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Shehan Karunatilaka: ‘I may write about 2022 Lanka protests in 20 years’

Published

3 years ago

2023/02/13

Booker Prize-winner Shehan Karunatilaka is unlikely to make the protests of 2022, in Sri Lanka, the theme of a book anytime soon.

“I’m not a journalist. I wait 20 years, look back, make sure anyone who could take offence is dead and then I write. It’s a self preservation thing. If you’re talking about south Asia, you know what it’s like. If you talk contemporary stuff, it can be quite dangerous,” says Karunatilaka, winner of the Booker Prize 2022 for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, which is set in 1990, against the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s civil war. “By the time I get to 2022, it will be 2042,” said a report published by the Times of India yesterday

During the session, ‘From Mauryas to Mughals’, on the first day of the Times Litfest in Bengalaru, Karunatilaka said that there is a sense of wonder at how Sri Lankans can unite around a single event — as with the 1996 World Cup win, in the midst of ethnic strife, or last year’s protests. “We were all on the streets on July 9 (2022). It was a tremendous moment. It proved this divided country can unite behind a single idea, even if the idea is to go home to the President,” said Karunatilaka, during his session at the Times Litfest, adding wryly he usually watches protests from a safe distance.

Karunatilaka spoke about how the narrative around the protests has already changed and the protests are now being “demonised”. “That is the thing about events in Sri Lankan history. Many narratives are written and there is no definitive narrative.”

He said his first published novel, Chinaman, was the first time he saw a project through. “Once you get an idea, writing the next 300 pages is the tough part.” But research for his cricket-themed novel was easy: watching cricket matches, set in the time of Sri Lanka’s World Cup win, and “hanging around with drunken uncles”. Following his Booker win, publishers in both China and the US plan to publish Chinaman, albeit with the title changed, even though it is widely used cricketing jargon for a left-arm leg spinner. “It’s the one thing America and China agree on. The title of my book needs a change.”

Of his unpublished first novel, Karunatilaka said, “I was wise enough to know the book did not work, and I moved on.” On his soon-to-be-released collection of short stories, which he decided to compile after he realised that he had written more than 30 over several years, he quipped, “Short stories are what I did while I was procrastinating on novels.”

Asked if he had any advice for aspiring young authors in the audience, he said, “Write only if you find a story will not leave you alone and you are the only one who can tell it the way it should be told.”

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Galle and Matara districts

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 12.30 noon 12 March 2026 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 12 March 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

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Nasa spacecraft weighing 1,300lb due to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

The two Van Allen Probes were launched in 2012 [BBC]

A Van Allen Probe spacecraft weighing more than 1,300lb (600kg) is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere almost 14 years after its launch, Nasa says.

The spacecraft is projected to re-enter around 19:45 EDT (23:45 GMT) on Tuesday the US Space Force predicted, according to Nasa, though there is a 24-hour margin of “uncertainty” in the timing.

The Van Allen Probe A, which launched in 2012, is expected mostly to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, though some components may survive.

The space agency said there is a one in 4,200 chance of being harmed by a piece of the probe, which it characterised as “low” risk.

The spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, were on a mission to gather unprecedented data on Earth’s two permanent radiation belts.

It was not immediately clear where in Earth’s atmosphere the satellite is projected to re-enter. The BBC has contacted Nasa for further detail.

Nasa and the US Space Force have said they will monitor the re-entry and update any predictions.

The mission, which was originally designed to last two years, went on for almost seven. It ended after the spacecrafts ran out of fuel and were no longer able to orient themselves toward the Sun.

The probes flew through rings of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field from 2012 to 2019, in order to study how particles were gained and lost, per Nasa.

Those rings, called the Van Allen belts, shield Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms and streaming solar wind, which are harmful to humans and can damage technology.

The mission made significant discoveries, including the first data that show the existence of a transient third radiation belt, which can form during times of intense solar activity, Nasa said.

Van Allen Probe B is not expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere before 2030.

[BBC]

News

PM Visits the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Published

7 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, on 11 March 2026, and held bilateral discussions with Yvonne Pinto, Director General of IRRI, focusing on strengthening cooperation in the field of rice research and sustainable agricultural development.

During the meeting, discussions centered on rice cultivation in Sri Lanka, including the key challenges faced by Sri Lankan paddy farmers. The Prime Minister highlighted issues affecting the sector such as productivity constraints, climate-related impacts, and the need to support farmers through improved agricultural practices and technological innovations.

Both sides also discussed the importance of introducing modern techniques and research-driven approaches to rice cultivation in order to enhance productivity and ensure long-term food security. In this regard, IRRI shared insights on ongoing global research initiatives aimed at improving rice varieties, strengthening climate resilience, and promoting sustainable farming practices.

The discussion further focused on the potential for expanded collaboration between Sri Lanka and IRRI, particularly in areas such as research partnerships, knowledge sharing, and capacity building for Sri Lankan agricultural institutions and farmers. The Prime Minister emphasized Sri Lanka’s interest in strengthening cooperation with IRRI to support the development of the country’s rice sector and to improve the livelihoods of paddy farmers.

The visit reaffirmed the importance of science-based agricultural innovation and international collaboration in addressing food security challenges and enhancing sustainable rice production in Sri Lanka.