Winners of the SEA Write Awards seen with officials from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism after the awards ceremony.

Lao writers win prizes at SEA Write Awards

The story “Haknee nilandone” by Ms Thipphakesone Douangchak has been declared the winner of the SEA Write Awards 2021 by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
The story “Sainam Thiborlay Yonkab” by Bounsern Sengmany won the second place and the story “Songkharmxivid lae khuamhuk” by Kabkeo Thammavong got the third place. The winners were announced at a news conference held by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism last week.
The story “Huankheun sentharngxivid” by Mr Khamsy Chanthavong also won a prize in the competition.
The short film “Aothaharn” by Nhaeng Philakone won the second place, and the poem “Xubxinthiborphaeng” by Bounphahad Chuangchandy got the third place in the competition.
A total of 13 stories and poems were submitted for the competition.
The Deputy President of the Lao Writers Association and the Director Secretary of the judges’ committee, Mr Souban Luanglath, and the Director General of the Literature and Publishing Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism Dr Bouakhai Phengphachan attended the event where the winners were announced.
The SEA Write Awards are given to citizens of the 10 Asean countries. Between 1998 and 2018, 21 Lao writers and poets have won prizes under the SEA Write Awards.
The Mekong River Literature Award (MERLA) is a sub-regional award for citizens of countries through which the Mekong River flows, such as Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Thailand and Myanmar. It was started in 2007.
Laos was the host country in 2019, and 31 people received the awards.
The ceremony to present the SEA Write Awards was held in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Cambodia hosted the Mekong River Literature Award ceremony in 2020, and Laos was the host country for 2021. The ceremony to present the awards for 2021 will be held by the end of this year.

By Sisouphan Amphonephong
(Latest Update April 26, 2022)