Kingdom of Liars -A hilarious farce on love and politics:

Critical outlook on contemporary milieu

Reviewed by Ranga CHANDRARATHNE
 

The story is woven around hilarious characters of King pin (Mayor of Madborough-imaginary city), Dolly (Mayor’s wife), Justin de Low (Chief Magistrate), Major Mess (Security Chief), Lieman (Media Chief), Fancy (Lieman’s fiancee) and Richman (A businessman).

In essence what the playwright drives home is that the entire society has become a farce. Institutionalisation of corruption and malpractice has become a phenomenon not only in Sri Lanka but also in diverse countries.

However, the degree of corruption and implicit acceptance of it by society as a rule rather than an exception in Sri Lanka is appalling. This intransigent attitude on the part of the citizenry has, to a greater degree, contributed to the continuation of the vicious cycle.

“King pin: .. You suspend all the T.V. channels and F.M radios... don’t allow ominous news to spread. Now it is your turn. MAJOR!, You kidnap all the journalists who have already reported the fire at the press and dispose them one by one. Ensure that a complete news blackout shall prevail! Blackout!” Mayor advises the Media Chief in the Kingdom of Liars. Although this may not be the exact scenario in reality, suppression of the truth and hunting the messenger has become a part of the game. It is the easiest way out for corrupt politician and officials even at the expense of justice and transparency.

Here in Madborough, politicians believe that suppression of truth is the answer to all ills. A Chastity Bill is drafted by Kin pin in order to punish his wife Dolly who carries on a clandestine love affair with Justice Justin de Low. The Bill empowers men to murder their adulterous wives. The Bill is fiercely opposed by the women’s rights group led by Dolly. Once again, motives of the so called `rights groups’ have been questioned. King pin is not genuine in drafting the Bill which is not for the public interest while Dolly opposes it also on personal reasons. However, all these actors are bound by a common interest that is to loot the public money in the name of serving the people of Madborough. As story evolves Madborough faces with a series of conspiracies and counter conspiracies. The Farce concludes with the security chief Major Mess becoming the Mayor and abolishing the judiciary. Premaranjith is critical of the system of promoting officials. In Madborough, Justice Justin de Low was a briefless lawyer who was promoted as the chief judicial officer in the city while the security chief Major Mess was a foot soldier.

In an intricately knitted plot, Premaranjith covers the malpractices and corruption in the three wings of governance; Executive, Legislature and Judiciary and the Fourth State, Media. “Kingdom of Liars” is an eye opener and certainly a remarkable social stair.

Written in a down-to-earth diction and laced with satire and full of wit, `Kingdom of Liars’ is a book which readers should not miss out.

Interesting and informative

Reviewed by Dr. Devaka Weerakoon,

Department of Zoology, University of Colombo

Even though Sri Lanka is a small island, the diversity of its wildlife is significantly important both in a regional and global scale. Sri Lanka has the highest species density (number of species present per 10,000 sq. km) of flowering plants, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals in the Asian region.

Furthermore, the wet zone of Sri Lanka is declared as one of the “biodiversity hotspots” of the world. Different people interpret wildlife in many different ways. For most people wildlife means large charismatic species such as elephants, leopards and sloth bear.

However, we must bear in mind that wildlife transcends beyond these large charismatic species and encompasses all undomesticated animal and uncultivated plant species.

Perhaps this misconception stems from the fact that most people are unaware of the wealth of wildlife found in Sri Lanka. Therefore, I feel that “The diversity of Sri Lankan Wildlife” by Jayantha Jayewardene is a timely addition to the steadily growing literature on Sri Lanka’s biodiversity.

Jayantha himself has captured the very essence of this book as he states in the prologue of this book “It is no way comprehensive and does not pretend to be so, It is only an `aperitif’ if you may, of the whole `buffet’ of wildlife, in its different forms, spread across the country.

The dessert is the spectrum of knowledge that is available on our natural environments. However it will, I am sure, whet the appetite of those interested in wildlife and also somewhat enhance their knowledge”.

Having read the book I think that the book goes way beyond Jayantha’s expectations. The book not only provides an `aperitif’ but lots of food for thought to any wildlife enthusiast and arms them with a wealth of knowledge on number of very important aspects of Sri Lanka’s wildlife. It not only manages to whet the appetite of a wildlife enthusiast that craves for information but provides a bellyful of facts about a variety of topics ranging from butterflies to elephants, invasive species to endemic species, and the diverse ecosystems found in Sri Lanka.

The book carries detailed descriptions of mammals, and birds of Sri Lanka the most visible part of wildlife one is bound to encounter when visiting natural areas of Sri Lanka. I would have appreciated a more detailed treatment of lower vertebrates and invertebrates which the author has failed to elaborate at length or the plants that have been ignored at large. But then again it is a major challenge to capture the diversity of wildlife of Sri Lanka in a single book. This is the very reason why I think that he should follow this up with another book focusing on the aspects that have not been dealt at length in this book and I cannot think of a better person who could achieve this feat.

Jayantha Jayewardene is one of the most experienced and dedicated naturalist I have come across in Sri Lanka. He has readily shared his pearls of wisdom with the rest of the wildlife lovers of this country through a series of literary works, especially on Asian elephants of Sri Lanka. Jayantha has a gift of blending his personal experience with scientific fact and present it to the reader in a clear and simple fashion.

This book too measures up to the high standards he has maintained in the past. In short I found this book provides a wealth of information on Sri Lanka’s wildlife in a simple and understandable manner. I am sure any wildlife lover would find it interesting and informative as I found it.

Tharuka and Upandina Thagga
 

Two children’s story books “Tharuka” and “Upandina Thagga” written by Dr. Shalini Karunanayake were presented to the Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka by the author recently. Currently Dr. Karunanayake is a postgraduate trainee attached to the Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Sri Jayawardenapura.

Towards a new green era and Haritha Aruna

By Patali Champika RANAWAKA,

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

From the Minister of Environment comes a book on green alternatives. `Towards a New Green Era’ and its Sinhala version `Haritha Aruna’ contain a collection of articles on a variety of titles such as the global recession, development and economy, sustainable development, limits to market, towards a new green era and green economy.

The two books were presented to Agricultural Development Minister Maithreepala Sirisena during the recent Word Environment Day programme. Both books can now be obtained from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

A fascinating mosaic of memories

Reviewed By Gaston de Rosayro

Seasoned Timber is a beautifully written compendium by Fr. Claver Perera containing a concoction of enchanting spiritual reflections and theological perceptions. The collection offers a veritable assortment of topics ranging from the scriptural to Papal personalities, poets and propoundings on faith, trust and humanity.

The notion of love and human enterprise flows through the pages of each narrative forging several images and events with enlightening discernment. It is this diversity that enhances the book’s appeal and quality.

Readers will not fail to perceive that the author’s outstanding and diverse literary gifts have found their most brilliant expression in this book. He handles his subjects with an incisiveness and intellect indicative of the highly-tuned instincts of an extraordinarily talented author. The work conveys the eclectic breadth and humanity of the author’s mind, combining an intricate mix of sensitivity and an almost imperceptible propensity for idyllic innovation.

Seasoned Timber is exceptionally good reading. It is one of those comfortable books that is nicely compartmentalized and to which you can return to often. Because of its topical variance one is able to flip through the pages and begin reading randomly from any chapter that captures one’s fancy.

In many of these bagatelles he weaves a captivating melange of enchantment, simplicity and timelessness into the pleasing tapestry of his literary mosaic. In it, one is made aware of the extent to which language can be made concurrently a device of affection, accord and accolades to the deserving. In most of his sketches, he displays the ability to depict subtly an allegory of blissful decency and living style.

There are echoes everywhere to bring back a now disintegrating culture and civilized age that the author attempts to preserve with his hopeful ebullience.

He opens up an intimate period enchantment, conjuring up a cluster of portraits of his parents and immediate family which almost spring to life. He adroitly depicts the life of his favourite Popes, Saints and literary personalities with a moving candour. He adds to these his own cheerful spirits, his gift for phrase and his sometimes hilarious intervention.

In many cameos the author weaves his experiences around the setting of an old-world charm when celestial veneration was the norm, virtually permeating the very fabric of a robust Catholic society.

The reader becomes almost rapturously involved in the wonder of Fr. Claver’s mission in unravelling the search for God in prayer and scriptures.

While doing so he shares certain aching memories of an earlier time that had become an indispensable part of so many lives. As the chapters unfold one cannot fail to be transfixed by the eloquent intensity of faith and the comforting sense of security to be surrounded by these simple religious values.

Yet, although a harbinger of a life renewed, there is nothing cerebral in the perceptible ripples of emotion the book evokes. It is a fascinating mosaic of memories that swivel from the heartwarmingly happy and humorous scenes to the starkly melancholy.

But throughout, the reader is practically kept riveted by its very integrity, lucidity and simplicity.

I am not particularly a fan of non-rhyming poetry, yet there is here something fluid and lyrical about the anthology of poems which although devoid of true rhyme are given a smoothly flowing rhythm which one finds unusual and more than compelling.

Fr. Claver is a talented conjurer of words, knows his social and religious history backwards and writes with a remarkable sensitivity. Many of his chapters provide an easy way to incorporate a modern viewpoint within a historic context.

In others, he captures the dynamics of the hopes and expectations we bring to new loves and relationships with astounding candour and sprinkled with gentle bursts of light-hearted banter.

The author exudes a kind of indefinable charm, class and cultured writing style, rarely found among the present literary fraternity. He skilfully communicates the dire need for those eminent attributes of truth, honour and justice which communities have lost in the fitful fever of modern life.

The combination of elements here is powerfully expressive as he dips into idyllic reverie, deftly enhancing for reading buffs those special elements of atmosphere and mood.

Fr. Claver’s is in addition a dexterously gifted artist and painter. Indeed, the cover of the book was designed by the author himself.

He has distinguished himself in the groves of academe and as an outstanding ecclesiastic, guru, theologian and administrator. In addition he is blessed with a terrific tenor voice and holds a remarkable record of training and forging several vocal groups into some of the nation’s finest choral ensembles. In essence, Seasoned Timber evokes echoes of the timbre of the author’s magnificent voice that helps embellish his literary expression with a sort of symphonic sweetness.