Gratiaen Trust in association with John Keells Foundation brings Malaiyaha Tamil writers to the spotlight

The Gratiaen Trust, in partnership with the John Keells Foundation, hosted ‘Writing the Malaiyaha Tamils’, an event which focused on the creativity and critical conversations surrounding Malaiyaha Tamil literature.

Rarely does Malaiyaha literature get highlighted in public literary events in Sri Lanka, and this daylong event, held at the Jaffna Public Library Auditorium on 25th February 2024, filled this gap. The event also took its place amongst the many commemorations held to mark the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Malaiyaha Tamils to the island of Ceylon as indentured workers under British colonial rule. The anniversary fell in 2023.

‘Writing the Malaiyaha Tamils’ served as a platform to delve into the literary and cinematic creativity, experiences, aspirations, and struggles of the Malaiyaha Tamil community in Sri Lanka. Writers from Malaiyaham participated at the daylong event, presenting papers and sharing excerpts from their works.

A poignant dance performance by Dhanarajh, a dancer and instructor at the Jaffna University which depicted the profound experiences of the Malaiyaha Tamil community, captivated the audience.

A highlight of the seminar was a panel discussion focusing on representations of Malaiayaha Tamils in Tamil, Sinhala, and English writings from Sri Lanka, shedding light on diverse perspectives and narratives within the country’s literary landscape. Additionally, attendees had the privilege of experiencing Sivamohan Sumathy’s acclaimed film ‘Ingirunthu’, which offers an insightful portrayal of the Malaiyaha Tamil community through both individual and collective experiences located in colonial and postcolonial times.