The Jam Fruit Tree Publications : Opens New Premises for Sri Lanka’s Creative Community

The Jam Fruit Tree Publications marked a major milestone on August 9th with the official opening of its new premises at No. 4, Green Path, Nugegoda.

The launch brought together authors and longtime supporters to celebrate the venture's growth into a full cultural hub.

Under one roof, the new location brings together a bookshop, cafe, coworking area, and a flexible venue built for readings, workshops, and events.

The opening offered a chance to reflect on the core ideas that have guided the publishing house from the start.

Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Muller spoke to the audience, tracing the company’s roots back to his late father, Carl Muller.

A prominent figure in Sri Lankan literature, Carl Muller won the inaugural Gratiaen Prize, received the Kala Keerthi honour, and earned multiple State Literary Awards.

Aware of the hurdles writers face, he set out to build a hybrid publishing house that puts authors first, protects their vision, and offers fair, practical terms.

The press takes its name directly from one of his best-known novels, The Jam Fruit Tree.

Jeremy Muller, who has guided the press ever since, shared the journey that led to this Nugegoda opening.

He explained that his goal for the space goes beyond running a simple bookstore or publishing house.

Instead, he built it to give anyone passionate about literature, music, and the arts a place to land.

He wants visitors to feel at home the moment they step inside, whether they are dropping by to browse, perform, meet fellow writers, or spend an afternoon working in an environment that supports creative work.

Adding to that setup, Mahinsa Pabasara Senarathne, owner of the internal cafe, spoke about his approach to the venue's hospitality.

He explained that his priority was creating an environment that feels simple, comfortable, and useful for everyone walking through the door.

The cafe was designed to support both quick breaks and long work sessions, giving remote workers, students, and artists a reliable spot to get things done while offering quality food and drinks.

The event also focused on the future of Sri Lankan writing and expanding opportunities for authors writing in native languages.

Gayanga Dissanayaka, Head of Department for Ola Publications – the Sinhala and Tamil imprint of The Jam Fruit Tree, outlined the work driving their current projects.

She highlighted that Ola Publications was established to bring the exact same author-first approach to Sinhala and Tamil writers that the main press has offered to English authors over the years.

Their aim is to remove long-standing barriers, give local authors the support and compensation they earn, and directly support Sri Lanka’s writing community.

She framed the new physical location as an essential step in offering Sri Lankan writers across all language traditions a real platform to share their work, build long-term connections, and contribute to the country's creative culture.

Now open to the public at No. 4, Green Path, Nugegoda, the venue serves as a daily gathering point for readers, artists, and professionals looking for a place to work, talk, and create.