'Lal Gulab Zindabad' written in the memory of the late Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi, is the third collection of poems by the young Sri Lankan writer Muthu Padmakumara, 'innocence unending' (1977) was written while she was still a schoolgirl in Colombo and reveived fair praise for a debut work of poetry. 'There Are No More Rainbows' (1988), focusing on the raveges of conflict, was released shortly after. From a school age she has worked in various capacities involving mass communication. These include, directing a musical, teaching performing arts, reporting news for television, directing and hosting a radio talk-show, and briefly working at a publishing house in Canada. Educated initially in Sri Lanka, she later read English and Communication Studies at York University graduating with an honours degree. She presently divides her time between writing, and pursuing her interests in media and communication.