Sociological vignettes of a land and people in transition
Flickering Fortunes in Changing Ceylon of the mid-20th century, a profusely illustrated, 300-page narrative of the transformative events in the country as it moved from colonial era feudalism to an independent democracy, will be launched at a ceremony under the patronage of Minister Sarath Amunugama on Thursday, January 28 at 6 p.m. in the Jubilee Room of the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo.
It is part 1 of a trilogy by journalist and international tourism expert, Lakshman Ratnapala who grew up as a privileged child in mid-20th century Ceylon and witnessed the evocative events of his time which he has recorded with sensitivity to history — his family’s and the country’s. Ratnapala, an intrepid traveller with an inquisitive mind, is here on a voyage of discovery — of himself.
Set against the medieval history of battles against colonial conquerors, Flickering Fortunes weaves a colourful tapestry of changes that accompanied the political evolution of mid-20th century Ceylon from a feudal colony to a riotous independent State, the island’s social transformation from innocence to maturity and people’s cultural liberation of the “nobodies” to be “somebodies”.
Ratnapala presents vivid word pictures of social life in the country in a spacious era, when the demands of security were minimal and political battles were conducted with civility in language that was sophisticated.
Flickering Fortunes presents rare sociological vignettes of a land and people in transition from the old world of unhurried existence to the modern world of speeding in the fast lane.
Ratnapala begins the narrative with an expose of the politics of his transfer to New York as the Ceylon Tourist Board’s Director for the Americas, for a promised “no more than three months” and an account of a hilarious encounter with a New York cabbie on arrival at JFK International airport.
The promised three months have come and gone, as have most of the players in the political drama, except Ratnapala himself who has continued to live in America for 40 years.
In these 40 years, Ratnapala has progressed to wear the mantle of a global captain of business as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Asia Travel Association where his dynamic management helped it rise from operational losses to multimillion dollar surpluses and propelled it from a regional body to international giant, all within three years before he took early retirement, rejecting an extension of his five year contract, saying “money isn’t everything: self satisfaction is”.
The book ends with a Chapter on tributes from global industry leaders upon his retirement calling him a “PATA Officer and a Gentleman: A Man With a VisionWho Will be Missed”.
Flickering Fortunes published by Vijitha Yapa Publications has a four-colour laminated cover designed by Barbara Ratnapala with a painting by an unknown artist circa 1820.
It is available at Vijitha Yapa bookshops for Rs. 1,300 and on-line at Amazon for $ 39.00 inclusive of shipping and handling.
| About the launch The book launch on Thursday 28, January will commence at 6 p.m. with a very brief video introduction of the author by Travelmedia. Minister Sarath Amunugama will deliver the keynote address followed by a presentation by Rev. Marc P. Billimoria, Warden of S.Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. |