The Centre for International Affairs and the German Section of the Department of Modern Languages were honored to host the distinguished German novelist, Ms. Ronya Othmann, known for her best-selling debut novel "Die Sommer” (The Summers), at the university on the 7th of February 2024 in the Boardroom of the Faculty of Humanities.
In a captivating session, Ms. Othmann enthralled the audience with a heartfelt reading from the original German version of her novel, sharing the intricacies of her storytelling and life experiences with both the faculty and students of German. Additionally, she showcased her poetic prowess by presenting some of her poems from her work “Die Verbrechen”.
The audience, consisting of the German Section's faculty and students from all three years of the BA Degree Programme and the BA Honours Programme, was treated to an enriching experience. Senior Professor Neelakshi C. Premawardhena, the Director of the Centre for International Affairs, warmly welcomed the gathering. Mr. Stefan Winkler, the Director of the Goethe Institute, Colombo, had the honor of introducing the author, while Ms. Marie Waarlo, the Librarian of the Goethe Institute, graced the occasion with her presence. Notably, the novel was translated into Sinhala as “Gimhanaye Kathawak” by Ms. Ashani Ranasinghe, Visiting Lecturer in German at the Department of Modern Languages.
The event concluded with an engaging discussion session, where both staff and students had the unique opportunity to delve deeper into Ms. Othmann's literary world, gaining valuable insights and fostering a meaningful exchange of ideas.
The session was a celebration of literature, language, and cultural exchange making this event a memorable experience. The Centre for International Affairs and the German Section of the Department of Modern Languages extend their sincere gratitude to Ms. Ronya Othmann for generously sharing her literary works. Special thanks are also extended to Mr. Stefan Winkler, Director of the Goethe Institute, and Ms. Marie Waarlo, Librarian of the Goethe Institute, for providing this rare and invaluable opportunity to the staff and students of German.
