How a vibrant literary community is transforming Sri Lanka’s poetry landscape
Giving a World to Words By Ifham Nizam Sometimes, the most remarkable journeys begin with something as simple as a notebook. For one young schoolgirl, it was a small collection of handwritten verses, filled with emotions, observations and imagination. Years later, those pages would evolve into published poetry, spoken-word performances and a leadership role in […]
A young schoolgirl, Sakina Mohammed, found solace and self-expression in poetry during her formative years. Her handwritten verses evolved into published works and a leadership role in Sri Lanka's burgeoning literary community. Today, as Programme Director of Colombo Poets, she believes poetry offers self-discovery, healing and connection.
Sakina's journey began during her school days when she penned down her feelings and observations in a notebook. Encouraged by a teacher, she compiled her poems and dreamt of publishing her own book. However, life intervened, and she put poetry on hold due to family responsibilities.
After becoming a mother, Sakina struggled with her identity until a friend reminded her of her writing strength. She returned to poetry through a blog and later an Instagram page, where her work gained recognition. The COVID-19 pandemic further boosted her confidence, as she participated in poetry prompts and connected with poets globally.
Sakina's literary pursuits expanded to spoken word poetry, which she found more intimate and emotionally engaging. She became involved with Colombo Poets, a community she helped establish in 2015, after participating in Open Mic sessions. The community, now a trilingual mobile application, hosts events and provides a safe space for writers to express themselves. With over 2,000 users, the platform continues to grow, offering workshops, competitions and other activities to foster creativity.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
