A single sentence on the back of Chandima Rajapatirana’s t-shirt reads ‘nothing is impossible’. As far as personal mottos go, this one suits its wearer to a tee. Diagnosed with autism and apraxia as a four- year- old, Chandima has defied the prediction of specialists. The man who they recommended should be institutionalised is today a poet, writer, activist and teacher.

The National Flower of Sri Lanka is ‘Manel’ (not ‘Nil-manel’), scientifically named as Nymphaea nouchali which is also referred to as Nymphaea stellata in some texts (synonym). Although the National Flower was officially adopted in 1986, no picture was associated with the name, “Manel’.