Books

A regular Friday night finds a wealthy trust-fund Colombo native on a gay dating app trying to find someone for a few hours. In walks a British expat, looking for a few moments of pleasure and not much else. What is supposed to be a run-of-the-mill one-night experience becomes something quite different. Over two one-day encounters, the two men make love, tell stories, inebriate and commiserate, and in the process share their lives with each other.

As the pair tangle between lovemaking and connection, sex and sexuality, love and lust, The One Who Loves You So grapples with the complexities of short-term intimacy and asks what becomes of love when it has no recourse to future illusions. The One Who Loves You So is a candid and honest love story; a play about our universal struggle for connection.

Winner of the Gratiaen Prize 2018

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.

Roo is a little Tuk Tuk. From road races, to Polo tournaments, to animal rescues, this little vehicle has lived life to its fullest. Experience the joys and perils of Tuk Tuks on the streets, and learn many life lessons along the way with this courageous Tuk Tuk who is always ready to lend a helping hand and spread some cheer.

You are never too little to make a difference...

With seven full-page colour illustrations by Privanka Fernando

Eyesha is a baby elephant who is just learning the etiquette and behaviour expected of the largest land mammal in the world. She visits the Minneriya Tank with her family for the first time to participate in the annual Great Gathering. Curious and adventurous, she makes new friends, but is soon lost and in trouble. How will little Eyesha find her way back to her mother?

With spectacular illustrations by Manoshi de Silva that capture the beauty of the region and a well-researched Glossary and Fun Facts page that encourage children to appreciate animals in the wild, Eyesha and the Great Elephant Gathering is an entertaining and educational book for children.

"That's it. After reading this book I want to quit the human race and join the far more civilized world of Asian Elephants. Highly recommended for any parent who wants to open their children's eyes to the wonder and warmth of other species on our planet" - Nancy Heinzel (Amazon Review)

Do you like to learn about animals? Have you ever heard of a Fishing Cat?

Felena lives happily with her adopted family. However, they abandon her when they realize it is illegal to rear endangered animals as pets. Small and alone, Felena has to use her wits to survive. Will she learn to forage for food on her own? Or will she fall prey to a predator? Will she find a new home?

Follow the adventures of a little wildcat as she overcomes adversity and finds out where she truly belongs in this entertaining story with beautiful full-page illustrations by Iaz Abdul Cader. This book includes Revision Questions and Fun Facts that will educate children about endangered species in Sri Lanka.

"Educational and refreshing....a great read for kids and adults alike, to help us understand the importance of coexistence with animals and nature" - Otara Gunewardene

Sri Lanka Gems provides an insight into the gem industry of Sri Lanka, with photographs that illustrate the stages of the gem industry that transform the gems from rough, uncut stones to polished beautiful jewellery. The book also showcases the many different varieties of gems found in Sri Lanka, with photographs taken on-site by Vladyslav Yavorskyy.

Sri Lanka: The Island From Above captures the variety of vivid colours and captivating scenery present on Sri Lanka from an aerial perspective, adding another dimension to the beauty of the island that is invisible to us from the ground. Photographed by Sebastian Posingis and Dominic Sansoni, with text by Richard Simon, this book captures the beauty of the island in all its various and wonderful locations.

Mermaids, Demons, Gods....

Sita Devi, the wife of Lord Rama, the Prince of Arodhya, has been abducted by the Demon King Raavana. Hanuman, the Ape hero, is tasked with building a bridge to facilitate the invasion of Lanka. The Ape army gathers on the southern coast of India.

The expedition is however brought to a halt by the workings of the Mer-People who inhabit the Indian Ocean. Follow Hanuman as he struggles to overcome their enchantments and complete his task. However, who is the mysterious Mer-Queen who lures him into her undersea lair? What part has she to play in this epic war? Is all fair in love and war?

The Ramayana is a Hindu Epic as old and as famous as Homer's Odyssey. This is the Ramakien (the Thai version of the Hindu tale) retold by Nadishka Aloysius with illustrations by Vasika Udurawane.

"Beautifully descriptive and fast-paced, Raavana's Daughter is perfect for any Rick Riordan or mythology fans out there" - Joshua Grant (Amazon Review)

Journal de bord d'un vaisseau français aux Indes Orientales sous Louis XIV

Le 16 mars 1671, le navire du roi le Breton appareille de La Rochelle pour apporter à l'Escarde de Perse qui se trouve aux Indes, la plus importante flotte jamais vue dans cette partie du monde et envoyée par Louis XIV, un coffre plein de 100,000 livres, des hommes en renfort et les lettres du roi.

The scholar, historian, colleague, friend, and mentor who dedicated his life to Sri Lanka

 This libr amicorum is a book of original writings (research, fiction, poetry..) compiled by friends of Fr. Martin Quéré to celebrate his first 50 years in Sri Lanka. The subjects are concerning his fields of interest, as a historian (of religion, of the Portugese period in Sri Lanka, of the French battles in Trincomalee), as a reader of literature, and as a man well versed in many languages.

Baby Baba wants to put everything he sees into his mouth. The doll, the keys,a fork, a shoe - even a pink balloon!

What is Akki to do? She is tired of telling him, 'Please don't put that in your mouth.' Then Mama has the perfect solution and both Baby and Akki are happy.

Please Don't Put That In Your Mouth is a funny, rhyming book about babies and all the mischief they can do!

Illustrated by Lalith Karunatilaka

A poignant travel memoir that tells the story of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka seemed like a version of paradise to Razeen Sally as a child, but conflict was soon to follow, tearing the family apart and severing their bond with Sri Lanka.

Return to Sri Lanka is the story of a twenty-first century reconciliation between Sally, now an academic and political adviser, and the land of his birth. A travel memoir with deep political concerns, it is a book full of spellbinding beauty and moving insight, from a writer who is a native, a tourist, both and neither.

1964. Ceylon is on the brink of change.

But Kairo is at a loose end. School is closed, the government is in disarray, the press is under threat and the religious right are flexing their muscles. Kairo's hard-working mother blows off steam at her cha-cha-cha classes; his Trotskyite father grumbles over the state of the nation between his secret flutters on horseraces in faraway England. All Kairo wants to do is hide in his room and flick over second-hand westerns and superhero comics, or escape on his bicycle and daydream.

Then he meets the magnetic teenage Jay, and his whole world is turned inside out.

A budding naturalist and a born rebel, Jay keeps fish and traps birds for an aviary he is building in the garden of his grand home. The adults in Jay's life have no say in what he does or where he goes: he holds his beautiful, fragile mother in contempt, and his wealthy father seems fuelled by anger. But his Uncle Elvin, suave and worldly, is his encourager. As Jay guides him from the realm of make believe into one of hunting-guns and fast cars and introduces him to a girl - Niromi - Kairo begins to understand the price of privilege and embarks on a journey of devastating consequence.

Taut and luminous, graceful and wild, Suncatcher is a poignant coming-of-age novel about difficult friendships and sudden awakenings. Mesmerizingly it charts the loss of innocence and our recurring search for love - or consolation - bringing these extraordinary lives into our own.

Angela Dharshika's debut volume of poetry speaks of environmental issues and her passion for nature.

Inspiring Sri Lanka's current and future generations of youth through the stories of successful and innovative leaders, entrepreneurs and drivers of change.

Driven by their passion for social entrepreneurship, unbridled love for Sri Lanka, and aspiration for a thriving future for their country, Indira and Hashendra have collaborated to write I Am Inspired, a consolidation of anecdotes, insights and reflections of inspirational leader with Sri Lankan roots based in the country and around the world. The book is a ground-breaking literary creation produced to inspire and encourage youth to shed their inhibitions and take a leap of faith in pursuing their passions. Spanning across eight chapters, the consolidated biographical portraits envelop areas most critical to Sri Lanka's development. 

100% of book proceeds will be donated to the Sparklers Foundation, for the purpose of:

1) Designing a textbook version of I Am Inspired in Sinhala and Tamil for distribution in high schools. The sale of one copy of I Am Inspired will fund the production and distribution of 10 textbooks.

2) Running capacity-building programs for young Sri Lankans exhibiting exceptional entrepreneurial and leadership skills.

For more information, please visit www.sparklers-foundation.org

Sri Lanka marked 70 years of independence on February 4th 2018. While there is much to celebrate in our overthrowing a 500-year yoke of colonial rule and embracing democratic politics, it is undeniable that Sri Lanka's post-independence trajectory has also been rather turbulent and bloody. Communal riots, youth insurrections, natural disasters and a protracted civil war have cast a long, brooding shadow across recent decades. Any reflection on our past must therefore acknowledge the positive advances we have made as a nation as well as question and learn from our less positive experiences.

The Archive of Memory is a collection of 70 narrative fragments that offer compelling, personalized perspectives on these past 70 years. They recall significant moments in our post-independence history through mundane, everday objects as well as unique artefacts and souvenirs.