Return to Sri Lanka

(Paperback, Paperback Original)

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A blend of travel writing, memoir, history and current affairs that tells the story of Sri Lanka. A perfect read for first-time visitors, Sri Lankans abroad or at home, or anyone looking to deepen their understanding of one of the worlds most fascinating and paradoxical countries.

Razeen Sally was born to a Sri Lankan Muslim father and a Welsh mother. Just before his teens, a political conflict tore his family apart and he left Sri Lanka, barely going back for thirty years.

When he finally returned home, he spent much of the next decade crisscrossing the island, trying to understand this paradoxical place. Blessed with natures bounty and an easy, pleasure-loving people, it was nevertheless scarred by ethnic conflict and the violence of civil war.

As a native and a tourist, Razeen Sally makes an ideal guide to Sri Lankas past and present. He wont tell you which restaurant has the best reviews or the price of a hotel room. Instead, he will accompany you like a learned friend, sharing his journeys, pointing out the unmissable gems beyond the obvious spots, and unpacking the nations culture and history. Insightful, intimate and moving, Return to Sri Lanka is an indispensable book, whether you're already familiar with this spectacular country, or planning your first visit.

Reviews

Insightful * Hindu(India) *
Comprehensive * Sunday Times(Sri Lanka) *
Vivid * Telegraph(India) *
A modern-day vagabond walking the less travelled paths of Sri Lanka -- Captain Elmo Jayawardena * The Island *
A mine of information about Sri Lanka, its people and politics from someone with considerable knowledge and expertise -- Frank Beyer * Asian Review of Books *
Sallys book is an exemplar of the best in the genre -- Krishnan Srinivasan * The Statesman *
This highly readable book captures the spirit of a nation -- Gurcharan Das, author of India Unbound

Author Bio

Razeen Sally is a Sri LankanBritish writer. He taught political economy and international relations at the National University of Singapore and the London School of Economics, before becoming a full-time travel writer. As a professor, he held visiting academic positions and was involved with think tanks in Europe, Asia, the USA and Africa, and was a senior policy adviser to the Sri Lankan government. He now divides his time between the family home in North Wales and travel in Asia, and continues to spend several months of the year in Sri Lanka.