Denzil's Stories

Baptised in hooch How a night of booze changed a young man’s life T hat weekend, my friends and I were booked for an all-night party at Ragama, Sri Lanka. The occasion was the annual feast at St. Peter’s and Paul’s church, some ten kilometres away from my home. It was an event worth celebrating by Catholic lads. We assembled on a Saturday evening as a group and headed to Brian’s home. Brian was Edward’s friend. Two of them worked at Inter-Continental Hotel. It was the first time I met Brian, his elder brother Errol and their parents. In an era your friend’s friend was your friend, there was a lot of implied trust between friends. Brian was a flamboyant character on the go. We clicked immediately. St Peter and Paul’s church at Ragama By about eight pm, Brian started the house party. There were a dozen fellows and a very few girls. Brian was a fabulous host. Liquor galored, the hooch type. A lot of dancing with loud music. Everyone was drinking. The hooch tasted like a fizzy drink. I gul...

My experiences of rebellions How waves of violence in Sri Lanka broke a young man’s heart Warning — Distressing scenes described in this story. A YOUTH INSURRECTION DURING MY BOYHOOD 1971 — There was a strong student and youth socialist movement styled on the “Che Guevara” clique. Many poor, unemployed and underprivileged young people joined this movement. My two elder cousins, my father’s brother’s children, Sisira and Marie, were also in this rebel group. In their home. They replaced Jesus’s picture with that of Mao Zedong and Che Guevara. Both of them, teenagers, boldly spoke about a future socialist society. A society in which everyone was equal in Sri Lanka. Young as I was, it was a bit gibberish to me. In April 1971, the movement turned violent. The insurrection began when the rebels started attacking police stations. The Sri Lankan government responded by deploying armed forces with brutal force. Rebels cut power lines and blocked roads with trees in the countryside. Schools wer...