Skip to product information
1 of 1

Ratnavel

Prisoner #1056: How I Survived War and Found Peace

Prisoner #1056: How I Survived War and Found Peace

Regular price LKR 10,720.00
Regular price Sale price LKR 10,720.00
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9780735245723

Roy Ratnavel's astonishing journey began at age seventeen, when he was seized by government soldiers and interned in a notorious prison camp for no reason other than being born a Tamil. He saw friends die, and was tortured for a few months-until an unlikely encounter allowed him to send a message beyond the prison walls, which led to his release.

Seeing nothing but more danger in his son's future, Ratnavel's father sought refuge for his son in Canada, far from the ethnic violence that was consuming Sri Lanka. When the consular immigration officer asked for proof that the boy's life was at risk in his homeland, Ratnavel simply lifted his shirt to show the man his unhealed scars. It wasn't long before he was on a plane. His father was shot and killed three days later.

To repay the debt he owed to his hero of a father, Ratnavel was determined to find the bright future that had been envisioned for him. He went to night school, worked three jobs at a time, and lived in a tiny space with seven housemates. Ratnavel persevered, and he hustled. He accepted no charity, even from relatives, but he made the most of the opportunities set in his path, the mentorship offered by those Canadians who recognized his potential, and by his new homeland, a country shaped by openness, tolerance, and a commitment to merit.

Prisoner #1056 is not only a moving immigrant success story and a searing account of surviving unimaginable injustice and trauma-it is an urgent warning that the dark forces of populism that tore apart the once-prosperous island of Sri Lanka can do their ugly work in Western societies too. Passionate, raw, thoughtful, and far-seeing, Prisoner #1056 makes the case that our destiny is in our own hands.
Roy Ratnavel's astonishing journey began at age seventeen, when he was seized by government soldiers and interned in a notorious prison camp for no reason other than being born a Tamil. He saw friends die, and was tortured for a few months-until an unlikely encounter allowed him to send a message beyond the prison walls, which led to his release.

Seeing nothing but more danger in his son's future, Ratnavel's father sought refuge for his son in Canada, far from the ethnic violence that was consuming Sri Lanka. When the consular immigration officer asked for proof that the boy's life was at risk in his homeland, Ratnavel simply lifted his shirt to show the man his unhealed scars. It wasn't long before he was on a plane. His father was shot and killed three days later.

To repay the debt he owed to his hero of a father, Ratnavel was determined to find the bright future that had been envisioned for him. He went to night school, worked three jobs at a time, and lived in a tiny space with seven housemates. Ratnavel persevered, and he hustled. He accepted no charity, even from relatives, but he made the most of the opportunities set in his path, the mentorship offered by those Canadians who recognized his potential, and by his new homeland, a country shaped by openness, tolerance, and a commitment to merit.

Prisoner #1056 is not only a moving immigrant success story and a searing account of surviving unimaginable injustice and trauma-it is an urgent warning that the dark forces of populism that tore apart the once-prosperous island of Sri Lanka can do their ugly work in Western societies too. Passionate, raw, thoughtful, and far-seeing, Prisoner #1056 makes the case that our destiny is in our own hands.

Shipping

We deliver books islandwide for a flat fee of 500LKR per order. All orders are processed within 1-2 days of receiving your order confirmation. Shipping takes 1-3 business days (excluding weekend and national holidays). Items are packed by Wild & the Sage and shipped by Sri Lanka Post via the Speed Post service. For more information, see our shipping policy

Store pick-up

You can skip the shipping fees and collect books directly from our bookshop: Wild & the Sage, 311 Peellagoda, Unawatuna. After placing your order and selecting In-store pickup at checkout, your order will be prepared and ready for pick up within 1 business day. Our in-store pickup hours are 9am-5pm on Tuesday-Sunday.

View full details

Welcome to Wild & the Sage

Wild & the Sage is an independent bookshop on the south coast of Sri Lanka. We stock a range of local and international titles, available for islandwide delivery. Can’t find your favourite? We’re happy to source books to order. We also host regular workshops and events, as well as a monthly book club. Visit us in Galle to try our kitchen’s incredible menu and sip coffee in our garden courtyard. Everyone’s welcome for conversations over cake.

"The book selection is impeccable, could have wandered around and read for hours."

Susanne T (2024)