Sharmala Kanagasundram’s ‘Portrait of a Colombo Tamil Family’ launched in Colombo, 43 years after ‘Black July’
A deeply personal account of loss, resilience and renewal, ‘Portrait of a Colombo Tamil Family’ by Sri Lanka-born Sharmala Kanagasundram has been launched in Colombo, coinciding with the 43rd anniversary of the events of July 1983, remembered as ‘Black July.’
The book offers an intimate narrative that mirrors the experiences of many Tamil families whose lives were irrevocably altered during that period. Through the story of her own family, Mrs Kanagasundram presents a vivid chronicle of a way of life that was abruptly dismantled, and the long journey towards rebuilding in a new land.
Set against the backdrop of pre-1983 Colombo, the book recounts the life of a prominent Jaffna Tamil family that enjoyed privilege and social standing. The family patriarch was a leading gynaecologist, while another senior family member served with distinction as a civil servant, becoming the first Chairman of the Gal Oya Board before representing Sri Lanka overseas as a High Commissioner and Ambassador. Their lives were marked by professional accomplishment, social engagement and close-knit family ties.
This world came to a sudden end in July 1983, when anti-Tamil violence swept across the country, resulting in widespread destruction, loss of life and displacement. Like many others, the family was forced to leave behind their home, possessions and familiar surroundings, relocating to Singapore to begin anew.
What follows is a story not only of survival, but of determination and reinvention. Through perseverance and hard work, the family gradually rebuilt their lives, re-establishing stability and success in a foreign environment. Interwoven with this central narrative are evocative vignettes of family members, including colourful personalities such as ‘Charlie Mama’ and the accomplished lawyer and wildlife enthusiast Sam Kadirgamar, bringing warmth and texture to the account.
In capturing both the fragility and endurance of family life, Portrait of a Colombo Tamil Family serves as a microcosm of the broader experience of Sri Lanka’s Tamil middle class during years of upheaval. It is at once a personal memoir and a contribution to the collective memory of a generation.
The book is also likely to resonate with younger Sri Lankans who did not witness the events of 1983 firsthand. By presenting history through lived experience rather than abstraction, it offers insight into a defining chapter of the nation’s past, fostering understanding across generations.
Author Sharmala Kanagasundram, now based in Singapore, was educated at Ladies’ College, Colombo. She trained as a Montessori teacher at St. Bridget’s and taught briefly in Los Angeles before returning to Sri Lanka. She later obtained a four-year diploma in French language and literature from the Alliance Française, graduating with honours.
Following her relocation to Singapore in 1983, she devoted herself to her family while pursuing further professional qualifications, completing all 17 parts of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Accountants examinations. She subsequently worked at PriceWaterhouse in Singapore.
Sharmala Kanagasundram is married to Ajit Kangasundram, a banker and computer executive, and is the mother of three sons: Amrit, a bank vice president; Arvindh, a cardiologist in the United States; and Ashok, an architect based in Los Angeles. A passionate and competitive bridge player, she is well known in Singapore’s contract bridge circles, and has also contributed articles to publications in that country.
Portrait of a Colombo Tamil Family is now available at Barefoot Bookshop and Vijitha Yapa outlets, as well as online.
