A young editor taking Sri Lanka's stories to the world

From Skies to Scripts:

- BY IFHAM NIZAM

At just 26, Avishka Mario Senewiratne has already done what many spend a lifetime trying to achieve. A trained pilot, published author, historian, and now Editor-in-Chief of The Ceylon Journal, Senewiratne is fast emerging as a defining voice in Sri Lanka's literary and historical landscape.

But behind the titles lies a story of deep passion, quiet perseverance, and an unwavering love for history - and the written word.

Speaking to The Sunday Island, Avishka says his fascination with writing began at an unusually early age. "I've been into history and writing from the age of around seven and a half," he says. "To be honest, I wasn't really interested in the school curriculum. So, my mother brought in a tutor to teach me basic subjects but in between lessons, he'd tell me stories from Sri Lankan history, from King Pandukabaya to the more recent war.

"That was the moment something clicked. I got curious. I needed to know more."

That spark, born out of informal storytelling, eventually turned into an intellectual obsession. "At first, I used to just copy what I read. But as I grew older, I wanted to say things in my own way. That's how writing started taking shape."

Writing the Unwritten

One of the first major projects he took on was documenting the rich but under-explored history of his alma mater, St. Joseph's College, Colombo. "It shocked me that a 125-year-old school didn't have a comprehensive written history," he says.

"So, I began a collaboration with Rev. Fr. Stanley Abeysekera, a former rector and historian.

"Sadly, he passed away before we could finish the book."

Despite the loss, Avishka remained committed to the project. When wrote that book, Till the Mountains Disappear: The Story of St. Joseph's College, he was just 22. "In fact, some tried to suppress it. But that made people more curious - they wanted to know what was in it that caused such a fuss."