The Balance of Emotion and Intellect: An Essay Introductory to the Study of Philosophy (1878)

It is the turn of the twentieth century, and the village of Maliyadda in central highlands province of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) is home to a poor family. Wasala Bandara (Wasala) and his wife Sudumanika (Sudum) are parents to six children. Their second eldest son Siri Bandara (Siri) was forced to leave home after a feud with father. During the new year period a festival takes over the village. He builds a relationship with the grocer Dhana, yet as fate had it, he nearly has an affair with his wife. When her husband learns of this, a fight ensues at night and ultimately Dhana is killed. As a result Siri gets caught and sentenced to a life in prison by the court leaving his whole family and village in despair. The forth eldest son Jaya decides to seek happiness as a monk. The last son Ratna joins the Navy and is quickly promoted the rank of officer. One day, while at sea they come across a boat smuggling weapons. A bomb is thrown at the warship and all the Navy officers slip away from life. The whole village falls into deep sadness, and Sudum, Ratnaas mother, says goodbye because of her great love to her son.