Shehan Karunatilaka

Shehan Karunatilaka is a writer based in Colombo. He was born in Galle, a city on the southern coast of the island of Sri Lanka, and when he was 15, he and his family moved to Whanganui where he finished high school. He then enrolled at Massey University where he studied English literature. After graduating, he moved back to Sri Lanka in 1998 to work in advertising.

Karunatilaka is the author of two novels Chinaman, which is also known by the title Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew and The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida.

In an interview with Brannavan Gnanalingam, Karunatilaka described his intentions when writing Chinaman, stating “I consciously wanted to write a book set in the 90s that didn’t mention the War. It was in the background. This was an appealing idea. A bunch of guys who just watch cricket and drink arrack. We know those people in Colombo. The war’s happening outside. They get caught up in their own distractions.” The story is centred around a test match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand and went on to be the regional winner for Asia in the 2012 Commonwealth Book Prize.

In 2022, Karunatilaka won the Booker Prize for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, a novel written from the perspective of a dead photojournalist, Maali Almeida, who describes himself as a “Photographer. Gambler. Slut.” Almeida traverses limbo trying to uncover who murdered him during the Sri Lankan civil war. The book has been described as “a fast-paced, entertaining romp feathered with magical realism; a ghost story peopled with souls who are exaggerated versions of their former selves; a political satire that cuts deep to the bone; and a love story. Like real life, it is painfully sad and gloriously messy, and there are no clear winners.”

Karunatilaka co-owns Papaya Books with his brother Lalith — a publishing company specialising in children’s books. Shehan writes the books and Lalith is the illustrator. Titles include Where Shall I Poop? and Please don’t put that in your Mouth. As explained on their website “Each book is made to keep children engaged, enthralled, curious, eager to learn, and out of mischief.”

When he is not writing books, Karunatilaka works as a freelance copywriter. He has worked with advertising agencies across the globe. He also writes articles for several outlets ranging from book reviews, interviews, travel journalism, cricket, football and politics. His commentary on the Sri Lankan economic crisis was published on several news platforms such as The Guardian where he stated “Laughter has been far more than a coping mechanism amid repression and economic crisis – it has rid the island of tyrants”.

Conversation between Brannavan Gnanalingam and Shehan Karunatilaka for The Spinoff

Papaya Books — website

Shehan Karunatilaka’s website

Shehan Karunatilaka — Booker Prize

2022 — The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida

2022 — The Birth Lottery and Other Surprises

2010 — Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew

2022 — Booker Prize (The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida)

2012 — DSC Prize for South Asian Literature (Chinaman)

2012 — Commonwealth Book Prize (Chinaman)

2008 — Gratiaen Prize for (Chinaman manuscript)