Five years ago in a market in China, a strange conversation is taking place. The moment Sri Lanka is mentioned, an elderly Chinese merchant, eyes lighting up, says immediately, “Bandaranaike”. The inextricable link: Sri Lanka and Bandaranaike. When the merchant is told that this is the daughter, he erupts in giggles. How could someone with short-cropped hair, wearing trousers be her daughter?

It is sad but true that many writers don't practise this kind of restraint. We have all read novels and stories written by Sri Lankan expatriates who visit Colombo for a couple of weeks, attend the Royal-Thomian or the Rugby Shield matches, show up at a few cocktail parties, dinner-parties and beach-parties, visit Yala or Wilpattu, and may be Kandalama, .....