Introduction: Late last year, I met Elmo at a LitBlogger session organised by MPH bookstores. Since then, we've struck up a friendship and I've been reading his books. What I realised about Elmo is that he has a deep love for his country and this comes through in his writing. Last week, I asked him if he'd like to be interviewed and he agreed. Without further ado, I have great pleasure in introducing you to Elmo Jayawardena ...

Aneeta: Elmo, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Elmo: It is my pleasure, anytime to work with you

Aneeta: Let’s start with something about you. Can you tell me where you were born, where you grew up, what you do for a living and where you live now?

Elmo: I was born in Sri Lanka, a small town called Moratuwa. That is where I grew up and that is where my permanent home is. I have been an aviator all my adult life, flew big jets for SIA and retired in 2007 and now I train pilots for Sri Lankan Airlines. My main occupation in life is working with the poor through a humanitarian organisation I founded AFLAC International http://www.aflacinetrnational.com  - that would say it all.

Aneeta: I already know about your writing career. However, for the benefit of my readers, can you let us all know how you first ventured into writing/storytelling?

Elmo: I wrote a lot to the news papers from my young days. I never spoke a word of English till I was 17. Of course we studied English. Then I thought I will write a book. To write a book you need thoughts and an acceptable way to express them. I am a self taught writer and very proud of it for what comes out from me is pure me.

Aneeta: Let’s start with the book I’m most familiar with, Sam’s Story. Please tell us about it.

Elmo: Sam Story was a story I did not have to create. Sam worked for me, a very poor retarded boy who showed me a different meaning to life. Sam’s Story is about the poverty of Sri Lanka and the war that has killed more than 60,000 people – the book is a lesson in life – that is how I see it. Penguin India is putting out a new Sam’s Story in April and a movie is almost completed in Sri Lanka. Sam’s Story won the Gratiaen award for the best book in 2001.

I also wrote an self-published a collection of short stories called Rainbows in Braille. This book was short-listed for the Singapore Literary Prize in 2008.

Aneeta: From your website, http://www.samsstory.per.sg , I read the about your other book, The Last Kingdom of Sinhalay. Please, do tell me a little about this book.

Elmo: The Last Kingdom of Sinhalay is 850 pages and 10 long years of hard work and it tells the story of 19^th century Sri Lanka and how the colonial powers brutally erased a land and its people. This book won the State Literary Award in Sri Lanka 2005 for the best book

Aneeta: After having written all your books, what, in your opinion, is the most important aspect of storytelling?

Elmo: Write for the love of writing – a lot of people have a story to tell and they can write. But they ask two sad questions: "Who will read my book?" and "Who will publish my book?" That stops people from writing. The trick is to write – no matter who reads and who publishes it. It It is better to try and fail than fail not to try at all.

Aneeta: Thank you. That is certainly good advice. As you know, this website caters for storytellers. What advice would you give to people who would like to become storytellers? Elmo: Use what talent you posses, the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sing best.

Aneeta: Elmo, this is all I have to ask. Is there anything you’d like to add?

Elmo: Please give my email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. also my website for the poor http://www.aflacinternational.com – some one may log in and some poor child will go to school or a destitute family will have food on their table.

Aneeta: Elmo, thank you.

Elmo: Thank you so much Aneeta – I do not say this to flatter but people like you bring so much to the literary world for which I am ever grateful.

Aneeta: Elmo, you’re most welcome.

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