HOW IS THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITION IN SRI LANKA REFLECTED IN THE SHORT STORIES CARAPACE AND THE HOUSE IN THE COUNTRY
             Both stories are settled around the 1970‘s in Sri Lanka, where the Sinhalese and the Tamils keep fighting over the power in the country.
             In Carapace it is shown that a girl who's on a love dilemma; she's confused, her mother wants her to be happy, saying that the best for her is to choose Anura Perera because he has a job and she'll have economic security and she'll be able to get out of the country where there's a continuous war.
             In A house in the Country Sri Lanka is facing a war too, and it is because of the same reason, the Tamils against the Sinhalese.
             In both stories it is shown the possibility to get out of Sri Lanka, just like Romesh Gunesekera, the author did when he was young. He emigrated and went to England, like Ray did in the story. The girl in Carapace has also the possibility to get out of Sri Lanka and go to Australia if she chooses Anura Perera.
             The stories also reflect how the political, social, and economical situation in Sri Lanka may affect people reactions and their lives. In A house in the Country this house symbolizes all that they want. Siri wants to offer his family all the best, but he knows he can't afford it, also he wants to get away from the city to avoid all conflicts. While Ray on a desperate attempt for not being alone and finally belong somewhere.
             In Carapace the symbolism is the option the girl has Vijay or Anura Perera, that for me, one means all the peace she can reach and all the comfort she may have and the other one means all the conflicts she can find on her life.
             Also a great deal mentioned in the stories as to Romesh Gunesekera's life is the loneliness. In Carapace is not as clear as in A house in the Country where Ray feels lonely, until he finds Siri, who is alone, he only works to offer to his famil...