Heritance Hotels teams up with Galle Literary Festival in strategic partnership

Friday, January 12, 2024

In dedication to safeguarding Sri Lanka’s cultural essence, Heritance Hotels and Resorts, the flagship brand of Aitken Spence Hotels, proudly declares its association with the Galle Literary Festival 2024.

Scheduled from January 25-28, this year’s Galle Literary Festival has evolved into a highly anticipated arts and culture extravaganza in South Asia. Esteemed by international authors and attendees alike, the festival offers a diverse array of talks, workshops, and exhibitions in a historic and intimate setting. Embracing the creative arts, the festival showcases the work of writers, poets, painters, photographers, and cinematographers. Noteworthy UK authors Mary Beard and Sebastian Faulks are set to grace the event.

Heritance Hotels and Resorts’ collaboration manifests as a captivating discussion led by renowned architects Channa Daswatte, Sunela Jayewardene, and Johann Peiris. Integral to the festival’s extensive program, this session delves into the preservation and retelling of Sri Lanka’s cultural histories, fostering a meaningful dialogue resonating with the island’s rich heritage.

This collaborative venture seamlessly aligns with the ethos of Heritance Hotels and Resorts, where the fusion of heritage and inheritance is at the core. By intricately integrating these cultural elements into its architecture, design, and experiences, Heritance Hotels and Resorts actively contributes to upholding Sri Lanka’s identity and origins. The partnership with the Galle Literary Festival serves as a tangible expression of Heritance’s commitment to promoting and celebrating the diverse cultural tapestry of Sri Lanka.

As stewards of renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa’s legacy, Heritance Hotels and Resorts actively engages in the discourse on cultural and architectural preservation. The concept of Tropical Modernism in architecture, often rooted in tropical regions’ cultural histories, finds expression in Bawa’s designs. Drawing inspiration from local traditions, materials, and climate, Bawa’s works, such as Heritance Kandalama, Heritance Ahungalla, and Heritance Ayurveda, marry modernity with cultural context to address practical needs while preserving the tropical environment’s identity.

Expressing her perspective on this strategic collaboration, Stasshani Jayawardena, Jt. Deputy Chairperson, and Jt. Managing Director of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings, remarked, “Against the backdrop of the Galle Literary Festival, this partnership holds profound significance. It underscores Heritance Hotels and Resorts’ unwavering commitment to preserving and aligning with the enduring narrative of our past. Going beyond the confines of hotels, it represents a dedicated effort to intricately weave our past into an inspired future—a shared endeavor to preserve and thoughtfully re-narrate Sri Lanka’s intricate cultural histories.”

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