In his Booker Prize acceptance speech, Shehan Karunatilaka addressed Sri Lankans in Sinhalese and Tamil. This is what he said:
Finally for all Sri Lankans, I’d like to say:
(In Sinhala)
I wrote this book for you.
This is a win.
Even at a time when the country has suffered many losses.
I heard we just lost the cricket to Namibia. That’s ok.
This is a win.
I know the people of Sri Lanka are suffering and I don’t have the tools to ease that suffering.
But let’s celebrate this victory.
And let’s lift the T20 cricket world cup. Why not?
(In Tamil)
My dear Sri Lankans
Let’s tell our stories to each other. Let’s never stop telling them.
Thank you.
Sthoothi (Thanks in Sinhala)
Nandri (Thank you in Tamil)
Jawaweva (Victory in Sinhala)
#BookerPrize2022