Sri Lankan author and Booker prize winner Shehan Karunathilake has responded to plagiarism allegations levelled by local journalist and Attorney Rajpal Abeynayake.

Abeynayake has claimed Karunathilake had based his prize-winning novel ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’ on a manuscript written by him and given to Karunathilake to obtain his support to publish the book. He has given interviews on the matter as well as disseminated his claim through a viral Whatsapp message.

Responding to the allegation Karunathilake admitted that Aneynayake had sent a 56-page untitled ‘novella’ in 2011 seeking an author’s endorsement. He said the claim he has stolen from this is baseless and insulting.

Excerpts of the author’s statement :

I have shared his email and the ‘novella’ manuscript with my lawyers who confirm that the claim of plagiarism is entirely unfounded and that the allegations made are libellous. I have also shared the ‘novella’ with my publishers – who confirm the texts bear no comparison whatsoever with my novel – there are no shared plots, characters nor text – and with the Booker Prize Foundation, so that they may be assured the claims are unfounded.

I am deeply concerned that journalists in Sri Lanka are passing on these unsupported and unfounded allegations. I would ask that any journalist approached demands to see the document on which these allegations are based.

It is sad and disappointing that this statement has to be made. This should be a celebratory moment for Sri Lanka and its writers. I will be making no further comment on this issue.