Ehelamali, the woman’s present role in society
Nipuni Wimalapala
She is another woman. She is strong and confident. She does not
believe the tradition and she tries to live her own way. She relies on
love. She is Ehelamali, the main character of Manohari’s first novel.
Ehelamali is the unique and strong woman created by Manohari
Hewawasamge.
 Manohari’s first novel Ehelamali was launched recently at Mihilaka
madura in BMICH premises. The guests participated were Malini Fonseka,
Gamini Wiyangoda, Gunasiri Silva, Sumith Chaminda, Anoja Weerasinghe and
Upul Shantha Sannasgala. The book was handed over to the guests.
Manohari Hewawasamge is a multi talented female who writes poetry,
lyrics and this time a novel. She voices out her thoughts about woman
and her position in today’s world. She always emphasises the fact that
still women are suffering in a male dominant world where women are
marginalised. Ehelamali is the woman in her thoughts who faces a number
of troubles and selects her own way to live.
Sumith Chamika, a lecturer of Colombo University, delivered the main
speech analysing the outcome of the novel. He started with a quotation
taken from the book, which shows the character of Ehelamali. He stated
that this novel has some special characteristics which make it different
from other novels. “Sometimes the author herself becomes Ehelamali while
sometimes she describes Ehelamali’s character as an outsider. It adds a
difference to the story. There is a discussion between manhood and
womanhood. But Manohari does not talk about conventional feminism. She
tries to follow a different way from traditional women. But still she
loves a man and finally delivers a baby,” Chamika stated.
Secondly, Gamini Wiyangoda, the well known critic addressed the
gathering stating some positive and negative points of the novel. He
basically said that the content of the novel and the literary materials
she uses are highly rich. Though she talks about women and their
suppression, she does not touch the root of the problem, but other
aspects. Sometimes the author jumps into the main character and confuses
the reader. So in certain cases she is not successful while sometimes
she establishes the character very strongly,” Wiyangoda stressed.
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