Tears that were shed by the 14-year-old's classmates when Galle harbour in southern Sri Lanka was attacked by Tamil Tiger rebels last year.
Just a few months later, the site of the battle, the city's historic fort, has been playing host to an incursion of a far gentler sort from 61 writers from all over the world.
In the past two years, as English-speaking India stole a march on them for international employment, Sri Lanka has once again promoted English-medium education although only a small number of its pupils receive it.
Yashodha's essay competition was one of a number of initiatives set up by between the festival and local education authorities to promote English.
Leading Sri Lankan writer Yasmine Gooneratne says the support the festival is providing for new writers is vital. |
