a brief sketch of the writer

A writer Interviewed

by Aditha Dissanayake

The house is barely visible to the visitor. A confusion of creepers and
trees seems to hide it from the outside world. The wine that clings to the
balusters in the balcony is called rasakinda (Tinospora Cordifolia). Across the roof of the garage stretches the adolescent branches of a Nika (Vitex trifolia) tree. It's young boughs are covered with strands of hathawariya (Asperagus racemosus). Closer to the ground are bushes of sandalwood and komarika (Aloe indica).

Ringing the bell to seek access means literally that - pulling at a string
clinging from a brass bell on the roof of the garage. The door opens to
reveal a bare bodied man clad in a sarong. My mind races back to the past to
a picture of the statue of King Parakramabahu in front of the Parakrama
Samudrya in ancient Anuradhapura. Could this be the statue come alive?

It couldn't be. For I am at the abode of daya dissanayake, the General
Manager of a pharmaceutical company in Colombo. His cheeks are covered with
now graying black bristles. The thin, sliver-rimmed spectacles and the bold,
broad forehead make him look stern. Yet, a glimpse of the gentle sparkle in
his eyes is enough to put even the most nervous and amateurish of
journalists at their ease.

I make him talk about his past. He had begun his career as a teacher, and
had worked as a quality controller at the Cement Corporation before
embarking into international trade.

"I am tired of my work at the office and dream of the day I could retire,"
he says with a sigh. " I can then, devote my time entirely to writing".

"Writing". The magic word. I harp on it and get him to talk about his
novels. Kat bitha is his first book. A historical novel based on the saga of
King Kashyapa, Kat bitha was judged the best English novel for 1999 at the
State Literary Festival.

His second novel, The Saadhu Testament at www.saadhu.com is the first novel
written by an Asian to appear in the electronic form before it was published
in the conventional form of a book.

The Healer and the Drug Pusher, published by iUniverse.com focuses on
the differences between the healthcare systems in 10th century and the
present day.

Daya dissanayake does not believe in using capital letters to write his
name. He uses the simple letter “i” to refer to himself. "I'm not important.
I'm a simple person". Is how he explains this phenomena.

Simple, he is, for he leads a spartan existence. A total vegetarian, he eats
only two meals a day and wishes to wear the national dress as much as
possible. The bulath heppuwa (tray of betel leaves) on a stool in the sitting room, the lap-top computer next to it, and the chocolate coated cat curled up on Brohier's
Ancient Irrigation Works in Ceylon symbolize the complexity of his character.

My interview with him comes to an end. I realize its time to make a move. I
climb the stairs and enter my room.

I live here.

He is my father.