The essay collection Uthuru Kona Arumasiya (Wonder of the Northern Corner), authored by Dr Viduni Basnayake, was launched at the Clinical Training and Research Block (CTRB) of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna.
The event was organised jointly by the Jaffna Medical Students' Union, the Department of Community Medicine, and the Student Welfare Unit. The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor R. Surenthirakumaran, attended as the chief guest.
The book is a compilation of essays written during the author's six-year stay in Northern Sri Lanka after being selected to study medicine at the University of Jaffna. Originating from the country's southern region, Viduni documents her experiences of adapting to a new social and cultural environment shaped by ethnic, religious, and linguistic differences. Her writings reflect her travels across several districts of the Northern Province and her engagement with its people and history.
Releasing the book, Prof. R. Surenthirakumaran said he was proud that a student from the South had embraced the land, culture, and historical legacy of the North and transformed those experiences into a literary work. He added that such intellectual and cultural journeys among students were welcome developments and reaffirmed the faculty's commitment to supporting similar initiatives.
Speeches on the book were delivered in all three national languages.
In her remarks, the author described the book as her first literary work and an emotional historical record of her six years in the Northern Province. She noted that the essays capture the region's landscapes, people, and evolving social realities, from quiet coastal roads to deeply rooted cultural traditions. She said the work was not merely a travel narrative but a collection of personal reflections shaped by encounters, communities, and moments that revealed the soul of the North.
The book, she added, stands as a tribute to the land and its people and invites readers to rediscover the Northern Peninsula through her experiences.
Responding to the launch, one reader described the Sinhala-language book as "much needed," saying it offers a raw, honest portrayal of Jaffna from the perspective of a medical student who lived in the region for 6 years. "In many ways, it helps correct misconceptions among Sinhalese readers about Jaffna and Tamil society and has the potential to promote harmony and bring people closer together," the reader said.
