Shirani Rajapakse writes poetry and short stories.
She’s the author of eight books, six of which have either won or been placed in awards. These include OFFERINGS TO THE BLUE GOD, winner of the 2024 State Literary Awards, Sri Lanka; SAMSARA – winner 2023 Boao International Poetry Award, China, nominated for the 2023 State Literary Awards, Sri Lanka and shortlisted for the 2022 Gratiaen Award, Sri Lanka; GODS, NUKES AND A WHOLE LOT OF NONSENSE - winner of the 2022 State Literary Awards, Sri Lanka; I EXIST. THEREFORE I AM - winner of the 2019 State Literary Awards, Sri Lanka, shortlisted for the 2019 Rubery Book Awards, UK; CHANT OF A MILLION WOMEN - winner of the 2018 Kindle Book Awards, USA, Official Selection in the 2018 New Apple Summer eBook Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing, USA & Honorable Mention in the 2018 Reader’s Favorite Awards, USA; BREAKING NEWS – shortlisted for the 2010 Gratiaen Award, Sri Lanka; FALLEN LEAVES and THE WAY IT IS.
Rajapakse’s work was highly commended for the 2022 erbacce-prize for poetry, UK. She also won the 2013 Cha “Betrayal” Poetry Contest, Hong Kong, was placed second in the World Food Day Poetry Competition 2024 and was a finalist in the 2013 Anna Davidson Rosenberg Poetry Awards, USA.
Rajapakse’s work appears in many journals and anthologies including Dove Tales, Buddhist Poetry, Litro, Berfrois, Flash Fiction International, Voices Israel, About Place, Mascara, Counterpunch, Silver Birch, International Times, New Verse News, Cultural Weekly, The Write-In, Harbinger Asylum and more.
Her work has been translated into Farsi, Spanish, French, Chinese and Urdu.
Rajapakse read for a BA in English Literature from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka and has a MA in International Relations from JNU, India.
She has interviewed, promoted and reviewed books by indie authors on The Writer's Space.
