Books

All income from the sale of this book will be donated to the RUHUNA SAILING ASSOCIATION in Weligama, Sri Lanka

My Chequered Life is an inspiring read for anyone interested in how to do business with honesty and without compromising one's integrity. A talented racing driver and competitive yachtsman, Jinasena combined ethics and enjoyment in his quest for a fulfilling life. It is a story worth reading that gives a commentary on society and reveals the dynamic and purpose of his personal journey. In this lively book which reveals his business secrets and his adventures, his successes and his obstacles, Nihal Jinasena gives us an enjoyable story, a worthwhile lesson and most importantly of all the message that you don't have to be corrupt in order to succeed!

Eldest son of a prominent family that has been a household name for four generations, Nihal Jinasena gives us an honest and candid look at his life from childhood to present day through the years spent in the UK for studies and work experience. In his usual fetching style, Jinasena who has a multi-faceted personality shares his love of sports, culture arts travel and business acumen.

Remarkable Stories from Pioneering Sri Lankan Women

Based on personal interviews, Pathways to the Peak, pays tribute to the vision and achievements of fourteen path-breaking Sri Lankan women. Authored by Shalini and Dinusha
Panditaratne, a mother-daughter team, the book highlights the journey of these pioneers to enter and excel in their respective fields, including in the arts, banking, commerce, education, engineering, journalism, law, medicine, sports and social activism. Their stories offer vivid insights into the many facets of their extraordinary success – their motivation and determination, trials and triumphs and lasting contributions to their country and professions. This is a book to inspire younger generations of women in Sri Lanka and beyond.

This rich collection of stories celebrates the courage and perseverance and achievement of fourteen extraordinary Sri Lankan women who made it to the top in our yet unequal world. They confirm the truth that paths are made by walking. The book is truly a labour of love and achievement – Bradman Weerakoon

Straddling a century of social change, this insightful book provides fascinating vignettes of fourteen amazing Sri Lankan women, and the creativity, courage and commitment that led each of these pioneers along their individual 'pathways to the peak' in an essentially male-dominated world – Dr Anila Dias Bandaranaike

Alupola to Jaffna 1940-1960

The waterfall at Alupola was the centre of my childhood existence. Its subdued roar and 'white water' gave one a sense of peace and tranquility. Bright sunny days would light up the entire valley. The cry of the Brahminy kite wheeling in ecstasy high up in the blue sky would enchant us.

Local tea estate workers of South Indian origin, claimed that on misty moonlit nights, the seven mythical 'Karthigai virgins', came to the pool below the second waterfall, to frolic and bathe. This story added a fairytale beauty to the Alupola Falls. Often, walking past it on moonlit nights with my father, I would peer through the mist and thunder of the waterfalls, looking for the 'Seven Karthigai Virgins'. I never got a glimpse of them. The locals claimed that anyone who did glimpse them would be struck mad by their beauty. Then he or she would roam the earth looking for another sight of them, abandoning all worldly pleasures.

Maybe it was my luck not to see them.

The third outstanding memoir by Dr Veerasingam which lovingly chronicles a revolved era.

French expatriate, exotic husband, half-caste children, a volatile mix!

For him, civilization meant Buddhism, whisky and driving on the left. Away from home, neither Europe, nor the Caribbean, nor any other landmass in the Indian Ocean could compare to his own shimmering island.

For her, being packed off to all four corners of the world was like an intoxicating elixir, to be taken without moderation.

This is the story of a ménage à trois: Hélène, Upali... and Asia.

This book attempts to pinpoint, through a study of the island's past and present histories, what constitutes the basis of its multiple identities, which has been constantly nourished by outside elements and shaped over the past two thousand years.

A translation of a manuscript by Eudelin de Jonville who came to the island of Ceylon in 1798

Available in French and English. de Jonville came to Ceylon as a naturalist and a member of the administrative staff recruited by Frederick North, first British governor of the new colony. During the seven years he spent in Ceylon, he travelled, investigated, questioned, counted and measured, drew, painted and above all wrote an astonishing manuscript.

'The co-author Marie-Hèlène Estève of this new book should be congratulated for her painstaking detailed biographical research on this 'most elusive of the naturalist'. In other words Joseph Marie Eudelin Marve de Jonville has re-emerged from this splendid biographical account of Jonville. The book is replete with seven water color drawings and several other black and white drawings' – Hemantha Situge

Exorcism and healing rites

Entrenched in a culturally prestigious past from where the religious and cultural traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism have entwined, the healing rites of Sri Lanka find their most brilliant expression in the exorcisms known as Yak Tovil, which are practiced on the south and south west coast of the island. This book of which the photos were taken at a time which now considered the golden age of modern Tovil, was born from a meeting between an Australian anthropologist and a French photographer-journalist.

An avid wildlife enthusiast, Nanda Senanayake has been observing leopards and their behavior for many years. Truly a seminal work, this book is the result of patient data gathering in Sri Lanka's Yala National Park over the years on leopard population density, mating patterns, mobility and longevity in the wild.

Contains a vast amount of statistical data and concise narratives on a number of important subjects that have never been published before on the Sri Lankan leopard. - Kithsiri Gunawardena

Shortlisted for the Gratiaen Prize

Sit back and let yourself be swept along in Sunela Jayewardene's intrepid journeys across Lanka's lush countryside. Join her and rediscover myth & legend, history & heritage as she adroitly describes nature's enduring beauty and oft forgotten traditions that pulse to the beat of an unseen drum. Line of Lanka is a brilliant and unusual portrayal of a country and its people that will change your perceptions of Sri Lanka.

'With a poet's eye for beauty, Jayewardene explores the spiritual landscape of Sri Lanka' – John Gimlette, The Elephant Complex

'A personal travelogue that defies easy bracketing' – Sanjana Hattotuwa, Groundviews

'A composite of many stories woven out on forgotten trails' – Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne

Faith Ratnayake, Neluka Silva, Simon Harris, Rossana Favero-Karunaratne, Gavitha Ganesan, Premini Amerasinghe, Chandini Kirinde, Lal Medawattegedera, Lolita Subasinghe

Journey to a strange village and learn the secret of their hats or travel in time to towns in Sri Lanka with a genii. Read about the dilemma of a cat that is forbidden to hunt or dream about building an aeroplane that will fly over golden paddy fields. In this collection MilkRice enthusiastically presents nine stories for children from new and established writers.

'Like kiributh, that favourite of the children's festive table, the stories assembled here present a feast that is not only delicious but sustaining. The next time you need to buy gifts for bright, intelligent young friends, forget about Barbie dolls and computer games. Give them Milk Rice' – Yasmine Gooneratne

THE MYSTICAL EXPLORER WINS is a book of spiritual awakening.

Born after many years of deep study and daily application, the author Anne de Costa made a conscious decision to change her life by practicing gratitude and forgiveness on a daily basis. By the powerful use of positive affirmations she shows one how to change thinking and speech patterns, bringing about a change of consciousness. This book comes into your hands for you to be able to connect with the spirit within and unlock the spirit of opulence.

Enter a realm of occupational angst, parental abandonment and working class mentality...

Chiranthi Rajapakse gives us a fine collection of short stories with an unforgettable cast of small city characters who cope with life in a fast changing environment. Insightful and original, these stories offset relentless progress against guilty introspection. Her measured prose is subtle and sober, evocative of the yearnings of a country in flux.

Shortlisted for the Gratiaen prize

French expatriate, exotic husband, half-caste children, a volatile mix!

For him, civilization meant Buddhism, whisky and driving on the left. Away from home, neither Europe, nor the Caribbean, nor any other landmass in the Indian Ocean could compare to his own shimmering island.
For her, being packed off to all four corners of the world was like an intoxicating elixir, to be taken without moderation.
This is the story of a ménage à trois: Hélène, Upali... and Asia.

The Big Girl & Other Stories is a retro-collection of stories by the talented posthumous author Alagu Subramaniam.

They recount scenes of life in Jaffna more than 50 years ago. The book which had disappeared from circulation has now been updated and reprinted in its entirety.
These stories evocatively capture the ethos of an era now past and will leave you nostalgic for a simpler time.

"Mr Subramaniayam could have had a sound practice at the English Bar, but he preferred to pursue his literary work, which is of a higher order" Lester Hutchinson, D es L., Former MP (british House of Commons)
"Stories told sardonically and succinctly" - Philip Day, Sunday Times (London)

Capture the rich spices and bounty of Sri Lanka with this collection of authentic and inventive recipes.

Jessica Heath, founder of CEYLOVE, provides a canvas for a pure and all-natural way to coax extraordinary flavours into everyday food. Drawing on her American-Sri Lankan heritage, Jessica presents nearly 100 recipes with her signature chic Sri Lankan flair.
With eye catching photos that embody the splendour of Sri Lanka, CEYLOVE delivers a global food paradise with exlplosive flavour combinations by using fresh ingredients and easy methods.

'Cooking is one of the oldest art forms. With this book, "CEYLOVE", Jessica has contributed towards preserving our art.' - Dharshan Munidasa

An examination of the challeges face by Sri Lanka's military forces during the first phase of the conflict with the LTTE.

Starting with the first deployment of the army in Jaffna in 1979, the book follows the army on to its first major military operation in May 1987.
The military's response demonstrated their inadequate training as well as their politcal masters' skewed perception of the conflict, frequently leading to disastrous outcomes. But it was also a period of learning. Despite many bloody setbacks and failures the armed forces gradually learned the rudiments of fighting a guerilla enemy, the culmination of this apprenticeship being the launching of 'Operation Liberation', the first brigade-strength operation carried out by the Sri Lankan army.