy press release said.

"For five years the Galle Literary Festival has brought together writers and readers from all over the world to Sri Lanka for free and open discussions about culture, literature, history, and politics," it said adding that recently, the Festival has expanded its audience by introducing an innovative children's program and other forms of community outreach that enable a wide variety of people with differing perspectives to learn from one another.

"We support these efforts and hope for broad and engaged participation at this year's festival. Events like this one can help bring about fuller freedom of expression in Sri Lanka," the U.S. Embassy said.