Set against the backdrop of a politically turbulent Sri Lanka, Reef chronicles the coming-of-age of Triton, a boy from a village who becomes the apprentice and cook for a marine biologist, Mr. Salgado.
The novel explores themes of lost innocence, class divides, and the fragility of peace, with the escalating civil conflict mirroring the degradation of the island's coral reef.
Set during the brutal Sri Lankan civil war, Anil’s Ghost follows Anil Tissera, a forensic anthropologist who returns to her homeland on a human rights mission.
As she works to identify a skeleton unearthed from a government-protected site, she is drawn into a world of political violence, state-sanctioned terror, and moral ambiguity, forcing her to confront the elusive nature of truth.
In this inventive and satirical novel, an aging, alcoholic sports journalist races against his failing liver to track down Pradeep Mathew, a brilliant Sri Lankan cricketer who vanished from all records.
His obsessive quest becomes a larger exploration of Sri Lanka’s history, its passion for cricket, and the blurry lines between fact, myth, and memory in a nation scarred by conflict.
Set in the 1970s and 1980s, Funny Boy traces the coming-of-age of Arjie, a Tamil boy from a wealthy Colombo family, as he awakens to his sexuality. His personal journey of self-discovery is set against the escalating ethnic tensions between the Sinhalese and Tamils, showing how the private and political worlds tragically and irrevocably collide.
A lyrical and fragmented memoir, Running in the Family recounts Ondaatje's return to Sri Lanka in the late 1970s to uncover the stories of his eccentric, larger-than-life family.
Blending memory, gossip, poetry, and prose, the book vividly captures the charm and chaos of colonial and post-colonial Ceylon, exploring themes of heritage, memory, and the mythmaking inherent in family histories.
This novel provides a powerful, dual perspective on the Sri Lankan civil war by following the lives of two young women—one Sinhala, one Tamil—whose paths diverge and tragically intersect.
The narrative explores how war shapes identity, fuels hatred, and creates cycles of trauma, while also examining the experiences of migration and the longing for a lost, peaceful homeland.
A tense thriller set during the civil war, this novel follows a Sri Lankan army captain forced to escort a female Tamil Tiger cadre—a former enemy and now a crucial informant—through dangerous, jungle terrain.
As they rely on each other for survival, their journey breaks down ingrained prejudices, exploring themes of trust, humanity, and the possibility of reconciliation across ethnic divides.
Set over the course of a single day and night in a makeshift refugee camp during the final, brutal phase of the Sri Lankan civil war, this novel follows Dinesh, a young man who is asked to marry a stranger, Ganga.
In spare, visceral prose, the story focuses on the sensations and small actions of daily life, illuminating the search for human connection and normalcy amid the devastating realities of war.
Following news of a former lover’s grandmother's death, a young man named Krishan travels from Colombo to the war-torn northeast for the funeral. The journey triggers a profound meditation on his past relationship, the lingering trauma of the civil war, and the philosophical chasms between generations, love, and loss.
The novel is an introspective exploration of memory, grief, and the weight of history.
Winner of the 2022 Booker Prize, this novel is a supernatural satire set in the violent chaos of 1989 Colombo. Maali Almeida, a war photographer, gambler, and closeted gay man, wakes up dead and has seven moons (seven nights) to contact his loved ones and lead them to a hidden cache of photos that could shake the nation.
It is a darkly humorous and searing indictment of a brutal period in Sri Lankan history.
Set in Jaffna during the 1980s, the novel follows Sashi, a sixteen-year-old aspiring doctor whose life is upended by Sri Lanka’s escalating civil war.
As her four brothers are drawn into different militant factions, Sashi joins a clandestine project documenting human rights violations, forcing her to navigate complex ethical choices about activism, family loyalty, and survival in a community torn apart by violence.
Set in the exclusive Cinnamon Gardens neighborhood of 1920s Colombo, this novel explores the suppressed desires and public duties of its characters.
The story focuses on Annalukshmi, a progressive young teacher resisting an arranged marriage, and her uncle Balendran, a married man forced to confront his hidden homosexuality when a past lover reappears, painting a rich portrait of colonial Ceylon's social constraints.
Spanning three generations of a Tamil family, this epic novel traces their lives from colonial Ceylon through the turmoil of the civil war to their eventual displacement as part of the global diaspora.
The story is a moving exploration of family secrets, cultural identity, the trauma of conflict, and the enduring power of love and heritage in the face of profound loss.
Set in a nursing home in Sydney, this novel follows the lives of its residents, many of whom are Sri Lankan diaspora carrying the unspoken traumas of their homeland's civil war.
When the nursing home's matriarch is accused of a crime, deeply buried secrets are unearthed, forcing characters to confront painful memories of violence, survival, and the complex meaning of home.
The first book in Muller’s celebrated Burgher trilogy, this rollicking and humorous novel chronicles the boisterous lives of the von Bloss family in mid-20th century Sri Lanka.
Written in a vibrant, colloquial style, it captures the unique culture, language, and spirit of the Burgher community, exploring themes of identity, family loyalty, and colonial legacy with irreverent charm.
In this harrowing and profoundly moving memoir, economist Sonali Deraniyagala recounts the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which claimed the lives of her husband, two sons, and parents while they were vacationing on the Sri Lankan coast.
Wave is an unflinchingly honest chronicle of unimaginable loss and the brutal, disorienting journey through the landscape of extreme grief.
This novel tells the parallel stories of two Sri Lankan women: Latha, a servant girl of limitless courage who chafes against the confines of her class, and Biso, the mistress of the house who flees an abusive marriage.
Their intertwined struggles for freedom and self-determination illuminate the rigid social hierarchies, gender roles, and deep-seated inequalities of Sri Lankan society.
Set in 1930s colonial Ceylon, the novel is narrated by Sam Obeysekere, a brilliant but morally ambiguous lawyer whose life is shaped by the sensational murder investigation of an English planter.
The narrative is a subtle and complex examination of colonialism, class, race, and the construction of identity, revealing the dark undercurrents of a society in transition.
In this raw and unsettling novel, a young mother living in the United States reflects on a dark secret from her childhood in Sri Lanka that has led her to commit a terrible act.
The narrative moves between her idyllic early years and her later trauma, exploring the lasting psychological scars of violence, the complexities of motherhood, and the immigrant experience.
A sweeping, multi-generational epic, this novel traces the lives of three generations of a Sri Lankan family from the 1920s through the 1980s.
It powerfully illustrates how colonial policies and the rise of ethnic nationalism—first Sinhalese, then Tamil—steadily erode the bonds of community and friendship, leading to devastating violence and personal tragedy.
A lyrical and poignant novel set in Sri Lanka during the civil war, Mosquito follows the love affair between Theo, a Sri Lankan-born author returning from England, and Nulani, a beautiful and talented artist.
Their relationship unfolds against a backdrop of increasing violence and terror, exploring themes of love, loss, art, and the impossibility of finding sanctuary in a time of war.
Yalini, a young Sri Lankan American woman, watches as her family's traditions clash with her generation's choices in the lead-up to her cousin's "love marriage."
The story prompts Yalini to uncover her family's hidden history in Sri Lanka, particularly the story of her uncle, a Tamil Tiger who was "disappeared" during the war, exploring how political strife continues to shape love, family, and identity in the diaspora.
This novel traces the lives of five friends and lovers from a wealthy Colombo family, whose idyllic world is shattered by the political turmoil and ethnic violence that begins in the 1950s and culminates in the civil war.
Spanning several decades, the story explores themes of memory, loss, exile, and the disintegration of relationships against the backdrop of a nation's descent into conflict.
Set during the anti-Tamil pogroms of July 1983, known as Black July, this novel follows the devastating impact of the violence on two neighboring families in Colombo—one Sinhala, one Tamil—whose friendship is tested and ultimately destroyed.
The story is a heart-wrenching portrayal of how political extremism can turn friends into enemies and shatter a community’s innocence.
Set in mid-20th-century Sri Lanka, this novel follows the diverging paths of two cousins, Latha and Tsunami, from a powerful, westernized family.
As the country moves toward independence and grapples with rising nationalism, their personal choices about marriage, education, and duty reflect the broader societal shifts and the clash between traditional values and modern aspirations.
This witty and insightful novel chronicles the experiences of a Sri Lankan academic couple, Bharat and Navaranjini, who move to Australia in the 1970s.
Through letters, journal entries, and prose, the book humorously explores themes of migration, cultural adaptation, racism, and the challenge of raising children between two cultures, all while trying to define what "home" truly means.
In the 1950s, an eleven-year-old boy named Michael boards a ship in Colombo bound for England. Seated at the "cat's table"—the dining table farthest from the captain's—he and two other boys explore the ship's mysteries and befriend its eccentric collection of adult passengers.
This coming-of-age novel is a nostalgic and enchanting look at the transformative power of a journey and the memories that shape a life.
In this young adult novel set in 1980 Sri Lanka, fourteen-year-old Amrith's ordered life is disrupted by the arrival of his handsome and free-spirited cousin from Canada.
As the two boys spend the summer together, Amrith grapples with feelings of jealousy, attraction, and confusion, leading to a poignant exploration of first love and burgeoning sexuality against a lush, atmospheric backdrop.
This collection of interconnected short stories follows a Sri Lankan family and their community from their arrival in London as refugees in the 1970s through the next three decades.
The stories paint an intimate portrait of the immigrant experience, exploring the challenges of assimilation, the persistence of cultural memory, and the complex, often painful, ways in which families navigate life between two worlds.
A collection of interwoven stories that delve into the lives of Sri Lankans both at home and abroad, primarily in London and Colombo.
With characteristic wit and sharp social observation, Ferrey explores the ironies of fate, the complexities of cultural identity, and the often-comical struggles of his characters as they navigate love, class, and the search for belonging in a globalized world.
Through a series of sharply drawn vignettes and short stories, this book offers a satirical and often hilarious glimpse into the lives of Colombo’s English-speaking elite.
Ferrey skewers the pretensions, anxieties, and idiosyncrasies of this social class, capturing the unique absurdities and cultural dynamics of modern urban Sri Lanka with wit and affection.
In this intricately structured novel, a man named Chip travels to London to piece together the history of two rivalrous Sri Lankan families, the Ducals and the Vatunases, following the death of his grandmother.
The narrative moves back and forth in time, exploring themes of memory, ambition, family secrets, and the long shadow cast by Sri Lanka’s political turmoil on personal destinies.
In post-war Sri Lanka, a thoughtful man named Vasantha starts a van-for-hire service, driving tourists, businessmen, and locals across the newly peaceful island.
Through the stories of his passengers, he pieces together a portrait of a nation grappling with its recent past, exploring themes of memory, reconciliation, and the quiet, often difficult, process of rebuilding lives.
This collection of short stories captures the subtle and often unspoken tensions in the lives of Sri Lankans affected by the country's long civil war.
Set both in Sri Lanka and in London, the stories poignantly explore themes of displacement, nostalgia, political violence, and the fragile nature of home, love, and security in a world marked by conflict.
Set in a hill station in colonial Ceylon, this novel tells the story of the tender and ultimately tragic relationship between Chandi, a poor but vibrant flower-seller, and Rosalin, the daughter of a wealthy local family.
Their bond transgresses the rigid boundaries of class and race, leading to a powerful exploration of forbidden love and the harsh social realities of the era.
Against the backdrop of escalating ethnic tensions, this novel weaves together the lives of its diverse characters, including Catrina, a Burgher girl, and her adopted brother, whose pasts are shrouded in secrets.
The narrative explores the complex interplay of identity, class, love, and betrayal within a society on the brink of fracturing along ethnic lines.
Narrated by a sharp and observant young girl, this novel vividly captures the experience of growing up in Sri Lanka during the pivotal and turbulent years following independence.
The story blends personal coming-of-age with national history, offering a humorous and insightful look at the country’s political upheavals, cultural conflicts, and the clash between tradition and modernity.
The second book in Wijesinghe’s trilogy, this novel explores the profound and divisive impact of the 1956 "Sinhala Only Act," which made Sinhala the sole official language of Sri Lanka.
Through the lives of its characters, the book examines the rise of nationalism, the marginalization of minorities, and the personal and political consequences of a policy that sowed the seeds of future conflict.
The final installment of her historical trilogy, Theravada Man delves into the rise of militant Buddhism and the subsequent eruption of ethnic violence in Sri Lanka.
The novel continues to follow its characters as they navigate a landscape of political extremism and war, providing a critical perspective on the intersection of religion, nationalism, and identity in the country’s tragic history.
A beloved classic of Sri Lankan literature, this coming-of-age novel tells the story of Upali, a rebellious boy from a well-to-do rural family who, along with his friend Jinna, runs away to live an independent life on the deserted island of Madol Doova.
The book is a celebrated tale of adventure, resilience, and self-discovery, deeply rooted in the landscape and culture of southern Sri Lanka.
A foundational work of modern Sinhala literature, Gamperaliya chronicles the decline of a traditional aristocratic family in a southern village and the rise of a new, entrepreneurial middle class in the early 20th century.
The novel is a masterful depiction of social change, exploring the tensions between old traditions and new economic realities through the story of a young woman's marriage choices.
Set in a remote, poverty-stricken village in the dry zone of Sri Lanka, this novel portrays the immense hardships and quiet resilience of a peasant family.
Through the eyes of the family’s young wife, the narrative offers a stark and moving account of the daily struggle for survival against drought, debt, and oppressive social customs, highlighting the strength and endurance of rural women.
This gothic novel is set within the decaying walls of a feudal walauwa (manor house), where a young bride finds herself trapped in a world of oppressive traditions, silent resentments, and dark family secrets.
The giraya, a nutcracker used to slice areca nuts, becomes a potent symbol of the household's hidden tensions and the psychological cruelty inflicted upon its women.
Focusing on a poor fishing community on the coast of Sri Lanka, this novel explores the deep-seated tensions between traditional Catholic fishermen and a new, more enterprising Buddhist fisherman who moves into their territory.
The story delves into themes of poverty, social jealousy, and the struggle for survival in a community where old ways clash with modern ambitions.
Set in 13th-century Sri Lanka during the brutal invasion of Kalinga Magha, this historical novel follows Asanka, a court poet who is spared by the new king on the condition that he translates a Sanskrit epic into Pali.
Asanka uses the creative and subtle power of poetry to embed a secret message of resistance within his work, turning his art into a weapon against tyranny.
Narrated by Sam, a simple and good-hearted man from a rural village, this novel offers a poignant, ground-level view of Sri Lanka’s social and ethnic complexities.
As Sam moves to Colombo to work as a domestic servant, his naive but insightful observations expose the prejudices, injustices, and shared humanity that he witnesses in a society heading towards war.
An investigative journalist is drawn into the dangerous world of espionage and political violence in this thriller set during a period of civil unrest in Sri Lanka.
As he navigates a landscape of corruption, betrayal, and shifting allegiances, the novel paints a vivid picture of the country's volatile political climate and the personal risks of uncovering the truth.
In this fast-paced thriller, a man uncovers a dangerous conspiracy involving powerful figures in the Sri Lankan military and government.
The novel is a gripping tale of suspense and intrigue that explores themes of corruption, justice, and the moral courage required to stand up against institutional power in a society grappling with its own dark secrets.
A poignant novel that explores the complex journey of a young Sri Lankan woman who migrates to Australia with her family.
Through her experiences, the book delves into themes of cultural displacement, the search for identity, and the painful process of navigating the expectations of her traditional family while trying to forge her own path in a new country.
Aruni, a woman who has built a life in Australia, returns to her ancestral home on the Sri Lankan coast and is forced to confront difficult family dynamics and a painful past.
The novel is a sensitive exploration of homecoming, memory, and estrangement, set against the evocative backdrop of sea turtle conservation efforts, which symbolize hope and renewal.
This novel portrays the intimate journey of Uma, a Sri Lankan woman who moves to Australia and must navigate the complexities of a new life, a cross-cultural marriage, and her sense of duty to her family back home.
The story is a nuanced and moving exploration of migration, belonging, and the quiet sacrifices and inner resilience of women caught between two worlds.
This novel follows the life of Alice Fonseka, who flees Sri Lanka as a child with her family to escape the civil war and settles in South London.
The narrative traces her journey into adulthood as an artist, exploring how the trauma of her past and the memories of her lost homeland continue to shape her identity, her relationships, and her search for a sense of belonging.
Khadeeja returns to Sri Lanka after living abroad to confront a devastating family secret about her mother’s past. Set within the Muslim community of Sri Lanka, the novel is a compelling exploration of identity, women’s roles, cultural norms, and the ways in which hidden histories continue to ripple through generations, shaping love and memory.
This collection of interconnected stories traces two families from the Sri Lankan diaspora across the 20th century, from Colombo to London, New York, and beyond. The narratives explore themes of love, marriage, sexuality, and cultural identity, illustrating how traditions are both preserved and transformed as families move across the globe.
Maya, a young woman of mixed heritage, returns to Sri Lanka, the land of her birth, to grapple with her identity and a troubled family history.
The novel is a rich exploration of what it means to be a "third culture kid," navigating the complexities of belonging, cultural hybridity, and the search for authenticity in a world of shifting personal and national identities.
Sonny, who has spent most of his life in England, returns to Sri Lanka to claim his inheritance and is immediately caught in the crossfire of his family's expectations and the complex social dynamics of Colombo.
The novel is a darkly humorous exploration of cultural dissonance, identity, and the internal and external "demons" that plague a man caught between two worlds.
The second book of the Burgher trilogy, Yakada Yaka (The Iron Demon) continues the story of the von Bloss family, this time focusing on their adventures within the Ceylon Government Railway.
It is a boisterous and comical chronicle of life and work on the railways, filled with eccentric characters and vivid anecdotes that celebrate the unique culture of the Burgher community.
A prequel to The Jam Fruit Tree, this novel revisits the Burgher community through the eyes of a young boy, offering a nostalgic and humorous look at childhood in colonial-era Sri Lanka. The story captures the innocence, mischief, and wonder of growing up amidst the rich cultural tapestry and shifting social landscape of the time.
In this insightful memoir, Gooneratne explores the history of her own illustrious family, the Dias Abeysinghes, and their relationship with Sri Lanka's most powerful political dynasty, the Bandaranaikes.
The book is a fascinating look at the intersection of personal life and national history, offering a unique perspective on the island's elite, its colonial past, and its journey to independence.
This immersive travel narrative takes the reader on a journey through the history, culture, and landscapes of Sri Lanka.
Gimlette skillfully weaves together historical accounts, personal anecdotes, and interviews with people from all walks of life to create a comprehensive and insightful portrait of a country of stunning beauty and profound contradictions, still healing from decades of conflict.
A blend of memoir and travelogue, this book follows the author, a classical liberal academic of Sri Lankan heritage, as he returns to the island to reconnect with his roots and analyze its complex present.
Sally offers a sharp and personal perspective on Sri Lanka's post-war challenges, exploring its politics, economy, and the deep-seated ethnic tensions that continue to define this "paradoxical land."