Orhan Pamuk, Kiran Desai pull out of Sri Lanka literary festival
By ANISaturday, January 22, 2011
LONDON - Prize-winning novelists Orhan Pamuk and Kiran Desai have both pulled out of Sri Lanka’s main literary festival.
Pamuk, 58, and Desai, 39, are currently at the Jaipur Literature Festival in India, and the couple was due to go on to Galle, in southern Sri Lanka, for the event next week.
The Galle Literary Festival says they are now unable to attend because of Indian re-entry visa regulations.
Organisers say they were unable to resolve difficulties with India over the tourist visa restrictions, under which Pamuk would be unable to re-enter the country within two months.
A statement by the festival quoted emails from the couple reflecting their regret.
“I am very sorry for and frustrated about this decision… I looked forward to seeing the beauties of Sri Lanka very much,” the BBC quoted the Turkish author as having written.
Desai’s missive apparently said: “Nobody could be sadder than me. I love Sri Lanka and had a super time the last time I was in Galle.” (ANI)
