Because evil is better organised, better equipped and better paid.

‘You know why the battle of good vs evil is so one-sided, Malin? Because evil is better organised, better equipped and better paid. It is not monsters or yakas or demons we should fear. Organised collectives of evil doers who think they are performing the work of the righteous. That is what should make us shudder.’

S. Karunatilaka, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida (2022), loc. 4,694 

Like any gathering of crashing bores talking shop, these suicides are talking about suicide

Like any gathering of crashing bores talking shop, these suicides are talking about suicide. ‘Why is Sri Lanka number one in suicides?’ asks the girl, peering through thick glasses. Are we that much more sadder or violent than the rest of the world?’ ‘Who the fuck cares?’ says the hunched figure, as a lady in pigtails does her high jump over the edge. ‘It’s because we have just the right amount of education to understand that the world is cruel,’ says the schoolgirl. ‘And just enough corruption and inequality to feel powerless against it.’ ‘And we have easy access to weedkiller,’ says the hunchback.

S. Karunatilaka, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida (2022), loc. 3,938

Known as the Uncle Nephew Party. In power since the late ’70s and embroiled in the above two wars.

LTTE – The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam 

* Want a separate Tamil state. 

* Prepared to slaughter Tamil civilians and moderates to achieve this. 

JVP – The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 

* Want to overthrow the capitalist state. 

* Are willing to murder the working class while they liberate them. 

UNP – The United National Party 

* Known as the Uncle Nephew Party. 

* In power since the late ’70s and embroiled in the above two wars. 

STF – The Special Task Force 

* On behalf of the Govt, will abduct and torture anyone suspected of being or abetting the LTTE or the JVP.

S. Karunatilaka, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida (2022), loc. 348