Sri Lanka, April 11 -- Veteran writer A.M.P. Padeniya's autobiography in Sinhala, Neerawwa (The Pond which hasn't seen the rays of sunlight), published by Grantha was launched recently at Paradise Rest in Uthuwankanda, Mawanella. It mainly deals with his struggle to enter the University of Peradeniya and struggles in life thereafter.

Padeniya is a student of Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra. He featured in the chorus of Sarachchandra's opretic drama Pematho Jayathi Soko. His young adult novel Lokottarayek Noweemi won the State Literary Prize in 2005. The Sunday Observer spoke to him to discuss his autobiography and his life at large.

Excerpts

Q: Your name is A.M.P. Padeniya. What do those initials stand for?

A: It means Arachchirala...