Tab Article

ratings: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
Genre: Sri Lankan History, War, Politics, Memoir

Book Review:
Maliga H. Gunaratne's ''For a Sovereign State'' offers a personal and insider's perspective on Sri Lanka's decades-long territorial war. Now in its fifth edition, this book aims to pull back the curtain on the ''intrigue, betrayal'' and the inner workings at the ''very apex of power'' during this tragic period.

The author, a planter by profession with a background in law, writes from a unique vantage point. Having also authored ''The Plantation Raj,'' a book on the transition from Sinhalese to Tamil in the plantation sector, Gunaratne brings a specific interest in the complex ethnic and social dynamics of the island to this work. His personal experiences, including being held in police detention and losing family members, lend a raw, firsthand quality to the narrative.

The book promises to be an inside story, detailing what went on behind closed doors as the country faced the prospect of territory being taken. It speaks to the courage, and perhaps the failures, of those at the highest levels of power. The text on the cover, though somewhat fragmented, suggests a focus on the critical moments when ''all was set to fall.''

However, the book's impact is somewhat diminished by the confusing and poorly edited blurb on the back cover, which contains repetitive and grammatically unclear sentences. This may reflect on the editing quality of the book itself. Additionally, information about the author is presented in a disjointed manner, making it difficult to fully grasp his background and credentials.

Despite these presentation issues, ''For a Sovereign State'' likely contains valuable firsthand observations and insights for readers deeply interested in the political and military history of Sri Lanka's conflict. It is a personal account that adds another voice to the complex and often painful historical record. For dedicated students of the subject, it may be a worthwhile, if flawed, resource.