Abstract
For most transnational Sri Lankans, the ethnic conflict that has submerged the island is often positioned as a significant aspect of their lives. Many transnational writers tend to focus on the ethnic conflict as well as the aftermath of leaving the homeland. Despite leaving, the homeland and the memories of the island tend to travel with the transnationals as they move to a new home. One crucial aspect of the memory of the homeland is the sea which surrounds the island. The sea is often perceived as an image that binds them to their homeland. The sights and sounds of the sea often offer both pleasant and traumatic memories, especially for those who have left the homeland. With this in mind, this paper seeks to discuss the ways in which selected transnational writers of Sri Lanka present their memories of the homeland as expressed through the image of the sea. This paper will probe into two novels by transnational Sri Lankan writers; Nayomi Munaweera’s Island of A Thousand Mirrors and Randy Boyagoda’s Beggar’s Feast. The discussion will be framed by Avtar Brah’s notion of home, as being found within the “lived experiences of a locality”. The images of the sea as presented by these writers will then be used to determine the possibility of reconciliation with the homeland or the perpetuation of trauma. Keywords: home; Sri Lanka; transnational memory; Sinhalese writings; sea DOI: http://doi.org/10.17576/3L-2016-2201-02
Highlights
For most transnational Sri Lankans, the idea of leaving home is always linked to the ethnic conflict that has submerged the island
This paper seeks to illuminate the ways in which transnational Sri Lankan writers, Nayomi Munaweera and Randy Boyagoda expand on the notion of the sea as a binding metaphor of Sri Lanka as a homeland
The sea here takes a secondary and more sinister role in reminding him of the gloominess of his homeland. Both Nayomi Munaweera and Randy Boyagoda present different perspectives on how the sea is used to represent the idea of home for their characters
Summary
For most transnational Sri Lankans, the idea of leaving home is always linked to the ethnic conflict that has submerged the island. The repercussions of the ethnic war as well as the plight of leaving the homeland, is often heavily discussed in the works of transnational Sri Lankan writers, both male and female. Regardless of their distance from the homeland, these writers often draw from their memories of the island to depict life as they remember it. This paper seeks to illuminate the ways in which transnational Sri Lankan writers, Nayomi Munaweera and Randy Boyagoda expand on the notion of the sea as a binding metaphor of Sri Lanka as a homeland. Drawing from Avtar Brah’s notion of home as being found within the “lived experiences of a locality”, the images of the sea as presented by these writers will be used to determine the possibility of reconciliation with the homeland or the perpetuation of trauma
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
