‘Stuff of fantasy’: Booker Prize-winning Sri Lankan author of The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, Shehan Karunatilaka, on his new-found success

Last year, Shehan Karunatilaka became only the second Sri Lankan to win the Booker Prize, for his gay love story cum murder mystery set in war-torn Colombo

A 2023 Hong Kong International Literary Festival guest speaker, he talks about ‘enjoying the ride’, his writing process and hopes for South Asian literature

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Shehan Karunatilaka, author of The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida that won the 2022 Booker Prize and a speaker at the 2023 Hong Kong International Literary Festival, has talked about his recent win, his hopes for South Asian fiction, and his next book. Photo: AFP

Kylie Knott

Published: 4:15pm, 10 Mar 2023

On a table in front of Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka is a variety of throat lozenges.

“At dinner yesterday I was coughing a bit so the host gave me this,” says Karunatilaka, squeezing a thick brown gooey substance from a plastic sachet. “I’m not sure what it is but it seems to be working.”

It’s not surprising he’s hoarse.

Karunatilaka, in Hong Kong for the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, has been doing more talking than writing since he scooped the 2022 Booker Prize in October for his satirical novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida.

Shehan Karunatilaka, who won the Booker Prize for his novel set during the Sri Lankan civil war. Photo: Dominic Sansoni

Set in 1989 during the Sri Lankan civil war, the book follows debauched protagonist Maali, a photographer who wakes up dead and embarks on a search for his killer, recruiting his charismatic flatmates DD and Jaki along the way.