Books

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Shortlisted for the Gratiaen Prize in 2005; Long listed for the Dublin Impac Prize in 2010

Do you remember when you first fell in love? Do you remember the unrestrained joys and plummeting sorrows of adolescence? Do you remember the confrontation that each new day brought? Enter Kala's life. This sensitive novel about first love and heart break is a complex bitter sweet coming of age story that looks at the modern urban Sri Lankan youth in a new and fresh way. Shehani Gomes navigates us through the perilous and uncharted waters of the young adult, in her exceptionally perceptive debut novel that takes an honest look at a young woman's challenges and triumphs in life.

'If all this outpouring of her creativity found form in a first novel, one hopes for more writing in print from Shehani' – Lakmali Gunwardana

'The book is honest and alive, and its voice, Gomes's voice, is as confident as any young female writer I have read recently...Learning to Fly is more than brave in its formal experimentation. But its strange and, sometimes, difficult structure is not simply an exercise in avant-garde literary practice, but a form that allows the content, the messiness of the protagonist's struggle, to become themselves amidst death and conflict and discrimination, to mirror the novel's setting's own troubled journey towards selfhood' – Vincent Poturica

'Definitely not your average adolescent love story. Shehani Gomes' debut novel- Learning to Fly, having been nominated for the Gratiaen Award of 2005, takes a look into the darker, less explored aspect of adolescence and first love...Shehani's unique writing style complements the way in which characters have been brought to life...She not only grips the reader but makes the reader think, analyze, re-read and analyze again, making her debut novel a very stimulating read- one which brings us to hope for more from her in the very near future' – Tahnee Hopman

Part manual and part manifesto, Letters to a Young Doctor is a timely and passionate book to help future medical students and young doctors navigate and survive medical education and practice, presenting an unvarnished depiction of medicine as it is today and the challenges the profession faces. Spiritually charged and deeply personal, this urgent book offers guidance and hope through Dr. Hilali Noordeen's hard-won experience and wisdom.

'A brilliant and impassioned cry from the heart of the current state of medical education and practice, from the top of the profession. That it is also spiritual, wise and funny makes this book something special.' ~ Jesse Norman, MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, author of The Big Society

 

'A delightful and witty account of the life of a successful surgeon, whose own warmth and empathy has clearly defined his medical practice. His plea to revisit reforms in our health service - which rely on command and control and which are destroying the values of care and compassion - is timely and powerful. Letters to a Young Doctor is both a lively guide for young doctors and also a serious message to our society.' ~ Baroness Helena Kennedy QC

 

'At a time when, more than ever, we are focused on the NHS, this is a reminder of the compassionate care that needs to be at its heart. Part polemic, part guide to a medical career and part memoir, Letters to a Young Doctor is also very funny and written with passion, elan, and fluency. It should be prescribed reading for any budding doctor, not to mention their parents' ~ Rachel Kelly, writer, mental health advocate and author of The Sunday Times bestseller Black Rainbow: How Words can Heal: My Journey Through Depression

Like Moths to a Flame is the result of several years of walking in war weary terrains understanding the nature of man, his faith, his speech, his desire, his diversity and his cultural priorities. It is the story of men and women who have been slighted, insulted, disregarded and cornered into a dead end street with no exit. They were forced to find the means of escape. Terrorism was one such means of exit. Like Moths to a Flame is the story of one family. Of a diligent father, a beautiful mother, a mystic grandfather and an angered grandmother. Where did they come from? Why did they bond? How did they live in the present, bound to prisons of past experience? In Like Moths to a Flame, one sees how a seemingly normal compound unit; a family, gives birth to a child who is their antithesis. One touches the seed of Lanka's tragic history. It need not have been sown, but it was. And, as the novel's only voice of reason says, 'Life is a journey to the grave, not a journey into a Homeland.' 

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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

Living their lie is a story about a man, a woman and a boy whose lives cross each other in unexpected ways.

Together, they are forced to test the limits of friendship, the bonds of marriage and the boundaries of love as they learn with each passing moment that not everything society teaches us is true. Their journey of love and hate begins with an unexpected kiss, leading them to an end that will define who they become.

The sequel to Milk Rice

A bear with a frightening name, a cat who is a dictator, a water drop that travels the world and a mynah with a wonderful gift...

In the second collection of MILK RICE, we bring you a rich and varied selection of eight wonderfully entertaining stories with illustrations and a marvelous mix of fantasy and imagination. This volume is a real treasure trove of words and stories which amuse and entertain as they immerse children in the world of books. Every tale brings laughter or tears and has a special message about growing up. Perfect for reading alone or aloud and for dipping into time and time again.

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

Join Michael Rohan Sourjah on his motorcycle adventures around the world. Get on to a legendary Royal Enfield and let yourself be guided to the far corners of Sri Lanka, exploring everything this amazing country has to offer.

Ride to the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa and marvel at ancient ruins and reservoirs; get on fantastic motorcycling roads that take you through majestic mountains, extensive tea plantations, forests and lovely waterfalls; cruise along the coast to explore imposing colonial military forts; relax on clean sandy beaches and visit old temples, kovils, churches and mosques; join wildlife safaris to watch elephants, leopards, birds, whales and dolphins and combine all of this with a variety of delicious food and drinks from different cultures that make up the hodgepodge of people living on the island.

"Appealing, Insightful" - Wendy Holsinger

"Beautifully captures the reality of what our kids have been going through" - Ranjula Mendis

"A delicious read, bound to make any Sri Lankan nostalgic" ~ Samantha Van Eyck, founder, Jellybean Foundation

This article draws from personal interviews with individuals from the Muslim community and secondary sources and outlines the devotional, cultural, and popular music and song traditions of the Muslims of Sri Lanka. It discusses local, regional, and international influences on Muslim music trends and reasons for the decline in musical engagement around the turn of the century. The article calls for wider discussion on and cross-sharing of the different music traditions of the Muslims of Sri Lanka.

"An excellent read on the modern manifestations of stigma, discrimination, and violence against Muslims. It not only explores the various intersections of the experiences of Muslims but delves into the root causes of anti-Muslim sentiments and incidents in a nuanced manner" ~ Rehab Mahamoor

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.

The saga of a young lad from Wattegama who joined the Sri Lanka Navy during the tense days of the conflict between the Government Forces and the terrorist L.T.T.E. In spite of the seriousness of war it unravels the innocence of youth and the inborn heroism of a Naval recruit in the defence of his country's sovereignty and territorial integrity which is portrayed in simple terms with no extravagant claims.

Read an excerpt!

But he was lying there beside her, waiting for her answer. A stranger. They were strangers.

She turned slowly away from him, towards the window. And against the bright blue sky, she saw the storks flying away in formation, an arrow in the sky. They'd started their long journey at last, back to their other home. They'd dared to dream again. And roam the skies for something they'd loved and lost, perhaps.

'Perhaps,' she said turning back.

In poetic vignettes set against the fascinating exotics of Australia and France, Chandani Lokugé weaves a haunting and meditative story on the spectral gains and losses of travel, the nature of its transience. Through it, she dignifies with grace and tenderness, our unassuageable yearning, when we have lost everything and even ourselves, to anchor to something, someone, somewhere, and the unexpected moment of our arrival.

"A haunting, mystical reading experience, suffused with history, art, and recovery from trauma. An inspired travelogue... the damaged genius of Van Gogh brooding over the narrative, with hints of both joy and anguish." - Chris Ringrose

Negotiating Power and Constructing the Nation is the first comprehensive attempt to discuss Sri Lankan engineering in relation to Sinhala nationalism. By selecting three very different engineering sites, this book expands the meaning of "engineering" and revisits the popular claim by the Sinhalese people - "engineering is in our blood" - to show how and why this perception has been constructed, modified, and revised over time. The author sheds new light on a growing field of study with his precise exploration of technology and incisive socio-political investigation of Sri Lanka over the past century.

"This book is a highly original and provocative examination of Sinhala nationalism in Sri Lanka, seen from the unexpected perspective of the history of engineering. The result is full of fascinating new insights, from the tale of Sri Lanka's 'lost' industrial future, as imagined in the 1930s, to the recent recovery of a radically new sense of its past - a past based on the mythical figure of Ravana, now refigured as a heroic engineer of the nation, Witharana guides his readers with skill and charm into often completely new perspectives on the Sri Lankan past." ~ Jonathan Spencer, Regius Professor of South Asian Language, Culture and Society, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh

"Dileepa Witharana's text marks a significant intervention into debates about nationalist history in Sri Lanka. Scholarship has long held that Sinhala nationalism had a predominantly past-oriented nature and that it lacked a forward looking developmentalist orientation. Withatrana makes a bold counterclaim, marshalling an impressive body of Sinhala and English language empirical sources, that there was indeed a developmentalist vision and that it was marginalized due to collusion between the colonial political economy and elite interests. Witharana's intervention here is not only academic, it is also political. His argument opens up a space for us to see multiple possibilities and trajectories for the nation -- set against unilinear narratives that have dominated both scholarship and popular discourse. Witharana's book is also unique in that it explores the history of technology as a site from which to craft an alternative genealogy of nationalism in Sri Lanka -- an area that has received scant scholarly attention."  ~ Harshana Rarnbukwella, Professor, Postgraduate Institute of English (PGIE) Open University of Sri Lanka

Rukmini Attygalle's debut collection of eleven stories reflect inner strength in times of need. They take the reader into the everyday lives of ordinary people; from a little girl asserting her independence with her family in England, to a newly widowed woman unexpectedly revisiting her past, to a surprising friend in a street beggar. Of Saris and Grapefruit is a collection that layers poignant textures and feelings from one story to another, that captures significant life changes with entertaining and revealing outcomes.

"Rukmini Attygalle's first published collection of short stories makes for delightful reading.... From them emerge a palpable freshness and feminine ingenuity." ~ Nanda Pethiagoda Wanasundera, Journalist and Author of Parallel Lives

"These stories are engaging and vibrant." ~ Leelananda de Silva, Public Servant, UN consultant, and Author of The Long Littleness of Life: a Memoir of Government, the United Nations, Family and Friends

 

"This collection of stories displays many clear insights, much deep feeling, and also an engaging sense of humour" ~ Michael O'Leary, Writer and Columnist