Much has been written on the standards of judging the entries submitted for the Gratian Literary award in recent times. But what motivated me to make a few observations on this is the excellent critique made by Dr. Chandrika Jayasinghe (The Island, SatMag 9/5) of the Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya. What surprised me was that it had not originated from a professor of English of the Faculty of Arts. The role that this award plays to encourage English creative writing, I guess none would disagree, should rightfully be the concern of those engaged in the teaching of English in the Universities & Schools.

I believe this prestigious prize was created by Michael Ondaatje firstly to perpetuate the memory of Noel Gratian a distinguished judge and sportsman who adorned Sri Lanka’s public life in the 20th century and perhaps more importantly to encourage Sri Lankans to write good English. Michael Ondaatje, with his roots in Sri Lanka, who moved in English speaking circles, realized that the English speaking public of Sri Lanka had the potential to produce creative works in good English, The Queen’s English.

What the Gratian judges want to promote as Sri Lankan English ‘to portray Sri Lankan Culture is in fact English that was referred to as pidgin English, certainly not spoken or written by persons who had learnt good English. No teacher of English even in the lower classes would have tolerated, let alone encouraged phrases such as ‘ask and see’, ‘must be knowing, no?’ "Land going to cut in parts and sell’ or ‘Put a party !’

Even today, imagine a child in Grade 4 who had been taught in class and at home to speak pleasing English eg. "‘Excuse me teacher, may I please go to the toilet ?’ changing this request to ‘Aney teacher’ I want to go for a choo! Revolting indeed, to say the least.

If the Gratian judges show open partiality for ‘rotten English’ of this nature, it will only be an invitation to Sri Lankan writers in English ‘to create’ even nonexistent phrases of Sinhala - English pidgin that would amuse less discerning English readers who carry reading scraps to the toilet.

Dr. Chandrika Jayasinghe’s fears whether this will curtail the emergence of good English writers from Sri Lanka who could compete in the world literary fields, as she feels that some creations were purposely over bounded with Sri Lankan English, are indeed justified. The Gratian prize will be not for creative English writing, but for a language called Sri Lankan English.

Michael Ondaatje and brother Christopher are great lovers of Sri Lanka. In their own way they have contributed much to bring fame to their motherland. The former is the winner of the coveted Booker prize. To create another Sri Lankan Booker winner must surely be his dream. For this the Gratian prize must give every encouragement to all writers- young and old to produce pieces of writing in English that can compete in the world literary field.

A matter for consolation is that, to my knowledge, teachers of English at University or School level have not selected Gratian entries as texts or, recommended reading. Nor have the Editors of our English newspapers yet thought of headlines such as "Suspect jumps and runs away from a police kuduwa"!