Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Türkiye, Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake recently hosted the author Louis de Bernières at the Residence of Sri Lanka and engaged in a lively interactive session.
Author Louis de Bernières was invited to Ankara for his epic novels set in the early 20th century, both in Sri Lanka and Türkiye. He has personal connections to both countries with his mother having lived in Sri Lanka and his grandfather having fought in the Gallipoli battles in Türkiye.
Louis de Bernières is the best-selling author of 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', winning the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Novel in 1994, which was later turned into an award winning Hollywood movie.
His recent writing 'The Dust That Falls From Dreams', formed part of a trilogy set in Ceylon that included ‘So Much Life Left Over’ and ‘The Autumn of the Ace’. Speaking at the event, Louis de Bernières explained to the audience that the novel was based on the lives of his grandparents who resided in a rubber plantation in Ceylon in the 1920s. His latest novel ‘Light over Liskeard’ was published in 2024.
The interactive session focused on the novels set on early 20th century in Sri Lanka and Türkiye and was moderated by author and art historian of the Sri Lankan origin, Shevanthie Goonesekera.
During the interactive session author Louis also shared what inspired him to write novels set in Türkiye and Sri Lanka and provided inspiring insights for the enthusiastic writers that were present.
Towards the end of the session, author Louis made it an opportunity to recount stories about his mother’s experiences in Trincomalee during the 2nd World War.
Foreign and Turkish diplomats, expats and many Turkish book lovers attended the event, which concluded with an assortment of Sri Lankan delicacies offered to them and with cheerful banter.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Ankara
11 April 2025
