Rizvina Morseth de Alwis Launches Novel Exploring a Mother’s Search After Easter Sunday Attacks

Sri Lankan-born author Rizvina Morseth de Alwis has launched her second novel, Talking to the Sky, exploring a mother’s search for her missing son in the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings.

The book was launched at the Royal Colombo Golf Club on October 9, bringing attention to a story that examines faith, identity, belonging and the impact of political events on personal lives.

The novel follows Aisha Hamid, a Malay woman married into a traditional Muslim household, whose son, Aqib, goes missing following the attacks. As Aisha searches for him, she encounters suspicion, fear and hidden truths that challenge her understanding of her family, community and herself.

Through Aisha’s journey, de Alwis explores the complexities of being Muslim in contemporary Sri Lanka and the ways in which tragedy can deepen existing divisions while raising difficult questions about belief and identity.

The author has described the novel as an attempt to examine the diverse experiences of Muslim life in Sri Lanka. She has also connected the characters’ questions about faith and belonging with her own experiences of uncertainty and the search for a sense of belonging.

Examining Stereotypes and Identity

Senior Professor of English at the University of Colombo, Neluka Silva, attended the launch as the guest speaker. She discussed the novel’s treatment of ethnic stereotypes and its use of multiple perspectives, highlighting how the narrative encourages readers to reconsider their assumptions about other communities.

The book also explores the relationship between public events and private experiences, focusing on how political and social tensions affect individuals and families.

Sam Perera of Perera and Hussein Publishing House described the subject as sensitive, noting the publisher’s interest in fiction that combines compelling storytelling with wider social questions.

An Award-Winning Literary Journey

De Alwis writes both fiction and non-fiction and has worked in several countries with the United Nations Population Fund.

Her debut novel, It's Not in the Stars, received the Fairway National Literary Award in 2015 and the State Literary Award in 2016. Her second novel, Talking to the Sky, was shortlisted in manuscript form for the 2021 Gratiaen Prize.

The novel is available through Perera and Hussein Publishing House and at selected bookstores, including Barefoot and Sarasavi.

With its exploration of grief, faith, community and identity, Talking to the Sky adds to Sri Lanka’s contemporary literary landscape, inviting readers to reflect on the human stories that unfold in the aftermath of national tragedy.