We've barely worked our way out of one ethnic conflict - and already trouble makers of Sri Lanka are starting up the next one. Anti-Muslim this and that - a small minority to be sure, but a frighteningly vocal one. They insist that we must protect 'Sri Lanka' and that they are 'Sri Lankan'.To me - I have never imagined ...

(I think the poem says it all) Thank you for the love of cricketFor yelling at the screen and watching TV far too loudThank you for your hypochondria that we now all have For making us cringe in publicAnd never really growing upThank you for the confidenceThe stubbornnessThe single minded determinationThat came from your bloodThank you for dreaming bigger for ...

Right now you are agonizing over your O/Levels. Chill. Some papers are going to suck and some will be amazing. And don’t worry you will pass Math’s, but be warned about Lit. Don’t worry though you’ll make up for it at A/Levels.Stop worrying about that guy. And don’t blush and pretend you don’t know whom I’m going on about - ...

Thank you for the elaborate childhood birthday parties, complete with the zebra sandwiches and choux pastryThank you for showing us it is possible to work and still not entirely neglect your children.Thank you for the swimming classes, piano classes, dancing classes and all the rest of it, which we only now recognize the value ofThank you for instilling in us ...

The following is the second in a few interviews/feature pieces that I am writing in the lead up to Cinnamon Colomboscope 2015 scheduled to take place on the 22nd and 23rd of August. See my interview with city walker and photographer Abdul-Halik Azeez here and my interview with Tamil rapper Krishan Maheson here) Its mid-afternoon and I make my way ...

(Aaannnddd we're back. This one was actually a Facebook note - courtesy of my friend Jonathan Vittachi. I don't even have a word to describe how this made me feel. It just...you have to read it for yourself)English is so bad at describing what it means to grieve. We use words like bereft or bitter or sad, or we say ...

I can hear the rain…even 3 floors up I can hear the rain and it’s a beautiful sound. It makes me think of some of my favourite things – like a cup of flavoured tea, melting tiramisu; a warm body curled up next to mine, and kisses on the back of my neck. I would much rather be curled up ...

[For the first time I think I'm posting up something I'm not sure I like myself. I had writing feelings for the longest time last night and they were struggling to take shape or form. This was the end result after QUITE a while, so any feedback at ALL (espc the not so good) would be loved.]Chasing BubblesIf it dies ...

So Sandun - my temp boss, fav (well one of) client and good friend has initiated the Colombo Green Walk. To give you the spiel - CGW is an awareness building initiative on the present environmental deterioration and what measures we should take collectively as the human race in order to save our planet and ourselves in turn. We're supported ...

Reflections of the GLF 2012 through the eyes of a Lit Lover19th January 2012Day two kick starts with another panel discussion, this time on “Writing Political Realities into Fiction and Journalism”. Ellah Allfrey, the Deputy Editor of the Granta Magazine moderates this event. Starting with Susan Miont, she does a heartrending reading from her short story set in the Uganda ...

Dear Chris GayleI guess you’re kind of sick of seeing your name in the media as of late right? I’m sure you’re thinking that you made a harmless, even flattering comment to Mel McLaughlin and this has sent hysterical women all around the world into a frenzy. Geeze those feminists – always looking for a chance to play the victim ...

The child – with trust and loveIs made promisesThat cannot be keptThey are broken – falling like dustBetrayal of wordsThe soilder – with pride and beliefIs made to beliveThat they will stand by himThey shoot and watch him fallBetrayal of brotherhoodThe friends – with laugher and smilesIs promised support and loveThat is ended with a knifeThey are stabbed in the ...

I love Twitter (Follow me!). I have engaged in many a lively 140 character debate, met some interesting people, and shared/found some wonderful ideas. But occasionally - there come people who challenge me (not in a good way) and I am left inwardly groaning for the future of humanity. And I grit my teeth and blog about it :DOur fine ...

The minute you tell someone that you’re a law student – they assume one thing right off. You want to be a lawyer. You want to practice law. And this misconception has spread, tainting the view of young students who look at degrees. They assume that if they don’t want to argue in court and fight cases, then they are ...

(A tribute to the first half of my summer, and the last days of being 20 - which were filled with some perfect pockets of time)Your arm slips around my waistI lean into youFor a moment I feel your breath on my cheekAnd I turn my headMy lips meet yoursIn a perfect pocket of timeA dim screen flickers in front ...

On this day, 50 years ago a young Negro doctor took the stage in Washington, and delivered a speech that would resonate with people across the world for decades to come. The speech would carve out for Dr. King a place in the annals of history, be oft quoted – and never fail to touch our hearts when we hear ...

[This piece is a sort of prose-fiction that just quite seriously popped into my head almost fully written. There have been like ZERO changes between this and the first draft. Not sure where it came from, and the letter form is something I've never done with fiction. Taking a big leap here...hopefully it has worked]Unborn...I press my hands upon my ...

Earlier this year the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (UN FAO) organized a field visit for the United Nations Youth Advisory Panel (UNYAP) to the Northern Province to observe the various agricultural practices currently in function there.On the second day we drove up to Pooneryn to meet two young men who showed us the seaweed cultivation that has been ...

I have another theory. I have a theory that it is very easy to begin. And the easier it is to begin - the harder it is to end. And this applies to everything - connections with people, jobs, dreams, hopes, wishes - everything.But here is the thing. No matter how hard it is to end - you need to ...

My childhood is coloured with memories of Sunday lunches at Beach Wadiya. Playing in the sand in the sweltering sun, crab juice running down to our elbows, shipwreck in the distance and massive scoops of Elephant House chocolate ice cream.The restaurant has been in function for over 25 years now and my parents and family have been going there for ...