Stanley Gazemba’s novel, ‘The Stone Hills of Maragoli’, published in the USA as ‘Forbidden Fruit’ (The Mantle, NY) won the Jomo Kenyatta prize for Kenyan Literature in 2003. He is also the author of ‘Khama’ (shortlisted for the Wilbur and Niso Smith Adventure Writing Prize, also published by The Mantle), ‘Ghettoboy’ (shortlisted for the Kwani? Manuscript Prize) and ‘Callused Hands’. His collection of short stories, ‘Dog Meat Samosa’ was recently published by Regal House Publishing of Raleigh, USA. His novel, ‘Footprints in the Sand’ will be published in Sweden in 2022.

Sri Lanka is the birthplace of several multitalented, visionary and unconventional artists. They range from writers to performing artists who have swum across the ring of salty waters and show the world the irresistible might the island nation possesses. They are the magic coins of countries creative economies, the glue of the nation united future, and the ambassadors of Sri Lanka