50 Short Stories
(2019, Short Stories)

50 Short Stories

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

Where It All Began

The stories in this collection first came to life on Nissanka’s Facebook page and across his personal websites. To his surprise and deep gratitude, they didn’t just resonate — they exploded with popularity across social media. The heartfelt comments, shares, and messages he received made one thing very clear: readers wanted more. They wanted these stories not scattered across posts, but gathered together as a book they could hold, revisit, and treasure. That heartfelt request became the seed for this book. Wikipedia

Nissanka made his definitive debut with “Fifty Beautiful Short Stories” — a 200-page collection featuring 50 inspirational short stories — released in late 2019. Grantha

About the Collection

This anthology showcases his virtuosity as a storyteller, where each short story is a world unto itself, capturing moments of human emotion, intrigue, and contemplation in concise yet impactful narratives. With an eclectic blend of genres, themes, and settings, 50 Short Stories resonates with readers from all walks of life — from tales of love and loss to mysteries that unravel in mere pages, inviting readers to dip into the myriad facets of the human experience. Goodreads

As the pages turn, readers are transported from the enchanting landscapes of Sri Lanka to the far reaches of the world, reflecting Nissanka’s global perspective and his ability to breathe life into diverse characters and scenarios. Goodreads

Each story in this collection carries something deeper — a reflection, a lesson, or a feeling. Every tale has been crafted with emotion, meaning, and a touch of magic. Wikipedia

A Note From the Author

Nissanka closed the book with a personal message to his readers: “I believe the same overwhelming response my stories received through social media will reach me from you too, as you read them. As I said before, based on your response, I hope to create a second volume with another 50 short stories. So please share your thoughts with me — I look forward to them. Win at life. Live happily. Victory to you!” Kasukusu

He also noted that many stories in the book carry an afterword — a reflection added at the end — making each story not just a narrative, but a conversation between the author and the reader. Kasukusu

Why This Book Matters

50 Beautiful Short Stories is not just a debut — it is a declaration. It announced to Sri Lankan readers that a bold new voice had arrived. A voice that could move effortlessly between genres, between emotions, between continents — and still make every single story feel personal and true.

50 Short Stories not only exemplifies Nissanka’s literary prowess but also serves as a testament to the boundless power of brevity in storytelling. Goodreads It proved that a story does not need to be long to leave a lasting impression. Some of the most profound truths can be told in just a few pages — and Nissanka understood that from the very beginning.

From this single book, a remarkable literary career was born — one that has now produced nearly twenty titles, multiple bestsellers, award nominations, and a loyal readership that spans the entire island of Sri Lanka.

Genre: Short Stories | Inspirational | Fiction | Multi-Genre Pages: 200 Year: 2019 His Debut Book — Book No. 1 Available at: PothMee Publications | pothmee.com

Gohar (2019, Horror, Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Location: Armenia)

Gohar

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

The Story Behind the Story

Before this terrifying and deeply curious story about a child’s life could be told, Nissanka believed the reader deserved to know how he first came to be drawn into it. Goodreads

One day, his wife returned home from visiting her closest friend — and when she walked through the door, she lay down on the bed in a state of severe distress. Her face was pale. Sensing something deeply wrong, he moved closer and asked what had happened. She looked at him with a sharp, piercing gaze — and in that single look, he instantly knew she was about to tell him something extraordinary. Since every story he had ever written had first been brought to him by his wife through the most remarkable real-life experiences, he waited, watching her, hungry to know. It was then that she told him the story he would later name Gohar. Goodreads

It was a story about the child of her best friend — a woman named Ripsime — filled with events so supernatural, so disturbing, so deeply unsettling that they were still unfolding even as he wrote them down. He published it exactly as it came to him, with some events shaped into fiction to heighten the reader’s experience — but he is clear about one thing: this is a story rooted in true events. Both Goha and Gor are still alive among us today. Goodreads

The World of Gohar

Gohar is set across two countries, with a third adding further depth to the narrative. The primary backdrop is Armenia — a small, deliberately beautiful country in Eastern Europe. The main story unfolds in a magnificent city called Vanadzor, nestled within breathtaking mountain ranges in Armenia. During winter, these mountains are entirely blanketed in snow, creating a landscape of extraordinary, haunting beauty. The third setting woven into the narrative is Switzerland. Goodreads

Together, these three locations — Armenia, Vanadzor, and Switzerland — create a richly layered world that feels both vast and deeply intimate. The mountains, the cold, the foreign landscapes are not mere backdrops. They breathe and pulse with the story itself.

What the Story Is About

At its heart, Gohar is an intensely terrifying and deeply curious story woven around the life of a small child. It masterfully explores the realm of horror against the haunting backdrop of Armenia, weaving a chilling narrative that delves into the depths of fear and the supernatural. As the lines between reality and the supernatural begin to blur, the story takes the reader on a spine-tingling journey where ancient legends and contemporary fears intersect. Goodreads

Nissanka’s meticulous attention to detail lends an air of authenticity to the narrative, drawing readers into the heart of the Armenian setting and culture. With a deft touch, he navigates the eerie atmosphere of the novel, immersing readers in a world where the unknown lurks just beyond the veil of reality. Goodreads

A Bestseller That Endures

Gohar currently holds bestseller rankings across multiple categories — No. 2 in Adventure, No. 5 in Horror, No. 7 in Crime, Mystery and Thriller — and continues to be one of the most talked-about novels in Nissanka’s entire body of work. Goodreads

Since its release in 2019, it has never stopped finding new readers. Its story — rooted in something real, set somewhere beautifully unfamiliar, and filled with something deeply terrifying — has made it one of the defining works of contemporary Sinhala horror fiction.

The Author’s Closing Note

“This is a story created based on a chain of true events. Just as Goha lives, so too does Gor — still alive among us today.” — Muthumudalige Nissanka Goodreads

Gohar Online

Gikor Գիքորը (2019, Translation, Hovhannes Tumanyan, Armenian story)

Gikor

The Most Heartbreaking Story in Soviet Literature

Original Author: Hovhannes Tumanyan | Translated into Sinhala by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

How This Book Came to Be

The story of how this translation came to life is as moving as the book itself. It began when Nissanka was in Switzerland. One day, almost by chance, he walked into a library and noticed a woman sitting alone, reading. As he watched, her expression changed — and she began to cry, quietly wiping away her tears. EverybodyWiki

Intrigued by what he had witnessed, he approached her and asked about the book. She was the one who first told him about Gikor. That moment stayed with him. He returned to Armenia with a burning desire to translate it — and with the help of several Armenian scholars, he carefully researched the true Armenian meaning of every word before he began. The result was his Sinhala translation titled “ගිකෝර් — අර්මේනීයානු ශෝඛාන්තය” (Gikor — The Armenian Tragedy). He describes it as likely his first and last translation — and says that only if he finds another book as deserving as this one, from any corner of the world, would he ever translate again. EverybodyWiki

About the Original Story

Gikor is a short story written in 1895 by Hovhannes Tumanyan — Armenia’s national writer. Bookmark Tumanyan is often hailed as the “Armenian Shakespeare,” a poet and author who transformed oral folk traditions into literary canon, giving voice to the rural poor against the backdrop of empire, war, and tragedy. EverybodyWiki

Gikor tells the tragic story of a village boy sent to the city to work as a servant for a wealthy merchant. Muthumudaligenissanka A poor peasant named Hambo decides to take his twelve-year-old son Gikor to the city to find work, hoping it will give the boy a better life. His wife weeps, refusing to let go — “I don’t want to throw my innocent child into that unjust world,” she cries. But Hambo prevails, and together, father and son travel to the city of Tiflis, where Gikor is placed into the service of a merchant called Bazaz Artem. ESPNcricinfo

Gikor, wide-eyed and overwhelmed, encounters a world completely unlike anything he has known — shops overflowing with fruit and colourful fabrics, carriages rushing past, street vendors, children going to school. Everything is bought with money: bread, butter, milk, even water. As his father gives him advice late into the night, Gikor falls asleep leaning against him, exhausted from two days of wonder and unknowing. ESPNcricinfo

Beneath its simple surface, the story is layered with deep emotional and social nuance — a narrative about class divisions, lost innocence, the weight of poverty, and the aching process of growing up, told through a uniquely Armenian lens. PothMee Publication

Why It Matters

Gikor has such a powerful emotional impact that even its film adaptation is known to move viewers to tears — it is impossible to hold them back. Goodreads Tumanyan’s style — simple language, vivid imagery, and deep social empathy — elevated the voices of the powerless, and Gikor stands as one of his most enduring masterpieces. EverybodyWiki

For Muthumudalige Nissanka, this was not merely a translation project. It was an act of love — for a story, a culture, and a child who deserved to be remembered. He describes Gikor as a book that every Sinhala reader must experience. EverybodyWiki

Genre: Classic | Tragedy | Children’s | Short Story | Translation Original Language: Armenian Translated by: Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em) Available at: PothMee Publications

“සෝවියට් සාහිත්‍යයේ සංවේදීම කතාව” The most heartfelt story in Soviet literature.

Gikor Online

Thrithwa (2020, Crime | Detective | Fiction | Mystery | Romance | Thriller About: Homosexuality)

Thrithwa | Trinity

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

The Story Behind the Story

Thrithwa began as something deeply personal. The author wanted to write a love story — a love story between himself and a real person in his life named Faith, someone he truly loved. Every image, every body, every emotion, every feeling crafted for the character of Faith in this book belongs to that real person. He wanted to combine his love and Faith’s love into a beautiful love story. EverybodyWiki

But then something happened that changed everything. His wife had a close friend named Charlotte, who visited them one day. During their conversation, the topic shifted to homosexuality. Charlotte was someone who strongly and forcefully rejected it. At the end of their conversation, Nissanka asked her a single question: “If your own child were to become homosexual, what would you do?” Her answer shook him to his core: “I would kill that child with my own two hands.” EverybodyWiki

That answer — and the shock it sent through him — is what turned Thrithwa into a same-sex love story. He believes that Thrithwa has helped many people stop hating homosexuals. Whether you accept them or not is your choice. But hating them? That was the question he could not leave unanswered. EverybodyWiki

The Story

Set in Bern, Switzerland, Thrithwa tells the love story of Yashoda — a Sri Lankan girl who grew up without her mother’s love — and Faith — an American girl who also lost her mother’s love early and sought emotional connection. They work as secretaries under the director of a luxury hotel, and their love grows quietly, naturally, and with extraordinary tenderness between them. EverybodyWiki

But one day, the head of the institution watches this innocent love through a CCTV camera — and that single moment brings an unexpected, heartbreaking turn to all three lives. The newly appointed hotel director, Machello, discovers their secret. And from there, the story becomes something far deeper than a love story — it becomes a detective story, a story of survival, sacrifice, and a love that refuses to be destroyed. EverybodyWiki

At the heart of it all is Detective Lucy — assigned to investigate a death connected to Machello. Can Yashoda fool the detective? Did they commit the crime? Will Lucy uncover the truth? And in the end — will Lucy act based on the law, or based on her heart? EverybodyWiki

What Readers Said

With 37 published reader reviews — the most of any book in Nissanka’s entire catalogue — Thrithwa has clearly left a mark unlike anything else he has written. Some highlights from readers:

“Faith, Yasho — I fell in love with your love. I experienced your story so beautifully throughout 281 pages. Love is neither normal nor abnormal — what truly matters is the happiness you share in that love. I love Thrithwa — a story that challenges the world and tells it to take a beating.” EverybodyWiki

“We must understand that homosexuals are a part of humanity, made of flesh and blood just like us. They too want to live happily like any other human. The fault lies not with them — but with selfish people who believe they are perfect and live their lives belittling others.” EverybodyWiki

“Reading Trinity felt like watching a film. I became so immersed that I finished the entire book in a single day.” EverybodyWiki

“The only question I had while reading Thrithwa was: how can a man describe a woman’s feelings so touchingly?” EverybodyWiki

A Consistent #1 Bestseller

Thrithwa currently holds No. 1 in Romance and No. 3 across all other categories — Crime, Detective, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, and Novels — making it one of the most consistently popular books across the entire PothMee catalogue. EverybodyWiki

Part of the Thrithwa Trilogy

Thrithwa is the first of three books in the Thrithwa Trilogy, a romantic thriller series themed around sexuality, identity, and the lives society refuses to see. The three books — Thrithwa, Baby, and Venus — each tell entirely different stories with entirely different characters, bound together by their courage to explore what most Sri Lankan literature never dares to touch.

Thrithwa Online

Eka Dawasak Re (2020, Crime | Fiction | Horror | Mystery | Thriller Location: Armenia)

Eka dawasa re by Sri Lanka writer Muthumudalige Nissanka

Here is the full description for එක දවසක් රෑ | Eka Dawasak Re (One Night) by Muthumudalige Nissanka, translated and written in the way it deserves:

Eka Dawasak Re

One Night

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

The Story

A mother who had woven beautiful dreams about her daughter’s future. A dinner party held at her home. And then — slowly, inevitably — the moment when everything turns completely upside down. Muthumudaligenissanka

Something unknown begins to happen in the lives of everyone who came to that dinner. Lives that seemed ordinary, separate, and unconnected begin to unravel. And beneath it all — binding every single one of them — is one event. One terrifying, shared secret that ties them all together. Muthumudaligenissanka

To find out what that event is — what connects them all — you must read Eka Dawasak Re. A horrifying story of thrills, curiosity, and fear — all unfolding in the span of a single night. Muthumudaligenissanka

A Single Night. An Entire World of Darkness.

Set against the captivating backdrop of Armenia, Eka Dawasak Re is a gripping crime fiction novel that draws readers into a world of intrigue and suspense. Nissanka skillfully weaves a narrative that unfolds against the rich tapestry of Armenian culture and history, adding depth and authenticity to the story. As the plot unravels, readers are taken on a thrilling journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. The novel’s intricate web of mystery keeps readers engaged from the very first page to the very last. Bookmark

Armenia — the same land that gave birth to Gohar, Nissanka’s most beloved horror novel — returns here as a setting of equal power and atmosphere. Its ancient cities, its brooding landscapes, its culture steeped in history and tragedy make it the perfect canvas for a story as dark and layered as this one.

What Makes This Book Special

Eka Dawasak Re is a masterclass in compressed storytelling. Everything happens within a single night — and yet within those few hours, the author manages to build an entire world of deception, hidden connections, and human darkness. The dinner table, in this novel, is not a place of warmth and conversation. It is the stage where buried secrets begin to surface, where comfortable lives begin to crack, and where the truth — terrible and unavoidable — refuses to stay hidden any longer.

It is a story that shows how much can unravel in just one night — and how a single event from the past can reach across time and destroy everything people thought was safe.

A Bestseller That Endures

Eka Dawasak Re holds strong bestseller rankings across multiple categories — No. 4 in Horror, No. 5 in Fiction, No. 6 in Crime, Mystery and Thriller — and consistently ranks among the top books across the entire PothMee catalogue. Now released in a new print edition, it continues to find new readers and remains one of the most talked-about works in Nissanka’s body of writing. Muthumudaligenissanka

“A mother who had woven beautiful dreams for her daughter’s future.”

A dinner party. Hidden connections. Lives that will never be the same.

All of it — in just one night.

Format Paperback

Published September 13, 2020 by PothMee Publication

ISBN 9786245552122 (ISBN10: 6245552125)

ASIN B0DM2HGV4W

Eka Dawasak Re Online

Bomba Thunak (2020, Crime | Fiction | Horror | Mystery | Romance | Thriller About: Tamil Tigers Attacks on Colombo)

Here is the full description for බෝම්බ තුනක් | Bomba Thunak (Three Bombs) by Muthumudalige Nissanka, translated and written in the way it deserves:

Bomba Thunak

Three Bombs

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

The Voice That Opens the Book

“Only the person who has truly lived through a war knows how terrifying it really is. Everyone else has experienced war through a television screen, or through a newspaper. What can people like that possibly understand about war, sir?

My pain began with this bomb — the one that exploded right before my eyes. It saved my life. But it shattered my heart into a thousand pieces. This book holds that story.” ⚡️ Bookmark

About the Story

Bomba Thunak confronts one of the darkest chapters in Sri Lanka’s modern history — the devastating bomb attacks carried out by the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) on the city of Colombo. Nissanka’s narrative skillfully delves into the emotional impact of these events on both individuals and society at large. Through his characters, readers witness the resilience, sorrow, and hope that emerge in the aftermath of tragedy. Goodreads

This is not a book about politics. It is not a book about war strategy or military history. It is a book about the human stories that remain hidden behind the headlines — the personal struggles and triumphs of those directly affected by the attacks, whose lives were torn apart in seconds and who were left to rebuild from the rubble of what remained. Goodreads

The narrator’s voice draws the reader in immediately and personally — this is not a distant account of events. It is the testimony of someone who was there. Someone who survived a bomb blast with their body intact but their heart irreparably broken. The story that follows is theirs — raw, honest, and deeply human.

The World Behind the Headlines

The LTTE bomb attacks on Colombo during Sri Lanka’s civil war were among the most traumatic events in the nation’s recent history. Crowded public spaces — bus stations, city centres, banks — became targets. Ordinary people going about their daily lives were killed, maimed, and psychologically destroyed in moments of chaos and fire that most Sri Lankans could never have imagined in their own neighbourhoods.

Bomba Thunak stands as a tribute to the strength of the human spirit in the face of those events — and a reminder of the importance of acknowledging and remembering history’s most harrowing moments, not through statistics and news reports, but through the voices of those who lived it. Goodreads

A Story That Stays With You

Among the readers who discovered this book through Nissanka’s other works, Bomba Thunak is consistently described as one of his most emotionally powerful — a book that moves in a different direction from his horror and supernatural thrillers, but carries just as much weight. Where his other books thrill and terrify, this one breaks the heart. And where it breaks the heart, it also reveals something extraordinary about human endurance.

One reader who had already read Thrithwa and Gohar described the experience of discovering Bomba Thunak: “By the time I began Bomba Thunak, I could already feel the aftershocks of his narrative style — his knack for balancing curiosity with suspense is unmatched. Even though we are accustomed to real historical events, his imaginative storytelling ensures these tales remain fresh and unforgettable.” ESPNcricinfo

A Bestseller in New Print

Bomba Thunak holds bestseller rankings across multiple categories — No. 4 in Romance, No. 6 in Horror, No. 7 in Fiction, and No. 8 in Crime, Mystery and Thriller — and has now been released in a new print edition, continuing to reach new readers across Sri Lanka. Bookmark

“Only the person who has truly lived through a war knows how terrifying it really is.”

A bomb exploded right before his eyes. His body survived. His heart did not.

⚡️ “This book holds that story.”

Bomba 3k Online

Meesha (2020, Fiction, Horror, About: Child Labor, Location: Georgia)

Meesha

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

Part of the Goha Series

Meesha is the third book in the Goha Series — the deeply atmospheric, supernatural story universe that Nissanka first built with Gohar (set in Armenia) and continued with Gustha. Each book in this series stands on its own as a complete story, yet they share the same dark and haunting DNA — rooted in real places, real cultures, and the kind of fear that lingers long after the final page. Goodreads

The series so far:

Gohar — Armenia
Gustha — Armenia
Meesha — Georgia

About the Story

Meesha ventures deep into the realm of horror, painting a chilling picture of child labour set against the haunting backdrop of Georgia. Through this narrative, Nissanka sheds light on the grim reality faced by countless children around the world — their lives marked by exploitation, darkness, and despair. As the story unfolds, readers are led on a spine-tingling journey that exposes the horrors of child labour in a setting where shadows thrive and the line between the human and the supernatural is dangerously thin. Muthumudaligenissanka

Nissanka’s storytelling power is fully on display as he skillfully combines elements of horror with deep societal commentary — creating a narrative that both terrifies and compels readers to reflect on the injustices that persist in the shadows of the world we live in. Muthumudaligenissanka

Georgia — A World Unlike Any Other

Georgia — a country nestled between the Caucasus mountains, where ancient history, Soviet shadows, and a deeply spiritual culture converge — provides the perfect setting for a story this dark. Its landscapes are at once breathtakingly beautiful and deeply unsettling. Its history carries the weight of empires, wars, and the kind of poverty that forces children into lives they never chose.

Nissanka has always been deliberate about the countries he chooses as settings for his stories. Armenia gave Gohar its supernatural dread. Georgia gives Meesha its particular darkness — a darkness that is not only supernatural, but deeply human and deeply real.

The Child at the Centre

What makes Meesha extraordinary is its choice of subject. Child labour is one of the most widespread injustices in the world — and one of the most invisible. It hides in plain sight, in fields and factories and back streets, in the lives of children whose names nobody learns and whose stories nobody tells.

Nissanka chooses to tell that story — not through a report or a statistic, but through horror. He makes the reader feel the weight of a child’s suffering in the most visceral way possible. The darkness of the supernatural and the darkness of exploitation become one — and in doing so, he forces the reader to confront something they may have spent their whole life looking away from. Muthumudaligenissanka

What Readers Said

Readers who had already read Thrithwa and Bomba Thunak described Meesha as a book that proved Nissanka’s unique ability to give the same depth and satisfaction across completely different genres and themes. One reader wrote: “The reason I picked up Meesha was that the author had already shown the ability to deliver the same experience as Thrithwa and Baby. If I have one regret, it is only that I discovered his works so late.” Bookmark

“Gohar. Gustha. Meesha.”

Three books. Three countries. Three worlds of darkness. And at the heart of each one — a child.

Meesha is the story the world forgot to tell. Nissanka told it anyway.

Format 300 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2020 by Poth.me

ISBN 9786249678804 (ISBN10: 6249678808)

ASIN B0DM2JRGFZ

Meesha Online

Po (2021, Crime | Fiction | Horror | Romance | Thriller | About: Transgender Sexuality and Dissociative Identity Disorder)

Here is the full description for පෝ | Po by Muthumudalige Nissanka, translated and written in the way it deserves:

Po

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

Where the Title Comes From

The author was born in Kotahena — one of the most densely populated and culturally diverse areas in Colombo, where people of all ethnicities, social classes, and ways of life lived side by side. He has always considered that a blessing — because from childhood, he grew up around people from all walks of life: rich and poor, gentle and rough, harmless and dangerous, people of every kind. Goodreads

It was during those years that he first met Shashi — a Tamil boy from the same neighbourhood. Though Shashi was a boy, he walked, spoke, and carried himself in every way like a woman. Nissanka remembers clearly: when Shashi walked down the street, people mocked him. They shouted “Pō” at him. Some threw stones. Goodreads

It is that word — the name people hurled at Shashi as a slur, as a joke, as a weapon — that Nissanka took and gave back with dignity. He named his 9th book after it. “Pō.” Goodreads

The Author’s Own Words

“Pō is the book I love most among everything I have ever written. As it says in the dedication: this book is written for ‘Pō — that gentle, compassionate community of human beings made of the same bones, blood, and flesh as the rest of us, whom society calls eunuchs.'” Goodreads

“People will talk about Pō even more in the future. I believe that.” Goodreads

“Today, I do not know whether Shashi is still alive, whether he has died, or whether society itself killed him. But I hope that everyone who reads Pō will never — not even as a joke — throw a stone at someone like Shashi again.” Goodreads

The Voice at the Heart of the Story

The novel opens with a raw and deeply human confession from one of its central characters — a voice speaking directly to a son, breaking open the truth of a life that was never chosen: Goodreads

“But son, remember this — I did not choose to become a eunuch. If God had asked me before I was born: do you want to be born a eunuch, or do you want to be born a proper man — I would without question have chosen to be a man. I too want to live that way. But what can I do, son — this was not my choice. This is the way I was born. Yet the world we live in does not think that way. In their minds, we chose to become eunuchs. They believe that even though we had the chance to be men, we chose to live this eunuch’s life.” Goodreads

In a single passage, Nissanka dismantles decades of misunderstanding and mockery — and replaces them with something the transgender and intersex community in Sri Lanka has almost never been offered in literature: humanity.

What the Story Is About

Po is a crime thriller that follows a detective’s pursuit of truth and justice — but at its deeper level, it is a profound and courageous exploration of transgender identity and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Through meticulous character development, Nissanka invites readers into the minds of his protagonists, allowing them to experience their struggles, fears, and triumphs from the inside. As the detective unravels the threads of the case, readers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster that challenges perceptions and stirs empathy. Goodreads

Po seamlessly weaves together genres — crime, psychological thriller, romance, and social commentary — while exploring themes that are almost entirely absent from mainstream Sri Lankan literature. It is a reminder that beneath the surface of every crime lies a tapestry of emotions and identities waiting to be seen. Goodreads

Why This Book Matters

In Sri Lankan society, transgender people — referred to as “napumsaka” — are among the most marginalised and mocked communities in existence. They are jeered at on the street, excluded from families, denied employment, and stripped of dignity at every turn. Nissanka wrote Po not to explain them, not to pity them, but to stand beside them — and to say: they are made of the same bones, blood, and flesh as the rest of us. Goodreads

In a country where that statement alone can be considered controversial, Po is an act of quiet, powerful defiance.

Format Paperback

Published April 9, 2021 by PothMee Publication

ASIN B0DLND3HVK

Po Online

Baby (2021, Crime | Detective | Fiction | Horror | Mystery | Romance | Thriller True Story | Location: Colorado, United States)

Here is the full description for බේබී | Baby by Muthumudalige Nissanka, translated and written in the way it deserves:

Baby

“When the best revenge of love is — never letting go”

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

Part of the Thrithwa Trilogy

Baby is the second book in the celebrated Thrithwa (ත්‍රිත්ව) story series — a trilogy that caused an enormous sensation among readers. The series is described as a romantic thriller trilogy woven around the theme of sexual relationships between three people, and the conflicts, passions, fears, and desires that arise from within them. Each of the three books in the series carries entirely different stories and entirely different characters — they are bound not by characters but by theme, by intensity, and by the unflinching courage with which they approach the parts of human life that most literature in Sri Lanka refuses to touch. PothMee Publication

Baby is the story you are about to read — one of the three. PothMee Publication

About the Story

Baby is a life story that touches every single dimension of a woman’s existence. It is crafted by weaving together the sexual relationship between three people and everything that blooms and burns from within it — desire, thrill, fear, and curiosity — into a single, relentless narrative. PothMee Publication

Like every novel Nissanka has written before it, Baby is a novel of a completely different kind. It delicately touches the theme of a three-way sexuality — a dimension of life that has never before been brought to light in Sri Lankan literature. It illuminates a completely different facet of lives as they are actually lived — not as society pretends they are lived. And just as the first Thrithwa book became extraordinarily popular among readers, Baby is certain to follow the same path. PothMee Publication

Format 333 pages, Paperback

Published February 4, 2021 by Poth Mee Publication

ASIN B0DM4NZ5VK

Baby Online

Venus (2021, True Story, Romantic, Crime, About: Homosexuality, Location: United States)

“Where does love get a rejection, girl?”

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

Where It Begins — A Night That Never Ends

For most people, the night is the most beautiful part of their day. After working from morning until evening, they come home, hold their wives and children close, and drift off to sleep. But for the narrator of this story — the night is like a terrifying dream. PothMee Publication

She works at a night club. Every day she arrives at six in the evening, changes into her work clothes by seven, and begins her shift as a waitress. But what she endures goes far beyond what any job description could contain. While a sex worker at least has the choice to close her eyes, she does not even have that mercy. With her eyes wide open, men grab her body, squeeze her, press against her, leaving her with no option but to fight them off with her hands and feet and somehow escape. And if the offender is a VIP customer — she cannot even do that. She must stay silent, no matter what is done to her. The VIP rules of the club allow them to take any girl to a hotel. There are no laws to protect her. No regulations. No justice. PothMee Publication

This is the world Venus opens into — raw, unflinching, and deeply uncomfortable. And it is only the beginning.

The Heart of the Story

Venus is a true story set against the landscapes of Utah, United States, exploring the complexities of love, identity, and the battles that LGBTQ+ individuals must fight simply to exist — and to love — on their own terms. PothMee Publication

At the centre of the story is a tender, aching moment between two women — Samantha and Feli — where love is not declared in grand gestures but in a quietly hummed English song, its words translated into the most honest promise two people can make to each other: PothMee Publication

“Forgive me — I cannot promise to turn your life into a rose garden. Even alongside the most beautiful sunrises, sometimes great rains will fall. All we can do is endure all of it and live.” PothMee Publication

“Let us live — enduring all things.” “Yes — enduring all things,” she replied, and kissed her lips once more. PothMee Publication

What Venus Is Really About

Venus is not simply a love story. It is a powerful exploration of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity — and a deeply honest look at the discrimination, violence, and injustice that LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face. It dives into the harsh realities of a world that criminalises love, and the ongoing struggle for acceptance, dignity, and equality. PothMee Publication

The title itself carries multiple meanings. Venus — the planet of love, the goddess of beauty, the brightest light in the night sky — and yet a world entirely inhospitable to life as we know it. It is the perfect symbol for a love that burns brilliantly, beautifully, and dangerously, in a world that was not built to welcome it.

Breaking Boundaries in Sinhala Literature

The single published reader review of Venus captures its impact with powerful honesty: “Reading the book made me realise I too had been trapped inside a certain frame of thinking. The word ‘lesbian’ used to make me flinch. Thank you, Venus — for shattering that frame and giving my mind a good clean-up. In short, a complete brain wash.” PothMee Publication

In a literary landscape where homosexuality is rarely discussed openly, Venus stands as one of Nissanka’s most courageous works — a book that does not ask for permission to exist, does not soften its edges, and does not apologise for the love it portrays.

A Story Rooted in Truth

Like many of Nissanka’s works, Venus is drawn from real events. It reflects the genuine struggles of real people — their love, their suffering, and their extraordinary strength in the face of a world that too often refuses to understand them. PothMee Publication

Venus Online

Colombo Attack (2021, Crime | Fiction | Horror | Mystery | Thriller | War About: Sri Lanka Easter Bombings)

“7 Days That Set the Entire City of Colombo Ablaze with Terror”

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

About the Book

Colombo Attack is a fictional thriller, but written in such a vivid, cinematic way that images form in the mind’s eye as if watching a film. Every word is saturated with suspense, and the reader’s curiosity is never left unfed — not even for a moment. It is a story that can be savoured with breathless excitement all the way to its final page. Goodreads

The Story

The central character is Major Latif Mohamed — a sharp and highly skilled officer serving in the Police Criminal Investigation Unit attached to the Colombo Narcotics Headquarters. His intelligence, dedication, and character are comparable to the finest officers who have ever served in Sri Lanka’s security forces. Goodreads

Throughout the novel, the author masterfully portrays the relentless sacrifice of officers like Major Latif — alongside colleagues such as Durga, Vikram, Nadé, Lal, TB, and Naveen — as they race against time to prevent unimaginable devastation. These characters call to mind the real war heroes of Sri Lanka’s past, and the wars that the country continues to fight in the present. Goodreads

A chilling announcement comes from IS terrorists: a series of suicide attacks are being launched across multiple locations in the city of Colombo — and the final strike will be far more devastating than anything that has come before. Can Major Latif and his team stop the carnage in time? Goodreads

The Human Cost of Extremism

Sri Lanka is a country that has suffered deeply under the weight of extremism — and the Easter Sunday bombings stand as one of the most brutal chapters in its modern history. The author captures the horrifying reality of extremism throughout this novel with unflinching honesty. Extremists have sunk so low as to twist even the innocent minds of children — turning them into instruments of destruction for the sake of personal and ideological agendas. Goodreads

Characters like Hafees, Shihara, Sufi, Najeera, and Ali — along with their unknowing, innocent children — are manipulated and weaponised by others. Each of them is a reminder of how extremism destroys not just its targets but its own followers, robbing even the most blameless souls of their freedom and their future. Goodreads

A Cinematic Experience

The author has been described as a writer who gives readers the experience of watching a film rather than simply reading a book. Colombo Attack is one of the finest examples of this gift — a pulse-pounding, visually rich thriller that holds the reader in its grip from the very first page to the very last. Goodreads

It is not merely an action thriller. Beneath the explosions and the investigations lies a deep and painful tribute to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks — to those who lost their lives, to those who survived with broken hearts, and to the officers who stood between the city and total destruction.

First Reader’s Note

The first reader review of this novel was written by Dhananjani Kariyawasam, who described it as a story that summons the memory of brave officers who gave everything for their country — and as a work that confronts the horrifying truth of extremism with courage, clarity, and compassion. She concluded with a simple, powerful invitation: “You are invited to read the spine-chilling Colombo Attack.” Goodreads

“කොළඹ නගරයම භීතීයෙන් ඇවිළවූ දවස් 7ක්”

Seven days. Multiple suicide bombs. One city on the edge of collapse. One officer who refused to stop.

Format 300 pages, Hardcover

Published September 13, 2022 by PothMee Publicaton

ASIN B0DM4HXGBB

Kolaba Praharaya Online

Baba Ex (2022, Fiction | Thriller | Crime | Classics | Spiritual | Social Commentary)

“When Myth Becomes Religion”

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

The Author’s Own Words

Baba X is my 10th book. I wrote this book for several special reasons. The most important is the “religious myth” that is still spreading across Sri Lanka today. Everyone talks about politics. Everyone talks about the economy. But when the subject of religion comes up — their mouths lock shut on their own. Why? Fear. The fear that comes with religion. The fear that priests have pushed into your mind through their mythical beliefs — that if you speak, God will punish you, God will curse you, God will destroy you. Because of that very fear, people who freely speak about politics or the economy are too afraid to speak about the religious myth that is destroying society, pulling people down into a pit. Kasukusu

Some adults even teach this myth to their own children — pulling them into the same pit they themselves have fallen into. By sowing the seeds of myth born from their own ignorance into the minds of children, they destroy the future of the country as well. Kasukusu

“I wrote Baba X for people who are blinded by myth and ignorant reverence — who can see the wrongness and the harm of myth right in front of them yet still applaud it; who are reluctant to accept reality; who suppress their free thinking because of religious fear and are trapped within it, suffering.” Kasukusu

“If even one person who reads Baba X comes to understand myth for what it is, speaks even a single word against it, or at the very least keeps their own children away from it — that will be the truest victory I can earn for the country of my birth.” Kasukusu

“This will be the most different story ever written in Sinhala literature.” Kasukusu

About the Story

Baba X is set on a small island called “Asirилантया” — a fictional name that immediately evokes the idea of a place filled with miraculous, extraordinary people. The story begins with a wandering yogi arriving by boat to this island, where myth and divinity will collide with power, desire, and death. Muthumudaligenissanka

The story is built around four deeply symbolic characters, each representing a fundamental truth of existence:

Baba — Divinity Baba is a fraudulent man who uses divinity as his weapon. Moving through society as a revered holy figure, he exploits the deep human need for faith — claiming to grant children to barren women, performing so-called miracles, and ascending from a wandering yogi to a great deity in the eyes of his followers. His evolution — from ash-smeared ascetic to sacred lingam devotee to grand holy man — shows how easily divinity can be manufactured and sold. Kasukusu

Jeeva — Life Jeeva is Baba’s right hand. Without Jeeva, all of Baba’s efforts would be meaningless. He is the symbol of life itself — calculated, observant, silent, and always planning. He gives Baba’s myth its structure, its momentum, and its survival. Kasukusu

Mara — Death Mara is the symbol of death — impulsive, unpredictable, and loyal to Baba in his own dark way. He represents the force that eventually claims all things, reminding us that no power, no matter how divine it appears, can escape the final reckoning. Kasukusu

Lasa — Impermanence Lasa is the female character — the symbol of change and impermanence. She becomes the turning point in the lives of all three men. Her arrival brings transformation, and her presence ultimately accelerates the unravelling of everything Baba has built. Kasukusu

The Central Question

At its heart, Baba X asks readers to sit with an uncomfortable truth: “We are all, without knowing it, caught in some kind of myth. We believe it as if it were real. We live by it. And in doing so, we become the very ones who keep that myth alive.” Kasukusu

Unlike Nissanka’s horror and thriller novels, this book is deeply reflective — aiming to expose the fear embedded in religion that prevents people from thinking freely, questioning dogma, or speaking openly about truth. It argues that while people freely discuss politics or the economy, speaking critically about religion provokes fear: fear of divine punishment, curses, or social rejection. Goodreads

Readers have described it as the first work in Sri Lankan Sinhala literature to address religious myth in this manner — comparable in social depth to the works of Mahagama Sekara, yet in a completely different voice and form. The character of Baba has been described as representing not just fictional holy men, but real figures like Sadhguru, Osho, Sai Baba — and even Sri Lankan political leaders who have wielded religious sentiment to maintain their power over the masses. Muthumudaligenissanka

A Book That Changed Readers

Baba X carries 16 published reader reviews on PothMee — among the highest of any of Nissanka’s works. Readers describe it as:

“A madness you can read in one breath — and a lesson for life.”
“A book that shoots straight through your eyes into your brain.”
“The kind of book that stays with you for days after you finish it.”
“The truest mirror of Sri Lankan society that has ever been written.”

“ඔබ මේ කියවන්නේ, මිථ්‍යාව, ආගම, ස්වභාවධර්මය සහ විශ්වය යන සතර කෝණයන් එකිනෙක ස්පර්ශ කරන්නා වූ ඒ පරම සත්‍යයේ කතාන්දරයයි!”

“What you are reading is the story of the ultimate truth — where myth, religion, nature, and the universe touch each other at all four corners.”

Baba Eks Online

Hadata Gal Gasu Kollek ‘A Boy Who Threw Stones at the Moon’

(2022, True Story, Motivation, Educational, Children Book, About: Stuttering)

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A Boy Who Threw Stones at the Moon

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

Genre: True Story | Motivation | Education | Young Adult Fiction Publisher: PothMee Publications ISBN: 978-6-24-55529-2

About the Book

A Boy Who Threw Stones at the Moon is a heartwarming true story that addresses a topic often overlooked — stuttering. Nissanka’s narrative is a celebration of individuality and the power of perseverance. Through the lens of a children’s and young adult story, he brings to life the journey of a character facing the challenges of stuttering with resilience and determination. This educational and motivational work not only offers insight into the struggles of those with speech impediments but also serves as an invaluable resource for young readers. It stands as a testament to Nissanka’s commitment to using storytelling as a vehicle for awareness and empathy, ensuring that young minds are enriched with understanding and acceptance. Wikipedia

The Title — And What It Means

The title itself is quietly profound. A boy who throws stones at the moon is someone who reaches for the impossible — who dares to challenge something far greater than himself, knowing he may never reach it, yet refusing to stop trying. It is the perfect metaphor for a child who stutters in a world that is quick to laugh, quick to dismiss, and slow to understand. He throws his stones anyway. Not to bring the moon down — but to prove to himself that he is not afraid to try.

Why This Book Matters

Stuttering affects millions of children worldwide, yet it remains one of the least discussed and most misunderstood conditions in both literature and society. Children who stutter often face teasing, isolation, and a quiet erosion of self-confidence that can follow them well into adulthood. Nissanka uses this story not only to bring visibility to stuttering but to remind readers — young and old alike — that the struggles faced by those with speech impediments are real, valid, and deeply human. Wikipedia

In a literary landscape where Sri Lankan children’s books rarely tackle subjects this sensitive, A Boy Who Threw Stones at the Moon is genuinely groundbreaking. It does not pity its protagonist. It celebrates him.

Awards & Recognition

Published in 2022, this book was nominated for Best Young Adult Fiction at the prestigious Godage Awards 2023 — one of Sri Lanka’s most recognised literary awards — under its English title “A Boy Who Threw Stones at the Moon.” Facebook

Who Should Read This Book

This book is for every child who has ever felt different. Every parent who wants to teach their child compassion. Every teacher who needs a story to open a classroom conversation about inclusion. And every adult who remembers what it felt like to be the child who was misunderstood.

Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em) is a visionary Sri Lankan author who has authored nearly twenty books, many of which have claimed bestseller status. Bookmark Yet among all his thrillers, horrors, and crime novels, A Boy Who Threw Stones at the Moon stands apart — quieter, warmer, and in many ways, more courageous than all of them.

“හඳට ගල් ගැසූ කොල්ලෙක්” A boy who aimed at the impossible — and inspired everyone watching.

Available at PothMee Publications | pothmee.com

Hadata Gal Gasu Kollek Online

Me Atha Kageda (2023, Crime, Detective, Gothic, Thriller, Location: Estonia)

Whose Hand Is This?

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

It Begins With a Hand

The story opens with a chilling scene. A sergeant approaches his captain — a sharp-eyed, lean officer named Yeraj — with news that stops everything cold:

“Captain, we found a hand on that bus.”

Yeraj doesn’t immediately grasp what his subordinate is trying to say. He stands upright and demands clarity.

“What hand? What are you talking about? Say it properly — what happened?”

The young sergeant tries to compose himself.

“I was on duty here, sir… and then I heard it — a scream from the direction of that bus.” He pointed toward a white bus parked at the bus stop, its interior lights still glowing. A few people stood gathered around it.

“The driver had opened a suitcase. And foolishly, he also opened the ice bag inside and looked.”

“An ice bag?”

“Yes, Captain. The hand was inside the ice bag. Cut off — separated just below the elbow. Someone had hidden it in the ice and packed it inside that suitcase.”

The moment his subordinate finished speaking, Yeraj’s narrowed eyes went wide. ESPNcricinfo

“Let’s go,” he said — and moved swiftly toward the bus.

“Are you absolutely certain it’s a hand?” he asked as they walked.

“Yes, Captain. A severed one.” ESPNcricinfo

The World of the Story

Me Atha Kageda takes readers on a gripping journey through the eerie landscapes of Estonia, where a blend of crime, detective work, and gothic thriller elements converge. Nissanka’s narrative mastery is on full display as he crafts a story that resonates with dark undertones and deep suspense. The plot follows a detective as he navigates the shadows of a chilling mystery, uncovering secrets that lead to unexpected revelations. Wikipedia

Estonia — a small, atmospheric country in Northern Europe — provides the perfect canvas for this kind of story. Its long winters, dense forests, and brooding silences become as much a part of the narrative as the characters themselves.

What Makes This Book Stand Apart

Nissanka is described here as a cinematic writer — and nowhere is that more evident than in Me Atha Kageda. The opening scene alone reads like a film — sharp dialogue, precise visual detail, and a slow build of dread that pulls the reader in immediately. Before you have even turned the second page, you are already asking the same question as Captain Yeraj: Whose hand is this? ESPNcricinfo

Through meticulous attention to detail and a skillful narrative structure, Nissanka invites readers to become part of the investigation — experiencing the tension, uncertainty, and thrill of the journey from the inside out. Wikipedia

A Consistent Bestseller

Me Atha Kageda holds strong bestseller rankings across multiple categories — No. 3 in Horror, No. 4 in Crime, Detective, Mystery, Thriller, Fiction and Novels. It consistently ranks as one of the top four books across the entirety of PothMee’s catalogue. ESPNcricinfo

“Captain… the hand was inside the ice bag. Cut off — just below the elbow.”

One severed hand. One ice bag. One suitcase on a bus. And a question that will follow you to the very last page:

Format 330 pages, Hardcover

Published July 20, 2023 by PothMee Publication

ISBN 9786245552054 (ISBN10: 6245552052)

ASIN 6245552052

Me Atha Kageda Online

Ho Lucy Lucy (2025, Phycological Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Location: UK)

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

The Author’s Own Words

“Ho Lucy Lucy is a book that tells far more stories on the inside than what is visible on the surface. It is a work that provokes thought across many different themes. And for me personally, Ho Lucy Lucy is the most complex work of my creative life — one that pushed me to think deeply about love.” Muthumudaligenissanka

“Building the main character of this novel was far more difficult than any character I have created before. Because I needed to capture the exact psychological turmoil that character was living through, I even went and observed people suffering from mental illness — watching how they murmured with their lips, how they held conversations with themselves. And as I lived inside that character, I found myself talking to myself too.” Muthumudaligenissanka

“More than any other book I have ever written, I truly lived inside Ho Lucy Lucy.” Muthumudaligenissanka

The Story Behind the Story

Nissanka named the novel after his own wife, Lucy — and he believes that is part of what made writing it both easier and more painfully difficult. For the very first time in his life as a writer, he did something a writer should never do: in order to truly inhabit the mind of the novel’s protagonist, he made himself believe — within his own mind — that Lucy had died. He turned her into a character who no longer existed, so that he could write with total conviction from inside that grief. Muthumudaligenissanka

“The most beautiful thing about writing is that you get to live inside it. The way I lived inside Ho Lucy Lucy during the time of writing it — it amazes me. And it makes me happy. I am genuinely glad that I was able to write another book with that kind of love and sacrifice.” Muthumudaligenissanka

Four Years. Seventeen Books. One Promise.

In his release note for Ho Lucy Lucy, Nissanka reflected on his journey — nearly four years in which he wrote 17 books, every single one of which earned the love of his readers. He spoke of pulling back from social media for long stretches, sometimes going months without replying to messages or leaving a single comment. Yet during that silence, his readers never left. Every time a new book arrived, they trusted him — because they knew that none of his books would ever leave them empty. Every story would fill them with curiosity, knowledge, or excitement. Muthumudaligenissanka

“I never dreamed of becoming a writer. Not even in a dream. Yet within nearly four years, I wrote 17 books — even I can barely believe it. But perhaps there is a reason for it. Perhaps I came quickly and will leave quickly. I believe that when life gives someone everything fast, destiny does so for a reason.” Muthumudaligenissanka

His Promise to the Reader

As he does with every book, Nissanka made a single promise to his readers upon the release of Ho Lucy Lucy: “From the moment you pick up Ho Lucy Lucy, you will not be able to take your eyes away from it. Just as I lived inside this book, you too will live inside Ho Lucy Lucy.” Muthumudaligenissanka

About the Book

Ho Lucy Lucy is a Psychological Thriller — a gripping, layered novel that operates on multiple levels simultaneously. On the surface it appears to be one story. But beneath that surface, it holds many more. It is a book about love, loss, obsession, and the fragile edge between a mind that is whole and one that is unravelling. Muthumudaligenissanka

It is also notably his first novel with a jacket cover — a detail the author himself pointed out as something different and special about this release.

“හෝ ලුසී ලුසී…” A name. A love. A mind on the edge. A story you will not be able to put down.

Asiklanthaya (2023, Dark Comedy, Humor)

Asiklanthaya by Sri Lanka writer Muthumudalige Nissanka

Genre: Black Comedy / Dark Humor | 410 Pages

Asiklanthaya is Muthumudalige Nissanka’s very first Black Comedy — a genre also known as Dark Comedy, Black Humor, Morbid Humor, or Gallows Humor. Goodreads

In simple terms, what makes this genre special is its unique ability to take the most difficult, serious, painful, and sensitive topics — whether social, political, or otherwise — and present them in a smooth, mentally accessible, and entertaining way, all while drawing laughter from the audience. Goodreads

Notable examples from this genre include works such as My Uncle Oswald, Catch-22, American Psycho, A Clockwork Orange, and Good Omens. George Orwell’s widely known Animal Farm is also considered a work that belongs to this genre, alongside allegory, fable, and political satire. Goodreads

Within Nissanka’s broader body of work, Asiklanthaya tackles the theme of political failure in Sri Lanka, making it part of his Thrithwa trilogy alongside Baba Ex (religious myth) and Thrithwa (homosexuality). EverybodyWiki

The author himself describes this as a completely new experience — not only for him personally, but also for Sri Lankan literature as a whole, where Dark Humor is an exceptionally rare and unfamiliar genre. Goodreads

In short, Asiklanthaya is a bold and groundbreaking work in Sinhala literature — a sharp political satire dressed in dark humour, confronting Sri Lanka’s political failures with wit, intelligence, and uncomfortable honesty. It is a significant departure from Nissanka’s horror and thriller works, yet carries the same fearless, unflinching spirit that defines everything he writes.

Format

400 pages, Hardcover

Published August 21, 2023 by PothMee Publication

ISBN 9786245552108 (ISBN10: 6245552109)

ASIN 6245552109

Asiklanthaya Online

Rahas Parikshaka Hamuduruwo (2023, Adventure | Classics | Crime | Detective | Fiction | Horror | Mystery | Spiritual)

Muthumudalige Nissanka Latest Book Rahas Parikshaka hamudhuruwo

Rahas Parikshaka Hamuduruwo

The Detective Monk

“ඇල්ලේ රාධ” — Season 01

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

A Landmark Moment in Sinhala Literature

“Another milestone in my life. I am bringing a new name to Sinhala literature — ‘Rahas Parikshaka Hamuduruwo.’ ‘Alle Radha’ — our Detective Monk.” Goodreads

This is the first book in the Detective Monk story series. Following this, the series will expand into 10 books containing 50 detective adventures of the monk — with the remaining 9 books planned for release within the next three years. Goodreads

A Completely New Kind of Story

Rahas Parikshaka Hamuduruwo is structured in the format of a television drama series — five detective stories written in a cinematic, episodic style. Having written nearly 20 books in a cinematic style, Nissanka describes this as his newest and most exciting challenge yet: “This is the first work I have specifically created with the intention of one day becoming a television screenplay. Because of that, as you read it, you will be able to visualise the scenes as if you are sitting in front of a TV watching a teleplay.” Goodreads

He also describes it as the first story in Sinhala literature to combine Buddhist literature and detective fiction in a single narrative universe — and he humbly invites readers: “If a detective monk story series has already been created in Sinhala literature before this, please leave a note below — because I do not know of one.” Goodreads

The Author’s Vision

Throughout his career, Nissanka has explored homosexuality, religious myth, political failure, war, terrorism, child labour, transgender identity, and psychological horror — always pushing into territory that most Sri Lankan authors leave untouched. Rahas Parikshaka Hamuduruwo is yet another entirely new experiment — this time blending the spiritual world of Buddhism with the sharp, suspenseful world of detective fiction. Goodreads

He writes with characteristic self-awareness and humour about the inevitable reaction: “If someone posts a proud comment before this book is even released saying ‘Muthumudalige has come to destroy Buddhist literature too’ — I will be immensely delighted by that as well.” 😊 Goodreads

The Detective Monk — Alle Radha

At the centre of this series stands Alle Radha — a Buddhist monk unlike any character seen before in Sinhala literature. He is not a monk who simply sits in a temple and chants. He is a monk who investigates. A monk who observes, analyses, questions, and unravels mysteries that the ordinary world cannot solve. He brings together the clarity of Buddhist wisdom and the sharp instinct of a seasoned detective — making him one of the most original characters ever introduced to Sri Lankan readers.

This is a brand new concept for Sinhala literature — “a Detective Monk, created for Sri Lankan literature” — a character Nissanka is confident will become one of the most beloved and enduring figures he has ever brought to life. Goodreads

What to Expect — Season 01

Season 01 contains five complete detective stories, each following Alle Radha as he navigates a different mystery. The stories are structured episodically — each one complete in itself, yet building the world and the character of the Detective Monk across the whole volume. Nissanka himself hands the monk over to readers with these words: “I am entrusting the Detective Monk to you from this moment. This is my first drama series. The first book of Rahas Parikshaka Hamuduruwo — 50 stories across 10 books. I wrote this with the intention of one day making it into a drama series. So it comes to you as ‘Rahas Parikshaka Hamuduruwo — Season 01.'” Goodreads

A Consistent Bestseller

Rahas Parikshaka Hamuduruwo holds impressive bestseller rankings across a wide range of categories — No. 1 in Classics, No. 1 in Spiritual, No. 2 in Adventure, No. 3 in Detective, and consistently ranked in the top positions across Crime, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, and Thriller as well. Goodreads

“සිංහල සාහීත්‍ය වෙනුවෙන් රහස් පරීක්ෂක හාමුදුරුවන් කෙනෙකු.” “A Detective Monk — created for Sinhala literature.”

He wears robes. He carries wisdom. And he solves what no one else can.

රහස් පරික්ෂක හාමුදුරුවෝ — Season 01 🙏⚡️

11 (2023 Horror Thriller Mystery and Detective)

Here is the full description for 11 by Muthumudalige Nissanka, translated and written in the way it deserves:

11

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

Genre: Horror | Mystery | Thriller | Crime | Detective Publisher: PothMee Publications

A Note Before the Story Begins

Before this thrilling, mysterious, and suspenseful story is told, the narrator — Rudra Prathap Ranasingha — believes you must first understand how he became part of it. Bookmark

The Setup

At the time, he was serving as the Officer-in-Charge of the only police station in a small region known as Deniawala. The promotion came within the first three months of his marriage, and both he and his wife saw it as a stroke of fortune. They set off for Deniawala with great joy. According to what the previous officer had told him, Deniawala was a peaceful, beautiful, tranquil village — serene and picturesque in every way. Bookmark

When he described the village to his wife, she was overjoyed — embracing him with a soft smile, more than once, saying: “Then this is the most beautiful time of our lives. A time we will never forget.” He felt the same happiness in that moment and agreed. “Yes… this will certainly be the happiest time of our lives.” Bookmark

But it was not to be. Bookmark

When Everything Fell Apart

The moment they stepped into Deniawala — full of dreams, expecting the most joyful chapter of their lives — a storm broke loose. A horrifying chain of strange events began unfolding immediately. It started with a series of murders so vile and brutal that no one on earth could have anticipated them. And then, one by one, the mysterious and terrifying details behind those killings began to surface — in ways that neither he nor any of his officers had ever expected. The story ended in a manner none of them could have foreseen. Bookmark

The beautiful time he and his wife had prayed for was turned completely upside down. Their life together was transformed into a painful and bitter chapter. And even after they left Deniawala behind, they were never able to erase those events from their minds — and so they carried the misfortune of living the rest of their lives in the shadow of what happened there. Bookmark

A Warning to the Reader

The narrator speaks directly to the reader with a chilling promise: “This story is extraordinary — filled with things you will find almost impossible to believe. And if one day you read this and I am no longer among the living — remember this: everything written here is true. Every word is something I personally faced and witnessed with my own eyes.” Bookmark

He warns that as the story unfolds, the reader’s mind will keep pointing toward several different people as the true killer. But none of them will be the real murderer. Even the conclusion that the reader feels most certain about will not be the truth. He describes the true nature of these events as deeply sinister — and urges the reader not to reach any conclusion before the story is complete. Bookmark

“Even after you finish the story, if you are able to piece together what truly happened — that would be a testament to your own sharpness and your extraordinary ability to solve secrets. But how accurately you can arrive at that conclusion, even I cannot say.” Bookmark

He closes his opening with one final request: “Keep your observing eye completely awake as you read this story.” Bookmark

What Makes 11 Unique

11 is not a typical murder mystery. It is a deeply layered, psychologically disorienting thriller that operates on multiple levels simultaneously. The number itself carries weight — each chapter, each clue, each revelation nudging the reader closer to a truth that keeps shifting just beyond reach. It is a book that refuses to let you settle. Every time you think you know who the killer is, the ground moves beneath you.

Narrated in the first person by a police officer who lived through the events himself, 11 carries the haunting credibility of a true account — and the author deliberately blurs the line between reality and fiction, leaving the reader perpetually unsettled.

“Keep your observing eye completely awake.” Because in this story — nothing is what it seems. Not even the ending.

11 Online

More about Muthumudalige Nissanka

Jakas (2025 Horror Thriller Mystery and Detective)

Jakas - Latest book of Muthumudalige Nissanka 2025

Format

Hardcover

Published September 27, 2025 by PothMee Publication

ISBN 9786245552283 (ISBN10: 6245552281)

ASIN B0FXV5FD16

More about Muthumudalige Nissanka

Diyana Soff (2026, Horror, Crime Location: Utah, United States)

Diyana Soff — A Book Review

by Mithuni Yasara (Mithu) | #PothayiMithuyi

After a long silence away from books, I finally found a quiet moment to sit alone with a story — and that’s when Diyana Soff caught my eye. Almost by chance, my gaze drifted to the small clock on my reading desk. It read 2:30 AM. Not that time ever matters to me when I’m reading. Day or night, once I start, I can’t stop.

But let me not wander off. The reason I mention the time is simple — this story itself begins at exactly 2:30 AM. And that coincidence genuinely startled me.

“All of this started three days ago… Friday. At exactly 2:30 at night…”

That is how Diyana Soff, written by Muthumudalige Nissanka, opens.

I had previously encountered Nissanka’s world through Gohar and Saroja. Going in, I half-expected Diyana Soff to be a companion to those stories — but she is something else entirely. This novel takes the mysterious, supernatural genre Nissanka has built his name on and pushes it a bold step further.

The Story

The protagonist is Melinda, Diyana Soff’s class teacher. Everything begins the moment Melinda notices a drawing Diyana made in class — a family portrait titled “My Family.” From that single image, a deeply unsettling chain of events unfolds.

We follow the story through Melinda’s perspective, trusting her account from the very beginning. Yet there are moments when even Melinda loses her footing within the narrative — and every time that happens, the reader’s curiosity snaps back to Diyana Soff herself. I found myself repeatedly drawn back to the cover of the book, my eyes searching it as if it held answers. My curiosity only deepened with each page.

What Makes It Stand Out

This novel does not drag the reader along a single, predictable trail. Instead, it approaches from multiple angles, shifting perspectives and keeping you constantly off-balance. It felt to me like a clever intellectual game the author plays with the reader’s mind — and he plays it brilliantly.

One of the most thought-provoking threads running through the story is the contrast between gods and demons — the divine and the wicked — which the author weaves in with quiet, haunting precision. It pulls the reader into a relentless battle between the heart and the mind.

“People spend most of their lives not with gods, but with demons. If they truly understood this, they would stop dealing with demons and strive to live alongside the divine.”

The Central Mystery

Is Diyana Soff a spirit? A demon’s pawn? Or is everything simply a product of Melinda’s unraveling mind? Is all of this merely an illusion?

Those answers are yours to find. Diyana Soff will guide you there — though not without making you uncomfortable along the way. Some passages did slow my reading pace, but they never once dulled my curiosity.

On Muthumudalige Nissanka as a Writer

What draws me most to Nissanka’s stories is that he never fabricates. Every story he tells is rooted somewhere in lived experience — and that authenticity makes each one feel distinct and irreplaceable. I don’t see him as someone who constructs stories. He unravels them. And the task of weaving the meaning together is left entirely to the reader. He gives that freedom generously, and completely.

That is precisely why his readers so often find themselves wide awake at 2 AM, staring into the dark, turning things over in their minds. It is a familiar sight among those who love his work.

Final Thought

Even as I write this, I feel Diyana and Melinda sitting on either side of me. Whether that is imagination or something else, I cannot say. And Charlie? — I won’t tell you who that is. That would be an injustice to Diyana herself. Perhaps that makes me the next victim.

What I will say is this: the longer Muthumudalige Nissanka takes to properly introduce us to Charlie, the more relentlessly his readers will chase him for answers. Of that, there is absolutely no doubt.

Review by Mithuni Yasara (Mithu) #PothayiMithuyi | Muthumudalige Nissanka

Format Hardcover

Published February 20, 2026

ISBN 9786245552290 (ISBN10: 624555229X)

ASIN 624555229X

Face book Good Reads Web

50 Short Stories (2019, Short Stories)

50 Short Stories

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

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About the Collection

A Note From the Author

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A Single Night. An Entire World of Darkness.

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Georgia — A World Unlike Any Other

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Po (2021, Crime | Fiction | Horror | Romance | Thriller | About: Transgender Sexuality and Dissociative Identity Disorder)

Po

by Muthumudalige Nissanka (Nissh Em)

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Baby (2021, Crime | Detective | Fiction | Horror | Mystery | Romance | Thriller True Story | Location: Colorado, United States)

Baby

“When the best revenge of love is — never letting go”

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Venus (2021, True Story, Romantic, Crime, About: Homosexuality, Location: United States)

“Where does love get a rejection, girl?”

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Where It Begins — A Night That Never Ends

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What Venus Is Really About

Breaking Boundaries in Sinhala Literature

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Colombo Attack (2021, Crime | Fiction | Horror | Mystery | Thriller | War About: Sri Lanka Easter Bombings)

“7 Days That Set the Entire City of Colombo Ablaze with Terror”

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50 Short Stories
(2019, Short Stories)