Try GOLD - Free
Ajay Kamalakaran's "Colombo: Port of Call"
Sunday Island
|March 29, 2026
A book about travel, discovery, and disillusionment
Ajay Kamalakaran’s Colombo: Port of Call is a book about travel and discovery. It is about the joy of discovery and the dreariness of disillusionment. It is about how the beliefs that shape us influence how we see another society, another world.
The book contains 14 chapters and relates accounts from 14 travellers. It tries to imagine a world and a country far removed from our own. In doing so, it tries to bring that world, and that time, closer to ours. To quote the author himself:
“The essays in this book look to capture Colombo and Sri Lanka through the eyes of those who visited the island in the heyday of ocean travel.”
This was a time when ocean travel was the only mode of transport between countries, when one had to endure weeks, sometimes months of travel to get to one’s destination.
This story is from the March 29, 2026 edition of Sunday Island.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Sunday Island
Sunday Island
Sujata Jayawardena Memorial Oration on May 9
The rescheduled 19th Sujata Jayawardena Memorial Oration will be delivered by the 52nd Chief Justice of India, His Lordship Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, on the topic \"In a True Democracy, is Parliament Supreme?\", will take place on Saturday, May 9 at the BMICH, the organizers said.
1 min
May 03, 2026
Sunday Island
Prince William gets back into uniform
The Prince of Wales last Tuesday (28) revisited RAF Valley in Anglesey to commemorate the air base's 85th anniversary, sharing heartfelt reflections on his time there.
1 min
May 03, 2026
Sunday Island
Israel, Lanka hold talks on strengthening bilateral cooperation
Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar and Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath held discussions on Thursday (30) aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation between the two countries.
1 min
May 03, 2026
Sunday Island
Vesak-Thoughts Self - Kamma and Anatta
Human beings belong to the animal kingdom, whose primordial imperative—shaped over millions of years through the process of natural selection—is survival and reproduction, ensuring the continuation of the species.
4 mins
May 03, 2026
Sunday Island
Book on GR ouster via Aragalaya to be launched on May 7
The book “Galle Face colour revolution or Regime Change project 2022” written in Sinhala by Mohan Samaranayake, analyzing the political upheaval that led to the ouster of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksha from office and toppling his government, will be launched on May 7, at 3.30 pm at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Independence Square, Colombo 7.
1 min
May 03, 2026
Sunday Island
India rooted Buddha, Lanka nurtured teachings: Envoy
Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colonne, on Thursday joined students in the national capital to celebrate Baishakh (Buddha Purnima), highlighting the cultural and spiritual traditions associated with Buddhism and the deep civilisational links between India and Sri Lanka.
1 mins
May 03, 2026
Sunday Island
Deconstructing Sugathapala de Silva (Part 2)
This is the second of a two-part essay, from my remarks at a speech I delivered at the Kolamba Kamatha Festival on March 28, 2026.
7 mins
May 03, 2026
Sunday Island
Brush strokes of legacy
Premachandra lives on in colour
3 mins
May 03, 2026
Sunday Island
Dharmaraja launches 2026 Rugby season with corporate backing
Dharmaraja College officially launched its 2026 rugby season at the D.B.Jayatilaka Memorial Hall with the support of major corporate sponsors and alumni groups.
1 min
May 03, 2026
Sunday Island
PIONEER OF SRI LANKAN ABSTRACT ART
It is wilth great joy that I delve into my memories of the inimitable art teacher H A Karunatne.
8 mins
May 03, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size