This book presents a vivid photographic exploration of the ancient royal cities of Sri Lanka, capturing their architectural splendor, cultural heritage, and historical significance. Through high-quality visual documentation, Sunil de Costa showcases the grandeur of monuments, temples, palaces, and archaeological sites that shaped Sri Lanka’s ancient civilization. The work serves both as an ar…
This work presents a historical overview of the connections between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands during the period of Dutch presence on the island. R. L. Brohier offers a detailed account of Dutch Ceylon, including the political, cultural, and economic influences of the Dutch administration. Through documented events, archival references, and descriptive narratives, the book highlights the lon…
Rohan Gunaratna’s book provides a detailed insider account of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a radical left-wing movement in Sri Lanka. It traces its origins, ideology, leadership structure, and the socio-political conditions that fueled its rise. Gunaratna examines the JVP’s armed insurrections particularly those in 1971 and the late 1980s and the failures that led to its ultimate do…
Insurgency – 1971 by A. C. Alles provides a detailed account of the 1971 JVP insurrection in Sri Lanka, examining its origins, leadership, and ideological motivations. The book analyzes the political climate and social tensions that allowed the uprising to grow rapidly among youth. Through official records and firsthand insights, Alles describes the government’s countermeasures and the chal…
This book explores the formation and transformation of collective identities in modern Sri Lanka, focusing on the interplay between ethnicity, nationalism, and political mobilization. Roberts analyzes historical and contemporary movements to show how cultural narratives and social structures shape public protest. Through detailed case studies, he illustrates the tensions and interactions among …
This book commemorates 2,500 years of the land, race, and faith of the Sinhalese Buddhist people, weaving together their history, philosophy, and nationhood. The author explores the deep ethical and spiritual teachings of Buddhism as a foundation for both individual and societal integrity. He argues that Buddhist ideals can inform practical political and social reforms in the modern world. Ulti…
A History of Sri Lanka by K. M. de Silva provides a comprehensive overview of Sri Lanka’s political, social, and cultural development from ancient times to the modern era. The book explores the island’s early civilizations, the influence of Buddhism, and the impact of successive foreign powers, including the Portuguese, Dutch, and British. De Silva offers detailed analysis of colonial polic…
An Historical Relation of Ceylon presents Robert Knox’s detailed account of his twenty-year captivity in the Kingdom of Kandy in the 17th century. The book describes the island’s geography, society, customs, economy, and political structure based on Knox’s direct observations. His narrative offers valuable insights into daily life in Ceylon and interactions between locals and foreign visi…
Ceylon: An Account of the Island, Physical, Historical and Topographical by James Emerson Tennent presents a comprehensive overview of Sri Lanka’s natural landscape, including its climate, flora, and fauna. The book explores the island’s rich historical development, tracing influences from ancient kingdoms to colonial powers. It also provides detailed descriptions of regional geography, cul…
The Sri Lankan pot continues to boil. Although the ceasefire agreement of February 2002 between the government in Colombo and the LTTE has helped bring down temperatures, a permanent political settlement remains, at best, a hope with more complexities entering the arena with each passing day. To take stock of the situation and to draw lessons for the future, the chennai chapter of the observer …