A Man Called Ceylon by Somasiri Devendra

Heritage is what you make of it…

It is something your parents, your country, your culture, your environment gifted you. What does one do with this gift? Examine it, understand it, add to it and infuse new life into it.

These reminiscences, investigations and fantasies were written over many years, mainly in search of the outer reaches of heritage.

Written at many different times and for different readers, some long and other mere fragments, they are grouped, loosely, under two heads: “Water and watercraft”, which draws upon my mother’s awakening of ‘The watery element’ in me & “Heritage History”, which is my father’s legacy. I hope they make sense.