This account of JR Jayewardene’s political life is a unique departure in Sri Lanka, for we have no tradition of analytical biography. This book tries to fill the void, by analysis of the first Executive President of Sri Lanka who ignored all principles in creating a constitution designed to perpetuate his power. The corrosive effect of ad hoc amendments, including to the electoral system, has not been thoroughly examined, but should be in view of the increasingly hopeless situation in which this country finds itself. The book also examines the racist streak he displayed from the start, as well as his obsequiousness to more powerful countries. Unfortunately this led to adventurism with regard to India which forcefully cut him down to size. The effects of that intervention are with us still.