Book Review: Return to Sri Lanka – Travels in a Paradoxical Island by Razeen Sally – By Kumudu Weerasinghe
Source : Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – April 2025
I came across this book accidentally. During one of my regular visits to our library, I caught a glimpse of this book on a shelf. Just because I noticed the name Sri Lanka, I took it off the shelf, turned a few pages and found it to be interesting. Borrowed it and read it.
This is a gem of a book. It touched my heart unlike any other book that I have read about Sri Lanka.
Most of us spent our childhood in Sri Lanka. We still remember it as a peaceful, beautiful country. The sad truth is, that country changed tremendously at a fast pace, for the worse, so much so that most of us decided to leave Sri Lanka as soon as we could. But to be honest, still there is a tiny part in all of us I am sure, screaming “Sri Lanka”!
Razeen Sally too had spent his childhood there. He takes us on a nostalgic journey all over the country. Travels with family to different parts of the island sound familiar. At times I wonder whether this is my story! Perhaps it is OUR story!
Author seems to have done a tremendous amount of detailed research before embarking on writing this book. He goes back to the colonial era to remind us about the past. And then about the kings who ruled Sri Lanka in the olden days. He has described exactly howthe country deteriorated bit by bit mainly because of corrupt politicians during the last few decades. We, at least most of us saw and experienced some of the upheavals which took place from time to time in the country. It is amazing how the author has incorporated all these relevant historical, political, and social factors together to weave a colourful tapestry.
My personal experience is just like this author’s short visits to Sri Lanka within his first few years of travels. During our earlier short trips to Sri Lanka, we only scratched the surface. Now that we are retired, we stay longer whenever we go back to Sri Lanka. There is enough time to explore areas that we have not visited in a long time.
Razeen Sally has succeeded in opening our eyes to see for ourselves how things are now, compared to the past few decades. Slowly but surely things are improving in the country. There is hope. He has mentioned some people by names, who are in Sri Lanka trying to do whatever good deeds they can, to make Sri Lanka a better place to live. I know a couple of them personally. They are implementing some remarkable projects, especially for the needy people in Sri Lanka.
I strongly recommend this book to be read by all Sri Lankans. This is a bitter sweet, true story. The good, the bad and the ugly! It is all there.
Our Sri Lanka surely is a paradoxical island!
Kumudu Weerasinghe
Kumudu Weerasinghe resides in Singapore. Reading, travelling and painting make her happy!
