Road From Elephant Pass by Nihal De Silva

• Colombo Public Library, Sri Lanka

An army officer's routine assignment to pick up a woman informant near Jaffna turns into a nightmare when the Tigers launch a massive attack on the Peninsula and the camp at Elephant Pass. The two adversaries are forced to escape together through the rebel held Wanni and later, cross the abandoned Wilpattu National Park on foot.
Bitter enemies at the start of their journey Captain Wasantha and the activist Kamala face innumerable threats from wild animals and a gang of deserters who make determined and violent efforts to capture the woman. The constant external danger, and their enforced dependence on each other, gradually erodes their enmity and distrust.
But a shocking revelation confronts Wasantha when he finally reaches Colombo. He is now compelled to choose between his friend and his country.

Nihal de Silva is a product of St.Joseph's and the University of Ceylon. He runs his own business dealing in water purification and the supply of bottled mineral water. In his own words he has turned to writing fiction to keep himself occupied in his impending retirement.
The author is a keen amateur naturalist with a keen interest in avifauna and this first love is reflected in his writing. His other interests include golf, which he plays badly, and angling, where his companions always seem to have better luck.
A passionate Rotarian, he lives in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with his wife Shirlene and two sons. Road From Elephant Pass won the 2003 Gratiaen Prize awarded by Michael Ondaatje for the best English literary work published in Sri Lanka. He recently published his second book, The Far Spent Day, concerning political violence.