A page from 'Athetha Wakya Deepanya', by A Mendis Senanyaka (1880?).
This collection of Sri Lankan proverbs and fables are printed in Sinhala, an official language of Sri Lanka, with a translation into English. The translator concedes: '… many Sinhalese proverbs owe their beauty to alliterations, puns, &c. which cannot be exhibited in an English translation.'
See and read the full pamphlet online in the Digital Gallery
This item featured in the 'Voices from the 'Voices from the Commonwealth' display at the National Library of Scotland from 9 July to 7 September 2014.