A major new book on contemporary Sri Lanka titled Paradise Poisoned: Learning about Conflict, Terrorism and Development from Sri Lanka's Civil Wars was launched at a ceremony held last month at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), Kandy. ICES Executive Director Professor Kingsley M de Silva presided at the ceremony that was attended by a distinguished gathering of scholars, professionals, researchers, and others interested in Sri Lankan scholarship.

Author Prof. John Richardson introduces the book.	Hon Kabir Hashim, MP (extreme left) comments on the book and the theme. The others in the picture are Prof SWR de A Samarasinghe (Director, ICES), Prof KM de Silva (Executive Director), the author Professor Richardson and Dushyantha Mendis (Associate Director).	The author presents the book to Prof K M de Silva to whom it is dedicated.

Published by the ICES, the author of the book is Professor John Richardson of the American University, Washington DC, USA. A specialist in international development and global modeling, Professor Richardson's book is the result of seventeen years of research. He has been a regular visitor to the island and for one year taught at the University of Colombo.

The author autographs the books for the readers. In the background from the left Haakon Aaasprong (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) and Prof Thilaka Metthananda (Professor of History, University of Peradeniya).	A section of the invitees: Front row from the right -- Prof S Pathmanathan (Professor of History, University of Peradeniya), Mrs. Chandra de Silva, Mr. K R R Pillai (Assistant High Commissioner, Indian High Commission, Kandy), Gen. Cyril Ranatunga and Brigadier S W L Daulagala.	At the reception: from left Aneesa Walgi (Junior Program Officer (Gender) at the World University Service of Canada), Rebecca Ennen (Fulbright Scholar) and Lisa Moore (ISLE Program).

Professor W. Howard Wriggins who authored the classic Ceylon: Dilemmas of a New Nation describes Professor Richardson's book as a “timely, provocative contribution---- that explain escalating conflict and terrorism in many countries.” Political commentator and Colombo University political scientist Dr. Jayadeva Uyangoda finds in the book “a courageous exploration in to Sri Lanka's multiple crises and insurgencies ---”

Paradise Poisoned (pp.xvi+274) is available at local bookshops and at ICES (081-2234802) for Rs 1350.