Beyond memoir
View(s):Beyond Borders: Sri Lankan Trials in the UK, the debut offering of Don Asela Jayasekera, was officially launched at the Monarch Imperial, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, recently. Diplomats, dignitaries, authors, and members of the Sri Lankan cultural community were present at the book launch, to honour a literary work that goes beyond memoir — it is a tribute to the unsung.
Saroja Sirisena, former Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK and author Don Asela Jayasekera
Spanning over two and a half decades, Beyond Borders explores the stories of Sri Lankans in the United Kingdom — not through the lens of glamour or ease often assumed from afar, but through the lived experiences of struggle, resilience, and small, hard-won triumphs. It is a heartfelt narrative that brings to life the laughter, heartbreak, and sacrifices of those who dared to begin again in a foreign land while holding onto their homeland in their hearts.
Former Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK, Saroja Sirisena and former Defence Attaché at the Sri Lankan High Commission in London Major General Swarna Bothota were present at the launch.
Ms. Sirisena reflected on the enduring cultural contribution of Sri Lankans abroad, stating: “The role Sri Lankans played in the UK in terms of guarding the country’s image amidst challenges was exemplary. What stood out was how their sense of community thrived even before formal networks took shape. Don Asela has done justice to that journey.”
Major General Bothota commended the author’s authenticity, noting, “Don Asela Jayasekera brought a truly genuine spirit to the diaspora’s efforts abroad. His dedication to changing the perception of Sri Lanka through action, sacrifice, and sincerity was extraordinary.”
Journalist and Editor of Lanka News UK, Shanthi Senadheera, observed: “Writing a book is a challenge — especially for someone with a banking background. But Asela had a rare advantage: he lived every nuance of the Sri Lankan experience in the UK, and that’s what gives his writing its heartbeat.”
Assistant Editor at The Jam Fruit Tree Publications, Gayanga Dissanayaka, emphasised the book’s emotional depth: “This isn’t a detached narrative. Asela’s voice is in the middle of every moment — honest, present, and deeply felt. That sincerity sets his work apart.”
Added Dr. S. Sivapalam, who worked alongside the author in Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical sector, “Beyond Borders will one day serve as a cultural document — an intimate archive of the Sri Lankan diaspora’s lived reality during an important chapter in our nation’s global journey.”
Author Jayasekera expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Sri Lankan High Commission in London — affectionately called “Maha Gedara” by many — and to the many individuals whose lives inspired his words. “This book belongs to those who gave their time, energy, and spirit — often quietly and at great personal cost — to uplift the image of Sri Lanka abroad, even while tending to their own battles,” he said. “My hope is that when we return — even if just in our hearts — we find the Sri Lanka we always believed in.”
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