The book won the 2003 Gratiaen award awarded by Michael Ondaatje for the best English literary work published in Sri Lanka and also the state literary award for the best book in English. It is now in its 14th edition and was made into a successful film by Chandra Ratnum, who worked with Steven spielberg. An army officer�s routine assignment to pick up a woman informant near Jaffna turns into a nightmare when the Tigers launched a massive attack on the Jaffna 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, with army deserters hot on her trail with the aim of raping her.. She has a secret message for the Army commander but as they travel, the prejudices on both sides arr aired and understood and the change leads to a dramatic climax.