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Monsoons and Potholes by Manuka Wijesinghe, published by the Perera Hussein Publishing House. Rs. 690.

For the world at large, the seventies meant Vietnam, and Watergate. A decade of Darth Vader and oil shortages, of Queen and The Who. Feminism rose, Communism spread and Japanese cars invaded Mr. Ford's niche market.

However, unknown to U2 and Pol Pot, a little island just south of India was going through a lot of changes as well. Nationalism brought in a change of language, and minimization a change of condensed milk.

Seemingly autobiographical in nature, in Monsoons & Potholes, Manuka Wijesinghe describes the seventies from a child's point of view. Going back to her childhood and drawing from her own experiences, the author has managed to slice together a true-to-life account of what it was like growing up during the dark years of modern Sri Lankan history.

The changing face of the country is depicted from a minor's point of view, and Wijesinghe's talent for dialogue is what strikes you the most when reading the many conversations laid out in the book.

Simple, and yet highly philosophical, the protagonist’s' narrative rings with truths about Sri Lanka, many of which can be only conveyed properly from a child's unclouded perspective.

She speaks of ration books, the lack of housing, and Mukunuenna sandwiches for lunch, and in the process cobbles together some excellent criticism of the government and society of that time. The political undercurrents that the author weaves in to the beginning of story manage to be both realistic and satirical at the same time. They create a sense of pseudo-realism that enhances the mystery, and thereby the allure of the era.

However it is these very undertones that degenerate quickly as the plot progresses. Perhaps unknown to the author, her criticisms of the Bandaranaike family in the mid pages, overpower at that point, the story of herself and her family.

Towards the middle of the book, there is so much bitterness directed at the government, that it serves to obscure the novel's real characters and blur their relationships. The very repetition of the word 'minimization’, though satirical and effective at first, becomes tiresome and irritating when seen for the Nth time. In fact, in reading much of the later commentary on the country and its plight, bees and bonnets constantly come to mind.

There is however, one characteristic which easily makes up for this infatuation with political criticism - humour. Monsoons & Potholes is full of hidden ironies and subtle puns that will make you, if not laugh out loud, at least chortle quietly to yourself.

From in-laws with pigmentation problems to the verbal battles fought out between the kitchen help, the book is rife with finely tuned inside jokes that only a Sri Lankan will be able to properly appreciate. Monsoons & Potholes is important in that it gives middle class Sri Lankans of the sixties and seventies something to call their own.

This is the story of the world they grew up in. This is how they went to school, and wore rationed linen and ate rice with more stones than grain.

It's important for the same reason the Ramayana is important – it is heritage literature. In short, it's something that every eighties and nineties child should read. The book describes the process of growing up during the adolescent years of a country, and portrays an essential part of Sri Lankan history for those that were not fortunate enough to be alive during those times.

The book, while overtly seeming to deal with the growth of the protagonist from a girl in to a woman, is also very much an account of Sri Lanka's growth as a post-colonial nation. It is perhaps one of the only recent works of fiction that rings with a sharp sense of authenticity; of the author actually knowing what he or she is writing about.

This isn't fantasy, or science fiction – this is life, unhindered and pulsating with a reality.

Monsoons & Potholes is a work of irony, laughter, pain, and ultimately hope. It tells the tale of a nation, that despite all its problems, still progressed to become the land we live in today. It is a testament to the fact that despite the hardships endured during those troublesome decades, Sri Lanka is still here today, moving slowly along on that slippery road that never seems to lead anywhere. Above all however, it will remind you that in life, as in literature, it is not the destination, but the journey that makes everything worthwhile. MW

How comforting it must be for an eighty-year old father to find his life story being put down on paper by his son? The father is Somapala Jayakody from Maharagama. He is a man with several vocations to his credit. He has been a teacher, a native physician, a notary and a poet. Son Dileepa listens to the father relating the happenings over eight decades. He takes down the whole story and turns it into a most interesting narrative. He calls the book 'Galana gangaki jeevithe' (Life is a flowing river).

The narrative is not a story confined to the family. It's much more. It is a social commentary and gives an insight into society over a period of time stretching from the 1930's to the present day. In addition to the turnabout noticed in the village, narrator Jayakody touches on the political developments, ups and downs in the economy, the narrow outlook of the bureaucracy and the attitudes of numerous individuals depending on their positions. The book took me back to the World War II days when as a young boy, I myself could remember how the country was in readiness to face the war. In a way we enjoyed the excitement.

The narrator describes how the war affected everyone, everywhere- even the remote villages. There was a dearth of foodstuffs. The village folk at least had their own rice and coconuts.

Yet they too faced a tough time when rules and regulations were enacted restricting the storage and transport of rice. A coupon system came into force and two measures of rice were issued per family. Everyone was forced to grow their own yams and vegetables. The economy was in tatters.

Although there were radio broadcasts at the time, the most popular mode of getting war news was the 'Dinamina'. Illiterate villagers would gather at the village boutique and listen attentively to someone reading the news of the day. While most of them hoped for a victory for the allied forces, there were others who admired Hitler. On the radio, the legendary D. M. Colambage would start reading the news with the preamble "This is Colombo calling".

The narrator touches on the era of the 'bus mudalalis'. There were several bus companies serving the High Level road. One was 'BAS' belonging to B. A. Semaneris Mudalali. The other was 'ACP' owned by A. C. Perera. 'Sumana' was the third company belonging to Aloysius Weerasinghe. When he got a job as a clerk cum ticket inspector in the biggest company, BAS, he felt quite important. He would catch the errant conductors and punish them. He relates how when a driver or a conductor is suspended from work, he would go to the mudalali's house and do all the house work to impress the lady of the house and get her to put in a word with her husband to get the job back.

Dileepa has developed an easy style of writing. This helps the reader to enjoy the book. The narrative flows smoothly. Each chapter is confined to a particular incident or event. Even readers who may not be avid lovers of poetry are bound to appreciate the poems quoted in the book. Most of them are the narrator's own creations but there are also a few gems, particularly those used by one-time Member of Parliament Somawira Chandrasiri during election time.

Dileepa's effort is rare in Sinhala literature. And to let the father himself enjoy reading it during his lifetime is even rarer.

While Good Men Slept by Shirley de Silva. Printed by Vishva Lekha Printers. Reviewed by Ayesha Inoon

At a time when Sri Lanka is dreading the prospect of a full-fledged civil war once more, Shirley de Silva’s timely novel ‘While Good Men Slept’ recalls the historic events that led to the ethnic conflict and leads us to ponder the fearsome possibilities of the future. In a story that spans over two decades and is set in both the Asian and European continents, the author successfully blends realism and fiction to create an absorbing narrative.

The lives of three young people - Sinnarajah Ramanathan, Shane Nilweera and Rekha Gunaratne are strangely intertwined in a manner that will affect the course of history. Ramanathan, the son of two schoolteachers abandons academic life to become a fisherman. The ruthless murder of his two companions gives an insight into the character of the man who will go on to establish the deadly terrorist organization, the Tamil Liberation Front (TLF).

Shane Nilweera’s courage and patriotism that are apparent even during his carefree childhood lead him to join the army, eventually becoming the Army Commander. It is he who leads the undeclared war against the threat of nuclear terrorism from the TLF.

Rekha loses her entire family during the Southern insurgency and is embittered towards the army, accusing them of helping to massacre their own kind. She questions the motives of those who claim to be against the division of the motherland, or the occupation by the Indian Army. Hers and Nilweera’s paths cross briefly as he agrees to take her to the North, where she disappears only to materialize in an extraordinary twist at the end of the tale.

The acquisition of nuclear weapons by the TLF leads to a combined effort by the Indian and Sri Lankan Governments as well as the United Nations to locate the missiles. The presence of the Indian military and the diminished sovereignty of the country lead to strong protests from other political parties creating unrest in the nation. However the operation continues, lead by Nilweera and Brigadier Amarasena as well as the Indian General Khan.

The painstaking manner in which the terrorists obtain the weapons and kill all those who helped them afterwards is related in great detail. So are the operations carried out by the government officials to capture the terrorists and locate the weapons, giving the reader an understanding of how much careful planning and methodology go into the actions of which we often see only the result.

The mission of the officials is carried out successfully, leading to the capture of two leading terrorists as well as the missiles which are destroyed. In a rare human angle, the terrorist known as ‘Soma’ offers information to Commander Nilweera in the hope that he would be taken to Jaffna to be able to see his mother.

Interspersed throughout the book are charming descriptions of various locales both in Sri Lanka and abroad. The green hills of Nuwara Eliya, the beaches of Trincomalee, the war-torn landscape of Kabul and the streets of Murmansk in Russia are among the settings of this story.

The author is the founder CEO of Amsler Ltd., who is soon to retire. His wide knowledge of world events and love for human drama have found expression in this book.

“A garden can generate peace and tranquillity for a keen gardener appreciates beauty and cannot resort to violence,” explains eminent field botanist and horticulturist, D. K. Ekanayake. Having dabbled in the field for over half a century, he says with authority that gardening is a form of art that tones a person, while contributing to better environment and good health.

Mr. Ekanayake was speaking at the launch of his fifth book, ‘The Essence of Garden Making for Sri Lanka’, published by Stamford Lake (Pvt) Ltd late last month. He hopes the book would be an inspiration to garden lovers who he insists would not need to consult a specialist in making a garden for it contains ideas that anyone can use to lay out a garden. “All they would need is some flair for organisation,” he adds.

Commending the author for his valuable contribution, chief guest on the occasion, stage, film and TV personality, Mrs. Irangani Serasinghe, a devoted environmentalist herself said, “The book is packed with information, practical advice and a certain spiritual quality that comes with being close to nature.”

Former Director of Agriculture and former Vice Chancellor of Sabaragamuwa University, Dr. C.R. Panabokke said that the book being of scientific, cultural and historic value could be used for generations to come. All of us have a responsibility towards making a better environment and the book could assist us in the process, said Director of Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, Dr. D.S.A. Wijesundera, reiterating that gardens can influence one’s personality.

This book the 79- year-old author explains, has been written specifically for Sri Lanka, taking into account its various climatic zones.

“The hallmark of good garden design is correct manipulation of space according to accepted principles,” he writes. Content-wise, the information and instruction in the book apply equally to large gardens in the countryside down to the humble six to ten-perch plot of the city dwellers covering topics such as garden design, features such as lawns, hedges, ornamental plants, water and rock gardens, perennial garden flowers, plant care, manures and soil preparation. The chapters are illustrated with black and white drawings that the author has done himself and colour photographs.

Interestingly, gardens in the country over the years have had influences from different cultures – British, American, Japanese, Chinese and Sri Lankan. “The Peradeniya, Hakgala and Gampaha gardens are apparently laid out in the English style,” he says, characterised by curves of the natural informal style as opposed to the geometric and straight lines of formal gardens.

The book also mentions ancient garden styles found in Sigiriya and Anuradhapura that were reconstructed during the last five decades, comparing them with contemporary styles. Gardens in both Sigiriya and Anuradhapura were of the formal style amidst wild surroundings and such formal gardens existed in Italy and France during the Renaissance period. On the other hand, the Americans he says created contemporary styles.

Through the guide to garden making, Mr. Ekanayake discusses the indigenous species of plants, shrubs and trees and those introduced from various countries like Myanmar, Malaysia, India, South America, Africa, etc. Describing over 350 varieties, the author has categorised them into climatic zones that they are suitable for and how best a visually striking effect could be achieved.
During his 34-year tenure at the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, ten of them as Director, Mr. Ekanayake says that the entrance fee to the gardens was first introduced in 1974. “It made a big difference,” he says. When the Queen visited the garden in 1980 it was his responsibility to redo and brush up the entire garden, adding new features such as the Japanese style garden.

“Gardening is more than growing flowers. It shows that you appreciate and respect nature,” the author repeats, revealing his passion for the subject. “A living garden is three dimensional and needs to be filled with plants and other features,” he adds, illustrating how one can raise a garden in any situation. Even if you have a tub of water you can have water plants and have a water garden. The climate is favourable in most parts of Sri Lanka, the author continues. Hence, with a little effort every one can have a garden. “By raising a garden you live and let others live comfortably,” he emphasises.

His earlier books are: Urban Planting, A Complete Guide to House Plants and Indoor Gardens (in both English and Sinhala), Medicinal Plants and Orchids and Anthuriums.

The latest book was co-authored by the current curator of Peradeniya Gardens, K.N. Yapa. Having served there for the past 22 years, Mr. Yapa has been able to compile contemporary data with regard to botanical names, which have appeared in the book. The Botanical Gardens in the country now come under the new Ministry of National Botanical Gardens rather than the Ministry of Agriculture. Considered a separate discipline altogether, their work has received added impetus. They have now intensified efforts to promote export oriented floriculture industry.

About latest developments in the field, Mr. Yapa said that the three botanical gardens in the country at Peradeniya (intermediate zone), Hakgala (montane zone) and Gampaha (wet zone) represent three different climatic zones. In the pipeline are plans to create a botanical garden in the dry zone near Hambantota Town. The foundation will be laid shortly in Mirajawila where over 300 acres have been demarcated. “The project that could turn into a pleasure place for people visiting Kataragama and Yala would help us conserve dry zone plants and forests,” Mr. Yapa says.