Jaffna and Colombo A century of relationships in 3 plays

LAUNCH: 'Jaffna and Colombo, A Century of Relationships in 3 Plays' was launched at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, BMICH on December 2.

The book, published by Vijitha Yapa Publications, contains E. F. C. Ludowyk's He Comes From Jaffna and two plays by Ernest Macintyre, Rasanayagam's Last Riot and He Still Comes From Jaffna.

He Comes From Jaffna first emerged in 1934 and audiences roared with laughter at Durai, the miserly Tamil man from Jaffna and the feckleless Burgher Issacsz, whose chief pre occupation was betting on horses.

But much water has flown down the Mahaweli since those early days of a multi cultural society where the communities could occasionally make jokes at the expense of other communities without offences being taken.

Today the situation is different. Macintyre's two plays take off on another road, the riots of 1983 and the aftermath where divisions have widened to virtual breaking point.

Through drama, foibles of men are brought out to demonstrate what was, what could be and what could have been.

The publishing of these plays is important at this stage of our history.

Ludowyk started the history of English theatre in this country and Macintyre has made an important contribution to the contemporary literature scene in Sri Lanka.