• The story behind the first Sinhala queer-centric novel

Queer storytelling in Sinhala literature has been rare, often limited to passing references or coded subtexts. Against this backdrop, the arrival of ‘Mandasmitha’ marks a striking shift. 

Written by Kaushal Ranasinghe in collaboration with Nu Perera, the novel is being described as the first Sinhala Boys’ Love (BL) story rooted in lived truth. It blends personal testimony with collective memory, offering readers a rare account of gay love, identity, and resilience within Sri Lankan society. 

More than a work of fiction, ‘Mandasmitha’ is both literature and activism, seeking to spark dialogue while capturing the realities of a generation.

Kaushal, a Sri Lankan-born human rights activist, writer, and refugee advocate now based in France, has long been a voice for LGBTQIA+ rights, HIV awareness, and refugee justice. With a background in law, gender, and health, he began his journey in Sri Lanka, serving as Youth Focal Point of the Key Affected Population Committee of the Country Coordinating Mechanism and later co-leading the first civil initiative to draft a private member’s bill to ban conversion therapy. 

His grassroots efforts included projects such as Power Women in Anuradhapura, which empowered survivors of gender-based violence, and his influence reached Parliament through debates on sexuality education and mental health. Internationally, Kaushal has spoken at forums from International Conference on Population and Development 25 (ICPD25) in Nairobi to ICPD30 in Geneva, where he became the only South Asian LGBTQIA+ immigrant and refugee advocate to bring asylum-seeker perspectives to the United Nations.

Alongside activism, Kaushal is an artist and performer. He played the main role in ‘Shakuntala,’ an Indo-French dance drama at the Camille Claudel Museum in France, and is a former television presenter as well as an Executive Organiser of Rainbodhi Europe, which creates inclusive Buddhist spaces for queer communities. 

Recently, his fiery speech at the European Parliament went viral among Sri Lankans, sparking wide discussions about queer rights. Now, with his forthcoming book ‘Mandasmitha,’ Kaushal is breaking new ground once again, this time in Sinhala literature.

Described as the first Sinhala BL novel, ‘Mandasmitha’ is a deeply personal yet collective narrative, charting 10 years of activism, struggle, and resilience in Sri Lanka’s queer movement. 

“Mandasmitha stands out as the first true Sinhala gay love story of our time. It steps away from fantasy to reveal the reality of gay love, youth, and daily life in Sri Lankan society between 2011 and 2021,” Kaushal explained. 

Unlike earlier works that touched on queer identities, such as ‘Funny Boy,’ ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida,’ and ‘Giraya,’ this book is written in Sinhala, rooted in lived experience, and shaped as much by community memory as by personal testimony.

The story within

At its heart, ‘Mandasmitha’ begins with the school days of a young gay boy who is now in his 30s. It captures the universal nostalgia of first love, with all its intensity and longing. 

“For many of us, the first love we experience in our teenage phase becomes a memory that lasts forever. In this story, that first love feels like a dream, almost a fantasy. Readers became so attached to Vishal, the character inspired by my first love, that some even created fan art of him,” Kaushal shared.

But the book doesn’t stop at romance. It dives into heartbreak, identity, and resilience. “Readers felt my heartbreak, and many cried with me, because the truth in the story is raw and honest. For some, it was even shocking; they had only ever seen gay life through fictional tales, and they asked me, ‘Does this really happen?’” 

The narrative traces the boy’s journey from a middle-class Sinhala-speaking family, through rejection and confusion, to becoming part of a turning point in Sri Lanka’s LGBTQIA+ movement. Real-life figures and events are embedded in the story, although carefully disguised to protect identities, making the book both a personal diary and a chronicle of collective struggle.

Though autobiographical in essence, ‘Mandasmitha’ is also a collaborative work. Kaushal teamed up with Nu Perera, a popular Wattpad writer known among Sinhala-speaking youth. 

“Each night before bed, I would send her audio recordings about important moments in my life. We also held long online meetings, sometimes for hours, to discuss what should go into the book. From the start, we didn’t want this to be only my story; we wanted it to capture the untold experiences of an entire generation of gay youth in Sri Lanka,” he explained.

The manuscript was refined by a respected Sinhala teacher and author, ensuring the flow of the story while retaining its emotional honesty. The result is a novel that reads like fiction yet resonates with the gravity of lived truth. “‘Mandasmitha’ became not just my biography, but a shared story of truth, struggle, and resilience,” Kaushal said.

From Wattpad to print

The story first gained life on Wattpad, where it quickly amassed over half a million reads. “One person wrote, ‘Who wrote my story here?’ Another said, ‘I became depressed after reading fantasy stories because I was searching for perfect lovers that don’t exist. But when I read ‘Mandasmitha,’ I felt I wasn’t alone.’ That was the moment we realised our purpose had been fulfilled,” Kaushal recalled.

The book also sparked activism: after Kaushal wrote about his own childhood abuse, a young girl reached out for help, leading to real-world intervention. Meanwhile, online discussions and live events with figures like Aritha Wickramasinghe and Bhoomi Harendran turned ‘Mandasmitha’ into more than a novel; it became a community platform.

Still, the journey to publication was fraught with challenges. “Getting this book published was not an easy journey. The biggest challenge was that it’s a true story, and many of the characters are real people who are known in society. That made some publishers hesitate. Writing and publishing it was like walking a tightrope, telling the truth while protecting the people involved,” he admitted. 

Gossip linking Kaushal to well-known journalists even surfaced online, which ironically boosted readership. “But it reminded us of the risks involved. Once a book is printed and out in the world, it’s nearly impossible to take things back.”

What makes ‘Mandasmitha’ different

“‘Mandasmitha’ is a true story. That’s what makes it powerful,” Kaushal emphasised. Unlike other BL novels that lean on fantasy, his book reflects real struggles, coming out, family rejection, workplace discrimination, and the search for community. 

It is not only for queer readers. “Anyone can read it and discover love through a different lens. It carries a depth and honesty that pure fantasy can’t offer, and that’s why it stands out in modern Sinhala literature.”

Kaushal’s activism and artistry also infused the work. “My artistic side as a dancer and my journey as a human rights activist shaped the way I created and interpreted the characters. That’s why symbols like the Nataraja and jasmine flower became so meaningful within the story,” he said. 

His experience in the garment industry as a human resources manager provided further layers of realism, while Nu’s background in child psychology helped bring nuance to the characters’ inner lives.

Behind the publication is Imashi Publishers, with technical and editorial support from one of Sri Lanka’s most respected Sinhala authors. Kaushal also acknowledges his family, whose acceptance gave him strength to share a story tied so deeply to personal and generational identity. 

“Without their support, this story would not have been complete,” he said. Above all, he credits Nu: “She agreed to walk this path with me, to write this story together. Her support is one of the main reasons we are even able to talk about this book today.”

On stigma and hope

As anticipation builds, Kaushal is realistic yet optimistic. “We believe that once the book is released into society, it will spark discussions. Of course, queer works of art often carry a stigma. We don’t expect our book to be spared from that. But ‘Mandasmitha’ is not just written for today. It is a documentary novel, created with the hope of helping to build freer people in this country. At its heart, this book is part of a struggle, a struggle for love. And we believe one day, love will win.”

The novel will be priced affordably to ensure accessibility, signalling Kaushal’s commitment to bringing queer stories into the mainstream.

Kaushal and Nu are already working on a new biography, this time about a transgender icon from Sri Lanka’s queer community. Slowly but surely, they are shaping another story that aims to bridge art, activism, and truth. 

“This is also your story. The characters and events you see here could just as easily reflect moments from your own life. Whether those experiences are good or bad, remember this: your life story has immense value. Don’t wait for others to approve of your life; you are the only true judge of your journey.”