Sri Lanka, May 17 -- Veteran artiste Buddhadasa Galappatthy's two new books "Jeewana Susuma" (Moaning of Soul), a collection of short stories and "Kavi Mihira" (Enjoyment of Poetry), a volume of literary columns were launched recently as Sarasavi Publishers. The Sunday Observer spoke to him to discuss his books along with his experiences in Dr. Sarachchandra's plays as he was the make-up artiste of them.

Excerpts:

Q: Most of the time you publish books after you serialise them in newspapers, but this short story volume "Jeewana Suwanda" consists of stories which are not previously published in any paper while your other book "Kavi Mihira" is a newspaper column book?

A: Yes, "Jeewana Suwanda," my fifth short story volume is a compilation...